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English
in Japan |
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| Unfortunately, you
won’t have many chances to make yourself understood
in English in Japan. It is sometimes said that the
English speaking ability of Japanese people is at the
bottom level in Asian countries. Especially, middle
and senior age people have serious problem. It sometimes
happens to them that if they are spoken to by a foreigner
in English, they suddenly freeze like a low-spec. computer.
However, their English grammar knowledge is in quite
high level in all generation after the tough educational
system for the entrance examination to high school
and university. Although they have well-understanding
about the complicated grammar, they are not good at
speaking and listening. We would like you highly recommend
to remember those three points before you are going
to speak to someone in Japan; slowly, clearly and friendly.
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Meal |
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| Some of you may imagine
some typical Japanese dishes, such as sushi, tempura,
miso soup, raw fish, etc when you hear the word “Japanese
Dishes”. However, please remember that this is
just a few examples of actual food in Japan. The proper
word to describe Japanese meal may be “omnivorous”.
When you go out to downtown area, you will of course
find traditional Japanese restaurants but also you will
see various kinds of restaurants all waiting for you;
French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, etc. Maybe Japanese
are greedy about their appetite. Japanese people cook
and eat miscellaneous dishes from all over the world.
By the way, Japan is now under the great boom of ramen
(Chinese noodle in soup). Even ramen is originated in
China, there are so many taste and style of local cities
nationwide in Japan. How about trying one of the hundreds
of Kyoto ramen for a piece of your travel story?
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Samurai |
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| Very unique hairstyle,
grave sword on his hip, glaring eyes knitting his brows
without saying anything… Yes, this is what people
think of Japanese samurai, though we can’t see
any samurai in present-day. Well, most of you have known
that but just incase, because sometimes people from overseas
still ask where to see the real samurai…
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| Finally, we would like to have
the most important thing for you to enjoy your days in Japan. Don’t
stickle to your stereotype or the information/image that you get
before your visit. Some who have made his own image of Japan might
feel displeasure to see many modern high-rise buildings in Kyoto.
Or some feel annoying when they see Japanese people do things in
different ways from their own countries. However, that is Japan.
Especially Kyoto is a city with a strong appeal that contains various
aspect of every culture and period; the old tradition or custom,
new ideas and value from the new age, the cultures form foreign
countries, etc. Those factors make Kyoto glow their own appeal,
but they are all together. Before your visit, it is not easy to
understand the complicated mixture of the sense of advanced country
and old quaint tradition. We hope you can find appeal of Kyoto
during your stay with your own sensibility and seek your original
Japan.
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