The Role of Children in Japan

In Japan, there are boys called “Botchan” or “Bonbon”, which mean a boy who is a son of a relatively wealthy family and is dependent on their parents. However, White suggests that “Botchan” doesn’t exactly mean “Bonbon” (Perfectly Japanese). In my opinion, “Botchan” is a little boy who is totally dependent on their parents and carefully taken care. For example, in my image, “Botchan” only wears clothes that their parents choose him to wear and do “Ojuken”, which means going to cram schools to pass the entrance exam for famous private schools. On the other hand, “Bonbon” is a boy older than “Botchan” who is only dependent on their parents in economical aspects. Therefore, according to White, “Botchan” have their own sense of liking, for instance, fashion (Perfectly Japanese). Nevertheless, “Botchan” usually doesn’t know what he wants to do or doesn’t have any purpose and goal in the future, and what he is mostly doing is just an imitation of their parents. I felt “Botchan” and “Bonbon” is a little bit different as White suggests and thought that comparing these two types of boys in Japan will lead to identify the role of children in Japanese family.
Historically, Japanese treat boys better than girls, however it is changing. This way of thinking came from the idea that woman will marry into another family in the future, and this is because man should be respectable to be responsible for the family. As a result, I consider that this is one of the reasons why the notions of “Botchan” and “Bonbon” still exist strongly in Japan. (270 words)

Family and Marriage in Japan

It was common to have a large family, which grandparents live together, in Japan. However, the style of family changed to a nuclear family type, which family is organized only by the parents and their children. One of the reason why this trend happen in Japan was because women became more independent. Traditionally, women who is married had to do all the houseworks and they had to follow the orders of the .mother-in-law However, nowadays the women's right has been understood more than before, and this made women to play an important part in the society. As a result, the average age of women getting married increased because they have their work to do. In addition, the rate of couples getting divorce in Japan incresed because women don't have to rely on their husband's earnings any more. Therefore, it can be said that women have no longer need to just do the houseworks and the nuclear family is a family type that women can do things more independently.

First Seminar 2B Essay Task2

Dating in Japan

Dating in Japan is very different from the U.S. in many aspects. I learned in the class that it is a normal thing for couples to tell their parents they are going on a date and who they will date with. On the other hands, Japanese couples never tell their parents about this kind of thing unless they were strongly asked. Moreover, they don’t even introduce their boyfriend or girlfriend. In Japan, when couples introduce themselves to their parents, that means that they will get married (but not really all ways these days). Therefore, Japanese couples don’t go to the boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s house, instead they often date outside. It can be said that Japanese are little bit shy about to be known that they are dating. Same thing can be said when we focus on the style of dating. In my view, couples don’t always be together in Japan. They meet together, when there are no people around who they know, for example, after school. This is because they don’t want to be known that they are dating, as I mentioned before, because they are shy.
Then, “What are they shy about?” many people might want to ask this question. In my opinion, this is because Japanese people are not so good at expressing their emotions directly. For instance, Japanese couples don’t express their feeling that much like the word “I love you”. However, people try to express their feeling by attitude and behavior. There is a Japanese word “Satoru” which means try to realize how they feel even though they are saying nothing. I think this is the main reason why they are shy. In conclusion, it can be said that the cultural difference between Japan and the U.S. makes the way of dating different.

First Seminar 2B Essay Task1

今回、私は授業を通してアメリカと日本のグループの違いに正直驚かされました。私のアメリカの学校のイメージは、アメリカが「人種のサラダボール」と言われるように様々な文化的背景を持つ人々が仲良くしているのかと思っていました。しかし、よく思い出してみれば、アメリカのドラマでは白人は白人の友達と黒人は黒人の友達と一緒にいたなあ～と感じました。さらに、本のなかではそれぞれの仲間は独自の趣味やファッションを持っていて、自分のステータスを高めることに重点を置いているとことがわかりました。日本の友達関係は趣味や部活が中心で、あまり仲間だとか仲間じゃないとかいう区別が漠然としていて、アメリカとは違って自分のステータスを気にしないのかもしれません。では、なぜこのような集団の違いがアメリカと日本にはあるのでしょうか、授業で学んだことと私の個人的な意見も交えながら考えてみたいと思います。
日本とアメリカの一番大きな違いは、アメリカは多民族の国で日本は単一民族の国であることと考えられます。日本は歴史的に見ても基本的には単一民族で、それぞれ地方には独特の文化がありますが、文化の根幹は共通のものと言えると思います。それに対して、アメリカは国自体の歴史が浅く、ほとんどの人が移民という国です。それゆえ、アメリカでは異なった民族が異なった文化的背景を持っていて、民族（グループ）のアイデンティティーを保持することに重点を持ったのではないかと考えられます。そうであったと考えるなら、自分達のアイデンティティーを多文化社会で際立ったせるためには、自分達と他者の違いを強調すればよく、自分達の民族が他より優越であると考えればよいと思ったのかもしれません。だから、日本よりもアメリカでは自分達のステータスを気にするのかもと私は思いました。
自分の経験から日本では、できるだけ多くの友達と文化祭や体育祭を通じてクラス単位で仲良くなるというのが目標だと感じました。つまり、日本は友達と仲良くしようというベクトルが外に向いているのだと思います。逆に、アメリカでは自分の仲間うちで仲良くしようという内向きのベクトルが働いているのかもしれません。まとめるとアメリカのグループには「民族」という意識が色濃くでていて、それが仲間作りにも影響しているのだと考えられます。

Nice to meet you!!

どうもはじめまして！！
小林弘尭です。名前はちょっと難しいのですが、ヒロタカと読みます。
愛知県豊田市の近く出身の１９歳です。
スポーツはテニスと弓道を友達とやったりするのが好きかな。
でも、今は時間がなくてサークルには入っていません。
昔、アメリカのサンフランシスコ住んでいたことがありますが、英語はあまりできません。
今の希望としては来年アメリカに留学したいと思っています。
どうぞよろしく！！！

Hello!!
My name is Hirotaka Kobayashi. My name is a little bit difficult to read in kanji.
I'm from near Toyota city which is in Aichi prefecture. And I'm 19 years old.
I like to play tennis and Japanese-style archery with my friends.
However, recently I have no time to join the club activity.
I lived in San Francisco when I was little, so I can't speak English that well.
But now I am willing to study abroad in the U.S. next year.
Nice to meet you!!!