In life, we need to interact with other people. Not long ago, most communication took place by speaking face-to-face, but these days we communicate a lot using technology which is incredibly fast and globally connected. Since technology and cheap travel have allowed us to make contact with people all over the world very easily, it is increasingly important to be aware of the effect that culture has on communication. 

Many people understand it is valuable to understand the culture of others. However, it is first important to examine yourself and your own culture. What are your social attitudes? Why do you think like that? What is polite or impolite for you? Why do you have those ideas? Are these basic ideas that everyone in the world has, or are they different from country to country, group to group? Understanding your own attitudes is the first step to knowing the culture of others, and you should be aware that some deep beliefs that we hold are not universal. 

The iceberg is a very helpful image to use when we consider culture. Like an iceberg, only a part of culture is easy to see and understand. Some things like clothing, food, different styles of greeting may be on the surface and easily seen as different. However, other important aspects of culture such as moral, social, or political beliefs may be much more difficult to notice, even about ourselves. 

To look at a simple example, let’s consider the issue of speaking out or being silent in class. Many Asian students wish to study abroad in Europe and English-speaking countries around the world. However, sometimes cultural misunderstandings happen in class. For many students from an East Asian culture, it is considered polite to listen carefully and quietly to what the teacher is saying. This is an educational attitude that has been taught carefully for generations and is easy to see in educational settings today. However, in other countries, this idea may not be well-understood. Western-educated teachers tend to reward students who speak out during classes. Their educational attitude is that older children and young adults should be able to discuss issues in class and learn through dialogue. Western teachers may have a negative attitude to students who are too quiet, believing them to be uninterested in the lesson, or that they do not have an opinion. 

In this example, it is easy to see that both teacher and the student would benefit from understanding each other’s deep cultural attitudes to education and learning. The teacher should understand that their East Asian students may communicate differently in class, and the student should understand their responsibility to show curiosity and contribute in an active way to get a good score for the class. Without understanding the hidden aspects of each cultural belief, we may create a misunderstanding that has real-world consequences. 

In the end, it is important to recognize that everyone has a background culture that affects how they communicate with others. Like the iceberg, some of these ideas and attitudes may be hidden to some extent. Trying to understand your own attitudes, and those of others, will definitely help you to connect more effectively in the global society and avoid misunderstandings. As we interact ever more freely in the modern world, I would encourage all language students to also consider the role of culture in the way we communicate. 

Q1. Why is it even more important these days that we are aware of cultural differences?

Q2. Why is the iceberg a good symbol of culture?

Q3. Do western teachers tend to reward quiet or outspoken students?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. Technology and cheap, easy travel have allowed us to connect with people all over the world very easily.

A2. Because much of it is hidden

A3. Outspoken

Have you ever tried rooibos tea? I drink it almost every day. It tastes good and seems to benefit me in several ways. I first tried rooibos tea after my dermatologist told me that it could alleviate skin inflammation caused by allergies. I have some allergies that cause skin and eye irritation, and I cannot help wheezing and coughing without antihistamines during the pollen seasons. I cannot clearly prove the effects of rooibos tea, but it seems to me that the scratchy feelings in my throat and skin have eased since I started regularly enjoying this tea.

Rooibos tea is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the plant called Aspalathus linearis. Rooibos means “red bush” in Afrikaans, and it looks crimson as its meaning suggests. Depending on its type, the flavor can be a little different. Red rooibos is probably more well-known, which is fermented and oxidized. It generally tastes a little nutty and sweet, more like black tea. Green rooibos is unfermented and unoxidized. The flavor seems a little weaker, and it tastes more like green tea. I personally prefer the red one for its unique flavor.

In addition to the alleviation of skin inflammation, rooibos tea may be able to benefit you in some other ways. Rooibos tea is rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. It also contains an enzyme called superoxide dismutase. These nutrients may help you ease some problems. Magnesium is said to help the body relax, which may lead you to better sleep. You may be able to doze off quickly if you take a cup of rooibos tea before bed because it is also caffeine-free. Minerals such as calcium, manganese and fluoride contained in the tea is also said to help build strong bones. The enzyme contained in rooibos tea is believed to work as an antioxidant and antihistamine. It may slow down the aging process of the body and alleviate skin inflammation and irritation.

Recently, rooibos tea is available at ordinary supermarkets because of its increasing popularity from the possible positive effects. Why don’t you try it? Before you try rooibos tea, you should know the nutrients of rooibos tea may interfere with medications, so I suggest you consult your doctor if you are taking medicine.

Q1. What kind of doctor is a “dermatologist” in Paragraph 1? 

Q2. What kind of color is “crimson” in Paragraph 2? 

Q3. What are some possible positive effects of drinking rooibos tea according to the author?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. A doctor who studies and treats skin diseases. 

A2. Red. (Actually, rich deep red color inclining to purple)

A3. It may alleviate skin inflammation and irritation, help induce a good sleep, help build strong bones, and slow down the aging process. 

In a previous post, I wrote about the shopping street “Ponto-cho” in Kyoto City and the perplexing nature of its name. However, Ponto-cho is just one of many intriguing names in Japan. This time, I’d like to consider another: The Takase River. 

The Takase River or “Takasegawa” (高瀬川) as it is called in Japanese, is in central Kyoto City beginning just south of the grounds of the Imperial Palace of Gosho and terminating kilometers later into the Kamo River. For most of its length, Takasegawa is only a few meters wide, and so shallow that it is easy to walk across. It is a calm and unassuming stream. Given this image, when examining the kanji in its name, you are in for a shock!

Separating the river’s name into its components gives you “tall” (高, taka), “rapids” (瀬, se) and “river” (川, kawa), or what would now be called “whitewater rapids” — the kind usually navigated by helmeted daredevils in rubber rafts. How was it that such a placid stream wound up with such a thrilling name?

After doing some research, I learned that from the time it was dug in the early 1600s until the 1930s, the area where Takasegawa is located often had severe seasonal flooding, so it is easy to imagine that the water could get choppy at times.

I also learned that Takasegawa was once an essential part of Kyoto City’s infrastructure, transporting people and goods to nearby Fushimi on flat bottomed boats called “Takasebune”. For over 300 years, these boats brought products like silk and spices into Kyoto while taking lumber and sake out.

Strictly speaking, calling Takasegawa “a river” is incorrect. Rivers occur naturally whereas river-like waterways created by people are referred to as canals. As Takasegawa was dug by people, it is clearly a canal. However, I do not object to this misnaming because the Japanese word for canal, “unga” (運河), does not have a pleasant sound. Surely, Takasegawa is more harmonic than Takaseunga! Wouldn’t you agree?

Q1. Why does the author find the name of Takasegawa confusing?

Q2. How did the Takase river contribute to the development of Kyoto?

Q3. Why isn't Takasegawa really a river?

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

A1. Because the kanji in the name indicates a raging river but the actual river is shallow and calm.

A2. By providing a route for trade and people.

A3. Because it was created artificially. 

Valentine’s Day in Japan looks similar enough to the US version… on the surface. Downtown you can find decorations with similar themes, stores and shops have special promotions for chocolates and sweets, and couples celebrate together. But as I said, this is only similar on the surface. There are some differences that I still struggle with. 

When I experienced Valentine’s Day in Japan for the first time, what surprised me was that as a man, I didn’t have to do anything. Just get chocolate or sweets. If you haven’t heard before, in most other countries where Valentine’s Day is celebrated, men are the ones who do the work. There is no White Day where we get to defer our gift giving obligation for a month. In fact, the Valentine’s Day-White Day situation in Japan reminds me of the “girl’s choice song” at American high school dances… accept on Valentine’s Day, the girls make the “first move” every time. By the way, if you’re not familiar, “girl’s choice” is when the DJ tells the room that the girls ask the guys to dance for the next song. In the US, it’s usually the opposite, both on the dance floor and in other aspects of dating. 

But back to V-day. In my case, I have become spoiled. I got used to getting home-baked cakes among other things every year. Because this has become my “normal” every Valentine’s Day, I would probably have some trouble adjusting to the old way if I were back in the US, just like I did when I started celebrating it here. Every year, after I get my yummy cakes and chocolate, I quickly move on with life and forget until the last minute that White Day is coming. One month is just long enough to forget that I need to do something special for my wife. This results in me usually rushing around at the last minute to put something together. I haven’t had any disasters yet, but the point is that White Day always sneaks up on me. It’s something I have never gotten used to. If you are planning on studying/living abroad in another country and find yourself “involved” with someone, you might have similar problems adjusting to the change in procedure. My wife and I are pretty chill about it, but some people, at least in the US, take Valentine’s Day pretty seriously. Just remember this for a US Valentine’s Day; guys, it’s us who are giving the chocolate. Don’t be caught flat footed. And ladies, even though there is no White Day, when you get something nice from your man, don’t neglect to return the favor.

Q1. According to the passage, what is the main difference between Valentine’s Day in Japan and the US?

a) Japanese couples like to eat white chocolate more than American couples on White Day.

b) In Japan, it is more common to eat cake on Valentine’s Day than in the US.

c) Men usually give chocolate or gifts on Valentine’s Day in the US and on White Day in Japan.

Q2. In the second paragraph, why does the author think Valentine’s Day and the “girl’s choice song” at a dance are similar?

a) In both situations, couples get to dance.

b) In both situations, women are supposed to be more assertive than men.

c) In both situations, women are supposed to wait for the man to do something.

Q3. In the last paragraph, which answer has the closest meaning to this sentence? “My wife and I are pretty chill about it.”

 a) It gets pretty cold around Valentine’s Day.

 b) They are not very serious about Valentine’s Day.

 c) They try to relax in serious situations.

Scroll down for the answers to the quiz

A1. c

A2. b

A3. b

You know LEGO. We all know LEGO. These plastic brick toys have been world famous for over 70 years. There are toys, models, robots, animated movies, visual art, and more. For most people they are a childhood toy; something fun and creative to play with on a rainy day. But LEGO are not just simple blocks. Behind the popular toy is a deep history of cutting-edge technology, manufacturing, research, design, and engineering. 

Materials

The LEGO company originally made toy blocks from wood. Eventually they shifted to plastic in 1947. Different types of plastic were tried, but eventually LEGO chose ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) as its main material. ABS has been LEGO’s only plastic for over 50 years, but recently they are changing this. Since 2018 they started using a bio-based plastic made from sugarcane. The company is planning to completely change to an eco-friendly plastic by 2030 and is already ahead of schedule.

Finding a good material for LEGO is difficult. The LEGO quality standards for materials are some of the highest in the world. LEGO pieces must be precise, strong, and last for a long time. LEGO manufactures over 36,000,000,000 parts in a year (1,140 bricks/second) with a success rate of 99.999982%. Each piece is so strong one brick can support 375,000 bricks. To break the bottom brick, you would have to build a LEGO tower 3,591 meters high. Independent testing and in-house company testing shows that the life of a LEGO piece is between 2,000 to 3,000 uses (maybe more, depending on the piece). 

Design and Engineering

LEGO pieces are not only strong, they are well-designed. For each piece the maximum size variation is 0.004mm (that is less than the width of a human hair). In 1958 LEGO designers and engineers created, and still use, a special “universal system” for piece design. This means EVERY piece from EVERY set since 1958 will fit together with ANY other piece from ANYWHERE in the world.

To create the pieces and sets LEGO designers create and customize special 3D imaging software, modified versions of CAD, and even virtual reality models. Recently LEGO has also been training AI to design pieces, sets, and to package the toys. 

The People

LEGO Designers have backgrounds in engineering, CG modelling, design, fashion, art, architecture, and more. The application process is very difficult, very competitive, and candidates must be highly qualified. LEGO often scouts and recruits people from PhD programs and high-tier universities worldwide to become designers and LEGO creators. 

Q1: How many bricks are needed to break one LEGO brick?

A. 2,000-3,000

B. 375,000

C. 3,591

Q2: What were the first LEGO blocks made from?

A. Sugarcane 

B. Plastic

C. Wood

D. ABS 

Q3: What is special about LEGO’s “universal system”?

A. Every piece is almost perfect in size and shape.

B. Every possible piece fits together.

C. Every piece is made from eco-friendly plastic.

--- Scroll down for answers ---

A1. B

A2. C

A3. B

When we think about the winter holidays and Christmas, images of Santa Claus often come to mind. Popular characters dress in Santa-themed clothes. Many people cosplay at holiday parties as Santa and/or Mrs. Claus. Santa’s classic red-and-white colors are used in decorations, advertisements, and more. But did you know that Santa wasn’t always dressed in red-and-white? 

The character of Santa Claus has roots in many traditional stories and characters from across Europe and Central Asia. The stories and characters of Father Time, Sinterklaas, King Frost, Wotan, and Father Christmas all added to the story and character of Santa Claus. A 4th century Christian priest (Saint Nicholas of Myra) is the base for a lot of the personal background and character of Santa Claus. Many people think that the red robes of Saint Nicholas are the source of Santa’s famous outfit. The real story is much more recent. 

Many older images of Santa Claus are very similar to what we see now. An older man, dressed for cold winter weather, usually with a long cap and white fur. The colors are usually very different though. Often Santa is dressed in all white, white-and-brown, or white-and-grey. There are even purple versions! And yes, if you search there are some Santas wearing red, but they are rare. 

Santa wasn’t always the most popular part of Christmas though. For many years Christmas was a quiet religious holiday. Over the years the nature of the holiday changed, and slowly it became more festive with presents, drinking, singing, and parties. The character of Santa really started to become popular 200 years ago (through stories, books, and songs), and the colors of green and white became the “orthodox” version. Green and white matched many of the other winter decorations and traditions (pine trees, snow, etc.). Santa stayed green for almost 100 years. 

About 90 years ago (in the early 1930’s), red Santas started appearing again. The most famous version was made for the Coca-Cola Company by the artist Haddon Sundblom. The colors of Santa were made to match the Coca-Cola brand, and Santa became a bit fatter and kid-friendly. Coca-Cola was (and is) a popular and famous brand and the company started an aggressive sales campaign. The Coca-Cola Santa spread, becoming a huge hit and in a few years, magazines, television, and other media “locked” Santa into his classic red-and-white colors. Now there is no going back.

Q1: What were original colors of Santa Claus?

A. White and brown

B. Purple

C. Red 

D. All of the above

Q2: Who was the main base for the character of Santa Claus?

A. King Frost

B. Nichola of Myra 

C. Sinterklaas 

D. Father Christmas 

Q3: When did the trend of red Santas begin?

A. 100 years ago

B. 90 years ago

C. 200 years ago

D. 1700 years ago

A1. D

A2. B

A3. B

How do you like to start your day? Me, the first thing I like to do is to get up early and turn on the TV. I always watch Shirashiga Terebi on the Biwako Broadcasting Company at 6:50 am. It begins with live camera shots of various parts around Shiga prefecture. You can find out about the latest local events, the traffic, water levels, and the weather—all live and 365 days a year. For example, this morning I found out that today’s a good day for hanging the laundry outside. You can’t see any famous Shiga announcers because it’s actually an AI voice that gives the news. I like the “Moyo-Moyo” song afterwards, too, sung by a little grebe.

How do you like to end your day? Me, after work, the last thing I like to do is to sit back and turn on the TV. I always watch Omi Nyuzu at 6:30 pm on channel 1. I like learning about plants and flowers during the weather report. For example, these days everybody has been sending pictures of Sweet Osmanthus. You can almost smell them from your TV set! I like Motoki Ishii. He seems like a nice guy. Anyone who gets so excited about the weather has to have a warm heart. Actually, sometimes you can see the news announcers at the Otsu Station Starbucks around lunchtime. They are always so busy that I am too shy to say “Hi, I am a big fan of your news program!” By the way, no worries if you happen to come home late after 7:00 pm. They do a shortened 15-minute version every weekday night at 8:45 pm. 

How do you like to get ready for the weekend? Me, Friday night, it’s always the program Omoroshiga. That means Fun Stuff to Do in Shiga. It’s on channel 3 from 7 pm every Friday. It ends at 8:20 pm, but don’t ask me why. On tonight’s program they went to a place called Aisho-cho and visited a hairdresser where you can get your hair done in the traditional Japanese style with lots of pins and topknots. When you’re done, you look like you’ve walked out of a historical drama. They also have a very useful weekly recap of all the news around Shiga at 7:45 called BBC News Weekly. This time they reported that as of late there have been a lot of bugs from the lake flying about and getting into people’s laundry. Mine as well! The announcer is Azusa Minami. I saw her once at Starbucks, too.

“May I help you?”

Many Japanese students have learnt “may I help you?” as “irasshaimase” in Japanese, but the two phrases are not exactly the same. Imagine you work at a corner shop. When you find customers who are obviously looking for something, you should offer help with the phrase, “may I help you?” While Japanese clerks say “irasshaimase” as a greeting to each customer coming into the shop, “may I help you?” is used for offering help. If the customer does not need any help, you can say, “please feel free to look around” with a smile. Learning the correct English expressions for the service industry is essential if you are to deal politely with foreign customers.

Speaking English while providing service can be tricky. Let me introduce an awkward experience as an example. Once, I was working at a high-end brand boutique at a department store. This was a decade ago in Nagoya, and wealthy people often came to such posh department stores. One day, a foreign lady, who was nicely dressed and looked sophisticated, came into our section and seemed to be interested in our well-designed dresses. I approached her and asked, "May I help you?" in English. She replied, “Yes.” I expected this answer, but I didn’t know how to respond. Do you see? I got a little nervous because I had to continue talking with her with my poor English. I thought, “would it be possible for me to explain, recommend or amuse this customer with my English?” That was my first time to take care of a foreign customer. In contrast to my tension, she was relaxed and just enjoyed looking at the dresses. “You can try it on if you like,” I said, and she smiled and took down two dresses that were hanging on the rack. I can't remember what I suggested or whether I adjusted the dress size for her. I was too nervous. Fortunately, she was satisfied with one of the dresses (and seemingly my attitude, too) and bought it. I was relieved and decided to review some English phrases for customers that I could use next time.

If you are working part-time, you might have opportunities to take care of foreign customers. One of my students asked me an English phrase for a cashier the other day. She wanted to know the phrase, “Would you like to pay by cash or credit card?” By learning like this, if you are well-prepared, you can be a great clerk! Please check out these websites for more useful English for the service industry:

https://www.thoughtco.com/beginner-dialogues-in-a-shop-1210040

https://www.phrasemix.com/collections/english-expressions-that-waiters-waitresses-and-restaurant-s

Photo credit Liza Summer@Pexels.com

Q1: According to the article, what does a Japanese clerk’s “irasshaimase” mean?

Q2: What did the foreign customer purchase in the Nagoya department store?

Q3: How did the author feel when providing service to the foreign customer?

Scroll down for answers 

A1: A greeting for each customer coming into the shop

A2: One dress

A3: She felt nervous.

During the pandemic, we were strongly advised to stay at home, and travel was regarded as an inappropriate activity. As the situation has begun to improve, people have resumed travelling, and this trend has brought the opportunity to leave our home region to experience different environments.

There are many styles of travel, but I recommend that students go backpacking. Although many students are already accustomed to backpacking, it may still seem adventurous to others. When you choose to go on a backpacking trip, you are likely planning to travel alone. Travelling solo may sound lonely (of course, sometimes it is), but all the decisions are your responsibility, which means you can decide where to stay, what to eat, and who to travel with. If you travel with friends or family, you must attend carefully to your travelling companions. When travelling alone, however, you are accountable to no one but yourself, and you get to create your own plans. In addition, you may find someone along the way to join you on your journey.

When you travel alone, I recommend staying in a dormitory, which means you share the room with other people. Youth hostels are a good example, but there are a variety of guesthouses that offer dormitory beds for backpackers. In a guesthouse, the space you are allowed to use is limited, consisting of just a bed and sometimes a locker. Therefore, you ought to communicate with other lodgers to ensure a good relationship. If you like your roommate, you can go for a drink or eat together; at least you’ll learn some useful travel information. When you say ‘hello’ and the roommate becomes your friend, he/she will be another guard to help ensure your safety.

Here are some tips to make your travel comfortable and safe in a dormitory room:

1. Ask whether the room is mixed-sex or divided according to gender. I recommend you choose a separated one for reasons of personal safety.

2. Don’t leave your valuables in a bag. You should keep important items with you at all times. In particular, be careful during shower time. Bring a key and wire to secure your bag to the bed.

3. Sandals are useful when you go out for a bit or while taking a shower.

4. Bring some Japanese sweets such as matcha chocolate bars to share with your roommates and help you start a conversation.

Photo credit George Pak@Pexels.com

Q1: What is the style of travelling which the author suggests to students?

Q2: What is an advantage of travelling solo?

Q3: What is a personal space in a guesthouse?

Scroll down for answers 

A1: Backpacking

A2: The freedom to create a plan

A3: A bed and a locker

You should enjoy your leisure time while you can because once you start working, you may not have much time for yourself. The average amount of overtime work in Japan is said to be 25 to 26 hours per month. If you work five days a week, you will work one more hour extra each day: a total of nine hours everyday. So why don’t you enjoy your free time while you are a student? You can enjoy sightseeing, eating out, and participating in outdoor activities since the state of emergency has been lifted now.

Do you know how many temples and shrines there are in Osaka, Shiga, and Kyoto? There are 3,395 in Osaka, 3,213 in Shiga, and 3,076 in Kyoto. You would think Kyoto has the largest number of temples and shrines but surprisingly Osaka has the most. The public transportation in Osaka is well developed so it is easy to get around on the subways and buses. A one-day ticket for Osaka is only 800 yen and you can use it for both the Osaka Metro and city buses. In Kyoto, buses are convenient for getting around. You can visit most of the temples by bus. A one-day ticket for both subways and buses is 1,100 yen. You can visit as many temples and shrines as the time allows. Isn’t it a good opportunity to enjoy a tranquil environment?

As you go around, you can also enjoy the food of the area. There are 51,230 restaurants in Osaka, 13, 325 restaurants in Kyoto, and 4,699 restaurants in Shiga. You have so many choices! There are interesting regional dishes in all three places. If you look them up on the internet, you will see enormous variety. I recommend trying the local specialties. However, those places might be crowded, and I’m sure there are people who want to avoid the busy places, so there are other options. For example, a great way to spend leisure time without encountering crowds is to check out some of the natural scenery in the Kansai region. 

If you want to enjoy the outdoors, you could visit the famous Lake Biwa in Shiga. A lap around the lake is about 200 km. You see many cyclists going around, but it will take you about ten hours if you cycle at 20 km/hour. If you are not crazy about cycling, you can take two days to go around. If you like motorcycles, using a 400cc motorcycle will take about four hours. Or you can go around with a car and that will take about four hours too. If you want to enjoy cycling in urban areas, you can rent a bicycle in Kyoto and Osaka, but there is heavy traffic, so please be careful. Now you probably feel like you want to do something in your leisure time, don’t you? You can enjoy these things even after you start working but making time to do them will probably be harder than now. So why don’t you act now?

Photo credit: Elijah O’Donnell@Pexels.com

Q1: Which prefecture has the most temples and shrines?

a. Kyoto

b. Osaka

c. Shiga

Q2: How many restaurants are there in Osaka?

a. Less than 5,000

b. About 13,000

c. About 51,000

Q3 If you cycle around Lake Biwa, how long does it take?

a. 4 hours

b. 6 hours

c. 10 hours

Scroll down for answers 

A1: b

A2: c

A3: c