le-petit-the

2007-01-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

About sexuality:
The topic about sexuality is difficult to be discussed in Japan. Most of sexuality educations which held in Japanese school are very physical.
I was very surprised when I saw the video about sexuality from Colorado students. In the video, many people agree or accept for the thought of having sex friends even though the person who does not want to have any sex in Colorado. Having sex friends has never had positive images in Japan. If my boyfriend would have such friends, I could not stand about it.
In addition to this thought, pregnancy that is caused by sex is also serious problems for especially teenagers. I amazed the rate of people who do not use birth control measures in this book though the time is changing. I can not understand such a high rate. It is obvious that without using such ways, youth will be pregnant easily. My old friend was pregnant when she was 17 years old, and she quitted high school and bore her child. Having child is happy thing, but in youth it is usually included so many difficulties. About one week ago, I had an Adult day ceremony which is held for 20 years old people to cerebrate their growth in Japan. Then, there are some people who held their babies in their arms with wearing Kimono. Recently, I think the number of people who bear children earlier increase. Though, the society is not kind for these people.

2007-01-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

About friendship:
Friend is the most important thing in our daily live, especially in school for children. In Japan, girls often make groups in their class. They usually talk, go together anywhere (it is included toilet.) and so on. The groups are usually interesting for girls, but in some case, some girls belong to the group which they really do not like because of the fear about Kuraiko. Without belonging to any groups, some people are considered as strange people. That is in Japan, cooperation is one of the most important parts, and especially in school, having their group often shows their personalities.
In addition to this story, the relationship between Senpai -Kohai is interesting topic, I think. First when I heard that In America there are little relationships between Senpai-Kohai like in Japan, I was so surprised. Japanese students usually are taught social politeness from Senpai, not from teacher. We learn the importance of using honorific words to senior though we do not use it to our teacher so often in junior high school. Though, Senpai is also child, so we were sometimes scolded in unreasonable reasons. For example, when I was a junior high school student, I belonged to tennis club. One day, we freshman could not find one tennis ball after the club (because around the tennis court there were so much glasses), and next day my senpai knew that…She scolded us and she never accepted us drinking any drink for 2 hours during the training though the day was very hot summer day. From this experience, we decided not to behave to my new Kohai like that.
What do you think about the relationships?

2006-11-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

About Materialism;

Most of all teens, especially girls, make friend groups in school to enjoy and share their school life together, and they sometimes share the same informations by getting or having　the same things. Therefore, people who do not have the same goods sometimes do not join their talkings.
First, I want to talk about Kawaii culture. In Japan, Kawaii culture still remains, on the contrary, now is the time of Kawaii culture, I think. There are many marketplaces for “Kawaii” materials. We often see them as ads in many magazines. One good example is Sanrio which is famous for the character Hello Kitty. Their main goods are the symbols of Kawaii. Many teens put the character goods on their bags and cell phones to appeal their favor. I think most of all teens have goods about Sanrio or Disney in Japan nowadays.
However, I also think that we often use the word “Kawaii” for many things because it is easy to express my feelings about it. Though, I sometimes feel the decrease of expression skill about things. Sometimes we say “Kawaii” though we do not think so in reality by the laziness of thinking about it and they know the word is useful for escaping from thinking precise expressions.
The marketplaces which are for teens become greater than before because now people have less children than before and by the fact, parents can spend much money to their children. When I was a high school student, many friends had brand-name wallets though I did not have. In addition, they spent too much money for clothes. Now, I am noticing the importance of money by working as a part-timer.
I think that materials are sometimes goods for getting communication with friends. By the information or goods, teens can share talking in their groups.
Second, many companies try to sell their materials much more to teens. Their strategies are rious. Many Japanese people like "limited edition", so companies make goods flexibly.
In addition to it, like Pocky day(Pocky is Japanese snacks looks like stick, so November 11 is Pocky day though it is decided by this company) or Varentines day, companies urge people to buy materials. I also buy them because many markets appeal the goods for the day.

2006-11-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

About School:
I think school is the place that we communicate with our friends, and study with them. In addition to this opinion, I also think that school is the place to learn relationships between seniors and juniors. Japanese tend to think that school is the place to make and enjoy relationships, especially in elementary school.
Though, it is sometimes very hard experiences for us because seniors often defeat their junior not only discipline but also their satisfaction to reduce their stress. (It is only my opinion which is from my experience in junior high school.) This book says that there are two types of senior who is hard or soft. Especially the seniors who belong to sports club are hard and strict for their junior. When I was junior high school student, I belonged to tennis club, and my seniors sometimes treated us like servants.

By the way, girls in Japan usually make groups at school. They usually move together and enjoy talking, shopping and so on. The group members are composed with friends each other. Though, sometimes they make conflicts among them. As a result, the group relationships are sometimes collapse. Many Japanese people tend to dislike loneliness in the atmosphere that many groups exist. How about in the USA?

2006-10-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

About Family: In this book, I felt the contents about family were a little out-of-date, but some points apply to present situations of family. For example, the tendency that families tend to treat their sons better than their daughter is still remain in my hometown, but not in the city. I think it reflects on Japanese traditional thought that a son, especially the oldest son, must succeed the family. In addition, by the old thought that the things women should do are domestic chores, girls tend to spend much time to help housework than boys. However, the thought of this stereotype is passing nowadays. Japanese father tend to say nothing or only a little thing except the serious situations. Keeping quiet or speak little is Japanese old virtue especially for men. Therefore, in family, mothers mainly decide the decisions about house works. As a result, there are sometimes frequent battles between mother and daughter who is with much complain about their treatment.
In the last class, we talked about mixed messages. It is often looked in Japanese families in many cases and situations. Foe example, my friend’s parents said her not to take care of them after they get old but in fact they want her to do.
The expressions like “Mom’s boy” and “Daddy’s girl” are not familiar to family relationship in Japan. Though, one Colorado student said that it is much more common for a family with a boy and girl that the relationship between father and daughter is much closer, and the same thing can be said the case of mother and son. I was surprised because I think many Japanese people tend to be close to the same-sex parents.

2006-10-07T02:23:00.000-07:00

Hello!

My name is Yurie. I am a freshman in Waseda university.

I love traveling very much, but I have never been to foreign country.

So please tell me many things about your country.