ryota's blog

2007-01-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

Sexuality

Today, many teenagers have experienced sex. According to the presentation in our class, people in Japan experience their first sex at the age of 16.8 on average. Some people answered that their first time was when they were 14 or even young. It is said that the age of having first sex is getting earlier. I think that young people may have sex from motives of curiosity. I think it is meaningless to have sex without love because it may injure people. I think that sex is communication which is result of love. Many young people must not see sex as serious act.
According to White, for both girls and boys in America, becoming sexually active is a very important part of their maturing identities. On the other hand, in japan, sexual experience and performance are much less important than friendship and school performance, and even when children are sexually active, this activity does not preoccupy them. However, I disagree with White’s opinion. I think that many young Japanese people are preoccupied with sex because more than 70% of young people carry around with condom. It proves that many young people always think about sex. It is very serious thing of Japan.
Many people have sex without condom. However, many women kill the baby in their stomach when they become pregnant. It is very irresponsible, I think. Even if they become prgnant, they should accept the blame because they have sex without condom. I think that we should not kill baby so easily.
In conclusion, people should reaffirm the importance and seriousness of sex. In addition, people should think a great deal of baby’s life. Sex should be done with complete love. I do not want to have sex without sex.

2006-12-14T04:09:00.000-08:00

Assignment 4--- Friendship
In Japan, teens learn about “friendship” in three different kinds of relationships; the best friend, group friends and sempai-kohai relationships. I think that it is important to have beast friend. Many people may have shinyu. Shinyu is very important to make one’s life more enjoyable. According to White, “while Japanese teen friendships change frequently, best-friend status involves a real sense of responsibility along with the pleasures of intimate sharing.” When people are with their shinyu, people can enjoy and be comfortable. Many people can tell more things to shinyu than their family.
I went to single sex school for 6 years in junior high and high school. There was my best friend. I have known him for 12 years from elementary school. I passed junior high and high school with him. I told almost all things to him. I trust him even now. Now, I and he go to different college but I sometimes get in touch with him. If I did not have shinyu, I would be spoiled. With a shinyu, I am fully my private self, sharing my best and worst. Therefore, shinyu is a treasure for me.
In a recent study comparing American and Japanese high school friendship, it was noted that American highschoolers spend more time with their best friends than do Japanese. Such studies appear to support what many Japanese believe, that youth in Japan are no longer able to conduct healthy human relationships, the stuff of life in adult society. However, I must conduct healthy human relationship with my shinyu.
In conclusion, many people should have best friends to make their life more enjoyable. I want to get along with my shinyu from now on. In addition, I am sure that I can get along with him. Therefore, I think that I and he have the best relationship.

2006-11-30T06:50:00.000-08:00

Materilism
Today, many Japanese people tend to want to get what is “naui” or “now” gear. They go to many places to get “naui” or “now” gear. The popular place is Harajuku. According to White, The Harajuku district in Tokyo is an obvious example if a teen- favored machi, a public commercial and entertainment area where young people learn what is naui (from “now”) or cool, what pop stars are in or on the way out, and many messages about personal style and behavior gained through simple street observation.
Harajuku is fashionable among young people. I had gone to Harajuku. There are many shops where sell trend goods in Takeshita street. Harajuku is the birth place of crape so we can walk there while eating crapes with jam. Going to Harajuku is very interesting. Harajuku has a mood – upbeat, an age—young, and a price—expensive. According to White, It has become in the Japanese press a symbol of youth materialism and contained decadence, for it is near the street closed off on Sunday afternoons for performances by fledgling rock groups, they too mostly from the province. Therefore, Harajuku may be the center of media.
I sometimes read fashion magazines. There are many fashion magazines in Japan. I refer to fashion magazines for my fashion. Fashion magazines are very useful for me. Many young people think them useful as I think. Therefore, fashion magazines are bought by many young people.
In Japan, there are many young people who like brand goods. They think that brand is very important. I can not understand such people and why they have much money. I like to gather clothes but I do not by brand goods.
In conclusion, there are many trends of fashion, magazines, and brand in Japan. Young people tend to want to dress up and get “naui” goods. There are many forms of dressing up. I think that our inclinations of fashion depend on ourselves.

2006-11-09T04:22:00.000-08:00

Assignment2--School
In Japan, there are sempai-kohai relationships in club. According to White, a child may also follow in the footsteps of older sibling or family connections, who act as “Old Boys” or “Old Girls” in clubs, as alumni bringing in appropriate new recruits, reinforcing the existing structure of obligation and hierarchical responsibility in senior/junior relationships, called sempai-kohai relationships.
I went to boys’ high school and belonged to tennis club in junior high school and high school. This club was not only very strong but also very strict. I learned polite things in this club. I learned polite language which is called “keigo.” In addition, I learned greeting. For example, when I come in tennis court and meet teachers in my school, I must bow and greet in a very loud voice.
There were many sempai in this club. All of them were very kind and taught me “keigo”, many manners, and tennis. Also, I taught my kohai these things very kindly. To teach kohai “keigo” and many manners is duty of sempai. It may be the tradition of Japan.
Many old boys came to my school and taught me tennis. When they came, I must use “keigo.” If I did not use “keigo”, I was very scolded by them and made to run. When sempai spoke in club meeting, I must fold my legs under myself. To fold my legs under myself is very tough but it is one of the polite things.
In conclusion, I learned very polite and important things in my junior high and high school. Sempai-kohai relationships are essential. Sempai must teach many manners to their kohai. Also, kohai must master them and be ready to teach them to their kohai as sempai did. Even if there are hierarchy and responsibility between sempai and kohai and kohai use “keigo”, they should get along with each other.

2006-10-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Family

Today, it is said that many Japanese teens are under academic pressure; on the other hand, many American teens are under great social and economic pressure. Japanese teens are told that they must struggle harder and keep infantilized and dependent at school and at home. Children in Japan suffer from the kyouiku mama (education-obsessed mother). In addition, there are different expectation for daughters and sons. In Japan, girls tend to have more duties at home, boys to be more protected from chores, particularly. I sympathize with these two things.
There are four people in my family; my father, my mother, my sister, and I. I am friendly with family members. However, we sometimes have quarrels. Recently, we got a dog as a pet. The dog is very cute and we call her “Hana”. She has become the fifth member of my family.
In this way, I and my sister were made to go to cram school by my mother. My mother must be the kyouiku mama. She is always very strict when it comes to study. However, thanks to her strictness, I could enroll in this university and my sister could enroll in prestigious university. Therefore, I think that kyouiku mama is not bad because kyouiku mama must make children more sincere.
In my family, my sister has many duties at home; cleaning, washing, and cooking, and so on. On the other hand, I do not do any housework. I think the reason why girls tend to have more duties at home, while boys to be more protected from chores, is for the future. Basically, women do housework and men work in the office from morning till night, so men do not have the time for housework. Therefore, this convention of Japan is appropriate for the future.
In conclusion, there are many conventions in Japan but these conventions are very good for people. Differences of conventions may exist between Japan and America. However, they are appropriate for both families, I think.

2006-10-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hi!! I'm Ryota Suzuki. I'm 19 years old and a freshman at Waseda University. I was born in Kanagawa. My hobby is playing tennis!! I have played tennis for 6 years. I can't speak English well but I try to do my best!! I want to know the difference of culture between Japan and America, so please tell me whatever you know about it. Thank you!