Social Security in Japan

Japanese do have a social security system. But their use of the term "social security" is completely different from the way Americans use it. In the United States, social security refers to the old-age pension administered by the federal government and paid for by mandatory deductions from the workers' wages. But in Japan, the term is much more comprehensive.

It refers to a whole range of services which might be thought of as social insurance. And it's not just one system. It's rather complex. It includes such programs as health insurance, welfare assistance, and pension plans.

In some areas it's as good as or better than in other countries. In other areas they could probably stand some improvement. Because of increasing longevity, for example, they need to take another look at their old-age pension programs.

Japanese Companies

Japanese companies really treat their employees well, especially in comparison with other countries. One big factor is that it's usually a long-term relationship. That is, a worker stays with one company until retirement. So the company has a big investment in keeping the workers happy. It's almost like a big family - it's in everyone's interest for things to go smoothly.

No all Japanese stay with one company, but that's the general pattern. There are exceptions, of course. But changing jobs or companies is much less common in Japan than anywhere else.

Getting seniority and a higher salary is one of the specific benefits of staying with one company. And job security is another. It's relatively rare for a company to fire an employee. And there are many other benefits, like help with housing, for example.

Oil in Japan

Japan has very few natural resources, and that includes oil. They produce only about six percent of our requirements. They are dependent on imports for ninety-four percent of the oil they need. Three-quarters of it comes from the Middle East. They also get some oil from Indonesia, and some from China. They are looking for new sources of oil all the time.

It means they're especially vulnerable during an oil crisis. Sharp increases in the price of imported oil can have serious effects in Japan. And so can the cutting off of some of the supply. The international oil situation is of great concern to Japanese.

They are looking for alternate energy sources. We have been exploring every possibility, both to get new sources of oil, and also to develop new sources of energy. This includes everything from the use of coal again to the development of nuclear energy.

The Status of the Emperor in Japan

It's very similar to the status of the king or queen of England. The emperor is the symbolic head of state, with no real governmental power. His duties, like convening the Diet, for example. are ceremonial. Since the end of World War Two, Japan has been a constitutional monarchy. And the function and duties of the emperor are defined by the constitution that was adopted at that time.

It was not the same in the past. Before the war, the emperor of Japan was considered a god. That's all changed now. But the emperor still has a very special status to millions of Japanese, who respect him as a symbol of the nation.

The present emperor is Emperor Akihito (born on 23 December 1933) and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He became emperor in 1989 after his father, Emperor Showa died and is the 17th most senior monarch or lifelong leader. Emperor Akhihito is married to a commoner, Empress Michiko. They have two sons, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Fumihito, and a daughter, Princess Sayako.

Political Parties in Japan

The major political parties in Japan are the Liberal Democratic party, the New Frontier Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Komei, the New Party Sakigake and the Japan Communist Party. Among them, the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Frontier Party are conservative, the Komei and the Sakigake Party are middle-of-the-road, and the Social Democratic and the Japan Communist Party are liberal. And there are other, smaller parties as well.

The Liberal Democratic Party used to be the most powerful. Since 1955 when it was formed, it dominated the legislature, which they call the Diet. But in the early '90s, with the issue of domestic political corruption and the end of the Cold War, certain political reforms took place. The Liberal Democratic Party, while still powerful, hasn't been able to resume its former role. The New Frontier Party is the dominant reformist party. Because no one party is strong enough to form a government, a series of coalition governments has been the recent trend.

The political reforms aren't finished yet. But so far, they are working. For example, they now have new election systems to make the voting fairer and new election laws to restrict political contributions.

Second Language in Japan..

English is the second language in Japan. Almost all Japanese school children study English, beginning in junior high. Some even begin in elementary school. One major reason is that most students have to take English tests as part of the high school and university entrance exams. Another is that a knowledge of English is considered an advantage. Therefore, many Japanese now have at least some knowledge of English.

On the whole, Japanese can't really say they speak English well. They work very hard at learning English, but their knowledge is mostly passive. They can read and understand English much better than they can speak it.

Perhaps it's because few Japanese students ever get a chance to practice outside of the classroom. There are millions of Japanese studying English in Japan. But there are relatively few English-speakers for them to talk with.

Japanese Writing

Traditionally, Japanese has been written vertically. But now horizontal writing is used too. When they write vertically, they begin at the top of the right side of the page and go down. Each new line follows to the left. When they write horizontally, they start at the top left-hand side of the page and go from left to right, as in English. It's just as easy to write one way as the other.

Most books, magazines, and newspapers are printed in the vertical style. This is because it is somewhat easier to read Japanese this way. But it's easier to use the horizontal style if passages from foreign languages are included.

The front of a Japanese book is where the back of an English book would be. Almost all Japanese books open from left to right-like a Hebrew or an Arabic book. It's the same with newspapers too.

Chinese Characters

There are about 2,000 basic characters that every Japanese should know. Japanese learn 996 of these - the most essential ones - during the six years of elementary school. They call the Chinese characters KANJI. Japanese have to learn to read them and write them. This is one of the main tasks for every Japanese student. But with the 2,000 basic KANJI , they can read almost anything in the daily press.

It is impossible to say how many chinese characters are there. Even the experts disagree. Some say there are about 60,000, others say 80,000 or more.

All Japanese should know at least the 2,000 basic kanji. But most of them, especially university graduates, know thousands more as well.

Is it difficult to learn Japanese?

It's difficult to answer this question. Japanese people usually think that Japanese is very difficult for foreigners to learn. But, in fact, it's no more difficult than many other languages. Each language has its own special problems for learners. And Japanese has some features that take time to master. But many foreigners have learned Japanese very well.


It's probably hardest to master the different levels of speech. The kind of language Japanese use differs according to the relationship between the speakers. It's not very easy to get a feel for this.

Reading and writing is the other difficult part of Japanese. In order to read and write, you have to learn quite a few characters. There are about a hundred phonetic characters, called kana, and at least 2,000 different Chinese characters, or kanji, to learn.

Biggest Holiday in Japan

The biggest holiday in Japan is the New Year. But it's different from the way it's celebrated in the West. For Japanese the holiday begins on New Year's Eve, and it continues for the first three days of January. Schools, businesses, government offices, and most stores are closed on those days. Almost nobody works during the New Year holiday.

A lot of people visit the temples and shrines. The crowds begin coming on New year's eve and continue through the night and the next few days. It's supposed to bring good health and good luck for the New Year.

After the visits to shrines and temples, friends and relatives visit each other's homes. There's a special kind of sake that they drink, and also special foods for the New Year. It's prepared beforehand so no one has to cook during the holiday

Kimono

Japanese women still wear kimono, but not very often. It depends on the age and the occasion. Many elderly women are used to wearing kimono. Younger women wear western clothes. Most women have at least one kimono for special occasions, like formal parties, weddings, or New year's Day. But the formal kimono is too complicated to put on for everyday wear.

People wear kimono for work too. For example, waitresses in japanese-style restaurants wear them while they work. And people in traditional art forms like Kabuki, tea ceremony, and flower arrangment usually wear kimono while performing.

There is an informal kind of kimono too. It's called yukata. many people - including men - wear it to relax in at home, especially in the summer. And most Japanese-style resort hotels provide yukata for their guests.

Shintoism in Japan

In a certain sense, all Japanese are Shintoists. It's part of their cultural heritage. Some of them may practice Shintoism more actively by going to shrines and ceremonies. But Shintoism is as much a system of values as a religion. So even those of them who are not religious at all hold certain Shinto values - like a deep respect for nature, for example.

Does that mean you can be a Shintoist and a Buddhist?

Yes. In fact, the majority of Japanese who consider themselves religious would say they are both Buddhist and Shintoist. Shintoism as a belief system doesn't exclude other loyalties.

What about ancestor worship?

That's a basic part of Shintoism - but it's really more a feeling of reverence than worship. We also respect and appreciate the land and all of nature. Many Shinto shrines are noted for the great natural beauty of their surroundings.

Do you practice Zen?

Yes, I do. No, I don't. But whether we've had formal training in Zen or not, all Japanese have been influenced by it. It's said that Japanese culture is Zen culture. We may think of Zen Buddhism as a way to achieve enlightenment through serenity. It's very simple yet very complex at the same time. You could study it for a lifetime.

How can you study it formally?

You can go to a Zen Buddhist temple to study with the priests. You can stay for a few weeks or a few months if you like. It varies with the temple. Some people go back periodically to continue their study.

What are some of the cultural influences of Zen?

They're everywhere - the tea ceremony, for example, or flower arrangement. And they often prefer quiet reflection at times when people from other cultures might talk a lot. Maybe that's why we say that Japanese culture is Zen culture.

Are you Buddhist?

Yes. (No.) Some Japanese may be more religious than others. And some of them may say we are not religious at all. But almost all of them recognize that they have been deeply affected by the Buddhist tradition. Japan is a Buddhist country. Buddhism has influenced almost every aspect of their culture - their art, literature, their architecture, their approach to life.

But isn't Japan a Shintoist country too?

Yes. They don't see a contradiction in that. Some Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoist, and Confucianist at the same time. They recognize that they're part of all these traditions.

When do Japanese go to Buddhist temples?

There are certain traditional times to visit a Buddhist temple, like the New Year, an annual visit to a family grave, or a memorial service, for example. Or they can go anytime they want to pray for something. And many of them visit the temples to enjoy the beauty they find there.

Living National Treasures

They're outstanding traditional japanese crafts-people and performing artists. They've been chosen by the Japanese government as "holders of traditional skills registered as important intangible cultural assets." But popularly, they're called living national treasures. The program started in 1954. It helps to ensure that the traditional skills will be carried on by future generations.

Once a person is designated a living national treasure, he or she usually feels a responsibility to help train others. And nationwide recognition helps to maintain the interst in the traditional arts and crafts.

There's a great variety. The famous potter, Shoji Hamada, for example, was a living national treasure until his death in 1978. And there are one or more sword-smiths, silk brocade weavers, kimono designers, paper-makers, and Bunraku performers, among others.

National Sport in Japan

Sumo, japanese traditional style of wrestling, is considered japanese national sport. Sumo originated in ancient Japan. Even today, there's a lot of colorful pageantry and ceremony at the sumo matches. There's one professional organization. It holds six fifteen-day tournaments each year - three in Tokyo and on each in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. They're televised nationally.

Sumo is practiced at colleges and universities as a sport. And children like to play at it. But outside of this, there isn't much amateur sumo. For most people, sumo is a spectator sport.

Two huge wrestlers in traditional-style loincloths grapple in a circular ring 15 feet in diameter. The bout can end in seconds, when any part of a wrestler's body except the soles of his feet touches the ground, or when he's pushed out of the ring.

Kabuki

Kabuki is one of the major forms of traditional Japanese theater. It dates from the seenteenth century. There are three basic kinds of drama in Kabuki. One deals with the lives of warriors and nobles, and another with the lives of the common people. Still another incorporates dance. Kabuki is performed on a revolving stage with a runway extending into the audience.

Music is used in Kabuki, except for certain plays, music is an essential part of Kabuki. But it might sound strange to western ears. The instruments are traditional ones- the Japanese lute or shamisen, for example. And the music is highly stylized.

Kabuki costumes are quite elaborate. The makeup is very heavy, almost mask-like. The audience can tell the character by the makeup. All female roles are played by men. The entire performance, even the speaking style, is extremely exaggerated.

Noh

Noh is the oldest traditional form of japanese theater. It goes back to ancient times. It's a kind of musical dance-drama. The plays are performed on a square stage with no curtains. The orchestra sits at the rear. There are drums of different sizes, and a special Noh flute. There are about two hundred fifty different Noh plays.

The main characters express themselves through dance. The speaking is done by a special chorus which sings or chants the narration and the lines. Noh often reminds westerners of classical Greek drama, especially the chorus.

The performers do wear costumes. But they also wear masks. Noh masks are symbolic. They represent different types of people. The actors have to develop the characters through movements, not facial expressions. It takes a lot of skill.

What's Bunraku?

Bunraku is a kind of Japanese puppet theater. It's one of the three major forms of traditional Japanese theater, along with Kabuki and Noh. Bunraku dates from the seventeenth century. It features a special kind of accompaniment. There's shamisen music. And there's a reciter who sings or chants both the story line and the lines for each character in the play.

What kind of puppets are used?

The Bunraku puppets are special. Each one is between three and five feet high. The heads are made very skillfully. On some, the eyes and mouth can open and close, and the eyebrows can move.

What about the puppeteers?

Each puppet is manipulated by three puppeteers. One person manipulates the head and right arm, another, the left arm, and another, the feet. The puppeteers wear black hoods to cover their heads and faces, so as not to distract from the dolls.

Do you know how to do the tea ceremony in Japan?

Yes, I've studied the tea ceremony. (No, I haven't formally studied the tea ceremony.) But whether we've studied it or not, most of Japanese do know something about it. It's been a traditional japanese art form since the fifteenth century, when it was perfected. The tea ceremony is much more than just serving and drinking tea. It's a deeply aesthetic experience.

What does the tea ceremony involve?

There are precise rituals of form and etiquette for host and guests. They include the tea room itself, the selection of the tea cups, the making and serving of the tea, and the appreciation of the hospitality.

Is is always so formal?

The degree of formality may vary according to the particular school of tea ceremony you follow. And, in a way, serving tea in your home to family or guests may be considered and informal extension of the ritual Japanese tea ceremony.

Flower Arrangement in Japan!

Most of Japanese know something about it whether they've studied it or not. It's a centuries-old traditional Japanese art form. The original emphasis in flower arrangement, or ikebana, was on the natural materials, and the way they were used to express harmony with nature. Most Japanese have a feel for that.

Has the emphasis changed?
Not the fundamentals - the arrangement of three main branches or sprays to signify sky, earth, and mankind. But in the past, only natural materials were used. Today some avant-garde school use man-made materials as well.


According to some estimates, there are about three thousand schools of flower arrangement. And about twenty million people practice it as a serious hobby. There are also several hundred ikebana clubs outside Japan.

Traditional Japan

Is there anything left of traditional Japan?

There certainly is. They have so many places where the past is preserved - cities like Kyoto, for example. In towns like Kanazawa and Kurashiki, you can see what feudal Japan was like. And almost everywhere there are homes, temples, and shrines that are built according to traditional Japanese styles of architecture.

What about in everyday life?

Traditional Japan is all around them - for example, in their art forms, their entertainment, their way of dressing, and their food. Japan has industrialized very rapidly. But they haven't lost their traditional Japanese culture.

What are the traditional art forms or entertainment?

The art forms would include such things as brush painting, flower arrangement, ceramics, wood-block prints, and tea ceremony. Entertainment includes theatrical performances such as Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku. And Sumo is both entertainment and sport.

What do geisha really do in Japan?

Geisha are hostess-entertainers for certain kinds of Japanese-style dinner-and-drinking parties. They sing, dance, and play musical instruments in either modern or traditional Japanese style. Some wear elaborate kimono, hairstyles, and makeup. They're supposed to be skilled in the art of conversation. Today not many geisha are trained the way they used to be.

Geisha parties are extremely expensive. It could cost hundreds of dollars per guest to have geisha present. Not many individuals can afford to entertain this way - it's usually done at company expense.

What happens at a party at a geisha house?

You sit on the floor around a table, Japanese style. You eat and drink, and talk with the other guests and with the geisha, who may be seated beside you. The geisha sing, play instruments, or dance, and often the guests join in.

Do many Japanese travel abroad?

Yes. Many thousands of Japanese travel abroad each year. Some of them travel for business and some for pleasure. The airlines offer all kinds of travel packages and tours. Many Japanese travel in groups. They prefer it, because they feel more secure that way. They have guides who speak Japanese. Others like to be on their own and travel by themselves.

Japanese travel just about everywhere these days. Warm places with good beaches are expecially popular. Honeymoon couples like to go to Hawaii and Micronesia - they're foreign and exotic, but not too far away.

Many honeymooners travel in groups too. Japanese preference for group travel may seem strange to foreigners. But they're an island nation. They can't drive to other countries. Going abroad for the first time is a big step. And the security of the group can help.

Pets in Japan

Japanese like pets. Many Japanese keep cats, dogs, fish, or birds as pets. Because most homes are rather small, they generally prefer smaller animals. You don't see many very large dogs in the cities. But people do keep small dogs in their homes or yards. Fish and birds are convenient pets for apartment living.

Japanese are kind to animals. In general, Japanese treat their animals very well. Supermarkets have large pet food sections, as in the West. Japanese feed pets well, take them to the vet when they're sick, even bury them in pet cemeteries when they die.

Japanese have two kinds of dogs that they think of as native to Japan. One is the Akita dog, from northern Honshu. The other is the Tosa dog, from Shikoku. The Akita dog looks like a German shepherd, and the Tosa dog looks like a boxer.

What's Bonsai?

Bonsai is an art as well as a form of gardening. Basically it's the raising of miniature trees in small ceramic pots. It takes a lot of skill and experience. The bonsai begins with a normal seedling or seed. The growth is controlled through careful cultivation. With proper treatment, a bonsai plant can last for decades or even centuries. It's a Japanese art - a kind of refining of nature.

There's a great variety of trees they use for bonsai. The pine tree is a favourite for bonsai. And there are miniature fruit trees. It's fun to see a tiny apply tree, for example, blossom and bear fruit.

People from all walks of life do bonsai. Many Japanese enjoy raising the miniature trees as a form of relaxation. The bonsai can grow almost anywhere, so you don't need a lot of room. It can be a very rewarding hobby.

KARATE

Karate is one of the traditional national sports in Japan. It takes a lot of training and skill. If you want to earn karate you really have to work hard at it. And you usually have to go to a special school or join a karate club, because it isn't generally taught within the regular school system.

Judo and karate are both traditional martial arts. And they both emphasize training the mind and body as well as self-defense. But judo uses grappling and throwing techniques, while karate uses the hands and feet as weapons.

Did karate originate in Japan?

Let's just say that there are different views about that. Japanese usually think of karate as Japanese, originating in Okinawa. In China they consider it Chinese and call it kung-fu. In Korea they think of it as Korean and call it tai-kwando.

Judo in Japan

Judo is one of Japan's traditional national sports. It takes a lot of time and practice to learn it well. Some people begin judo in clubs in junior and senior high schools. And colleges may have judo clubs too. There are also many private judo schools for those who want to learn it.

The color of the belt is a way to tell what a person's level of ability in judo is. It can be considered a kind of rank. You wear a differnet color belt at each stage of your proficiency. The black belt indicates the highest rank.

Judo means something like "the gentle way." The implication is that in judo you can win without using force. Judo incorporates both mental and physical training. But it's not mystical. It involves mastery of specific techniques.

Golf in Japan

Golf is very popular. More than ten million Japanese play golf. And they have more than 1,500 golf courses. Golf is becoming the most popular sport among male salaried workers in urban areas. They enjoy it for the same reasons westerners do - you can play well past middle age, and it's a good way to entertain business associates and clients.

Of course Japanese women play golf too, and very well. Both Japanese men and women regularly compete with the world's leading pros.

It is expensive to play golf in Japan. It's a real problem. Land is so scarce that not much of it can be used for golf courses. So golf club memberships are incredibly expensive. And there are few public courses. Japanese living abroad enjoy the chance to play at public courses.

Is skiing popular in Japan?

Yes. Skiing is the most popular winter sport. About 12 milion Japanese of all ages enjoy skiing. They have excellent ski resorts, about seven hundren of them. People come from all over the world to ski in Japan. The only problem, just as in many other countries, is that it's often difficult to get to the ski areas because of weekend traffic and crowded trains.

There are so many best skis areas in Japan. The skiing in Hokkaido, their northernmost main island, is expecially good. The 1972 winter Olympics were hald there at Sapporo. And the mountains in the northern half of Honshu get a lot of snow. Olympic Winter Games was celebrated in 1998 in Nagano in central Honshu.

Other winter sports are also there, for example, skating is especially popular. A lot of mountain lakes are very good for skating, and there are ice-skating rinks in large cities. Ice hockey and snowboarding are gaining in popularity as winter sports.