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Nov 21, 2009, 1:58pm

The Naruto Style Role Playing Site :: General(Not RP) :: IMPORTANT :: Rules/Important Things to Know :: Maybe helpful info

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Topic: Maybe helpful info (Read 145 times)

Yumiko Mitsuho
Strongest Ninja Leader

Chuunin[A:10]
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Hmm do they have popsicles in the Naruto world?[D3v:SeizetsuLurid]

Joined: Nov 2006
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Maybe helpful info
« Thread Started on Feb 21, 2008, 10:33pm »

Heres some information that may...or may not..come in handy.
Calling People the Right Japanese Title
In everyday life, "san" is the most common suffix. "-chan" is a more affectionate term, used mainly with friends, family members and children, "-tan" is a kind of slang version. "-kun" is usually reserved for boys or young men, but can sometimes be used for girls or young women too. There is also "-shi", which is an intermediary form between "san" and "sama" in terms of politeness, and is mostly used for professionals like engineers or lawyers.
Then comes "sensei",which is used for anybody with a knowledge superior to ours. It is most common for doctors, teachers and professors, but can also be used for politicians, martial arts masters, etc. Contrarily to other suffixes so far, "sensei" can be used alone, without a name before it, just like "doctor" or "professor" in English. So, one can say "Nomura-sensei" or just "Sensei", like one could say in English "Professor Nomura" or "Professor".

"Sempai" is another very common way of addressing someone with more experience or a hierarchical superior. It can be used alone or after a name, like "sensei".

http://www.jref.com/language/japanese_suffixes.shtml

Holidays

(New Year) - 1-3 January
New Year is mainly a family celebration in Japan. People go back to their home towns or parents' home. As most shops and restaurants are exceptionally closed for 3 days, people prepare the traditional "o-setchi ryouri" (‚¨ß—¿—), eaten during this period.
(Adult's Day) - 15 January
Celebration of the coming of age for boys and girls turning 20 that year. The coming of age symbolizes mainly the obtention of the right to buy cigarettes and alcohol legally. Ceremonies held at temples and shrines and girls wear special kimono for the occasion.
(Setsubun) - 2 or 3 February
On the evening of the first day before the traditional beginning of Spring ("risshun"), a brief rite called "mame-maki" ( literally "bean-throwing") is conducted at temples and shrines to drive away evil spirits and disease. It is especially popular with children.
(Valentine's Day) - 14 February
Contrarily to Western customs, it is normally only women who offer presents on Valentine's day in Japan. It is usually chocolate and is not restricted to their boyfriend, husband, but to any men among friends or colleagues. The joke goes that as many Japanese men do not like sweets (including chocolate), women offer them to their husbands but eat them afterwards. The other reason is that men have to reciprocate twice what they have received one moth later, on White Day.
(Hina Matsuri) - 3 March
This festival is dedicated to (young) girls. Dolls representing an ancient Imperial couple are displayed in houses of unmarried girls to bring good fortune on them. The superstition has it that if dolls are not put back to their boxes before midnight, girls in the house will never marry.
(White Day) - 14 March
A Japanese invention. As only women give presents on Valentine's Day, men should return the gesture one month later. It is also called "knicker's giving day", as some men buy panties to their woman. Again, that could be seen as a self-interested gesture, as men will enjoy their lady's wearing their gift.
(Plum & Cherry Blossom Viewing) - February to April
Blossom viewing has been popular in Japan for over a thousand years. Cherry blossoms ("sakura" ) are the most popular and are one of the symbols of Japan. Hundreds of thousands of cherry trees have been planted all over Japan. Canals in cities like Tokyo are typically lined with them and rare are the parks that do not have their fair share of cherry trees.
Numerous companies and organization have been named after them, and "sakura" is also both a female given name and part of some family name '(Sakurai, Sakurajima, Sakuraoka...).
Plum trees ("ume" ) are the first to bloom in February, followed by peach trees ("momo" ) in March and the cherry trees late March to early April (or a few weeks later in Northern Japan).
(Higan) - around 21 March and 21 September
Memorial services for the deceased are held at temples on the 7 days preceding the vernal and autumnal equinox. People visit their family graves during this period.
(Golden Week) - 29 April to 5 May
One of the 3 major holiday period for Japanese along with the New Year and Obon, the Golden Week was thus named because it includes 3 public holidays within on week. These are Green Day (29 April), Constitution day ( 3 May) and Children's Day (5 May). Depending on the year, these will be more or less conveniently combined with a weekend.
All flights and hotels are usually fully booked during the Golden Week and prices can increase up to 5-fold. It is best to avoid this period if you are planning to travel in Japan.
(Kodomo no hi) -5 May- is dedicated to boys, rather than all children (girls have "Hina Matsuri"). Families with male children fly paper streamers of carps called "koinobori", which symbolize healthy growth.
(Tanabata Matsuri or Star Festival) - 7 July
According the the Chinese legend, a princess and a shepherd fell in love, but were forbidden to meet, except for that day of the year (tanabata), when the two stars Kengyu (the shepherd) and Shokujo (the princess) meet in the Milky Way.
Children write poems or wishes on streamers of paper and attach them on special tanabata trees. Tanabata is celebrated on 7 August in some areas of Japan (e.g. Sendai).
(O-Bon or Lantern Festival) - 13-16 August
Obon is a Buddhist festival in homage to the spirits of the ancestors. It is said that the spirits return to earth during Obon, and lanterns are lit in front of houses to show them the way to their family. Lanterns are then floated on rivers to indicate the way back to the underworld - although the practice is now forbidden in big cities to avoid pollution.
Obon is normally held mid-August, but sometimes also mid-July. Many people living in cities return to their hometowns. It is also a busy vacation period, like the New Year and Golden Week, although this applies to all August, not just Obon itself.
(Halloween) - 31 October
Halloween is also celebrated by Japanese youths nowadays, though it is pretty much restricted to wearing costumes in nightclubs in areas such as Roppongi or Shibuya in Tokyo. Children do not go from door to door asking for candies.
(Shichi-Go-San or 7-5-3 Festival) - 15 November
Shichigosan is the traditional custom of taking boys aged 3 and 5 and girls aged 3 and 7 to be blessed at the local Shinto shrine to thank for their good health and pray for future blessings. Children are dressed up in colourful kimonos.
(Christmas) - 25 December
All Japanese know Christmas, and decorations in supermarkets and department stores are as obvious as in any Western country, if not more. Some Japanese people buy a Xmas tree and decorate their house, but they are not the majority.
Christmas is just like another Valentine's Day for many. It is common for (young) couples to go have a romantic dinner or go to the cinema. Japanese do not have a family party like Westerners. This is reserved for the New Year.

1 January - 元日 (New Year's Day)
Second Monday of January - 成人の日 (Adult's Day)
11 February - 建国記念の日 (National Foundation Day)
21 March (approx.) - 春分の日 (Vernal Equinox Day)
29 April - 緑の日 (Green Day)
3 May - 憲法記念日 (Constitution Day)
5 May - 子どもの日 (Children's Day)
15 September - 敬老の日 (Respect-for-the-Aged Day)
22 September (approx.) - 秋分の日 (Autumnal Equinox Day)
10 October - 体育の日 (Sports Day)
3 November - 文化の日 (Culture Day)
23 November - 勤労感謝の日 (Labour Thanksgiving Day)
23 December - 天皇誕生日 (Emperor's Birthday)

Proper Behaviour

The indispensable basics

Never enter a house with your shoes. This is one of the few rules for which Japanese will not make allowance just because you are a foreigner. This rule is also valid for some establishments like schools. Slippers are usually provided in the entrance hall. If slippers are provided for the toilet, use them instead of the one for the rest of the house.
When you are invited into a Japanese family, bring a small present or "omiyage" (souvenir, usually food). If you are coming straight from your country, it is preferable to bring some local culinary specialties from your home town/region.
Say "o-jama shimasu" (sorry for disturbing) while entering someone's house.
Some shops, cafes or department stores provide plastic covers for umbrellas. Make sure not to enter with a dripping wet umbrella without one.
Refrain from blowing your nose in front of other people. Japanese only use paper tissue for this. Like in other Asian countries, it is considered rude to blow you nose in a handkerchief and stuff it in your pocket afterward. Japanese are usually aware of this Western practice, although that might make them feel uncomfortable.
You should not eat while standing or walking in the street. Even inside a house, you should sit down to eat. The only exceptions are for eating at a counter (e.g. ramen) or for eating an ice-cream in the street. This custom is one of the most difficult to adapt to for many non-Japanese, as it doesn't seem to make much sense.
Do not point your finger, feet or chopsticks at people. If you have to indicate an object or direction to someone, wave your fingers with the palm downwards.
Avoid being expressing your opinion too directly. Japanese have what they call "honne" (real opinion) and "tatemae" (public opinion). They will express the latter in most situation so as not to disturb the group harmony. It is of course flexible and consist in agreeing with the people around you as much as possible. This is the reason why Japanese are so bad at debating serious issues in public (including the media). "Honne" is what you really think but do not say openly, or only to close friends or relatives.
Avoid interrupting people when they are speaking or thinking about an answer. Japanese do not mind short periods of silence in the middle of a discussion.
Avoid fixing someone in the eyes (for men, even, or especially beautiful girls sitting in front of you in the train).
Do not use your mobile phone in trains unless it is clearly allowed to do so. Using emails or SMS is fine though.
Money should be given in an envelope, but only about half the Japanese really take the trouble. Most men do not seem to care, except for formal situations. Never forget this rule for weddings. In addition, the number of banknotes given to the married couple should be a odd number, as superstitious people believe that the couple might separate if the number can be divided in two.

Table manners

Do not stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, as this is used in Buddhist funerary ceremony.
Do not pass food to someone else with your chopsticks for the same reason as above.
At a "nomikai" (e.g. while going drinking with colleagues at an Izakaya), you should (re)fill the glasses of people around you when they are empty, and they should do the same for you. If you want to refill you glass, start by serving other people. If you do not want a refill, do not empty you glass.
It is polite to say "itadakimasu" once before eating or drinking, and "gochisousama deshita" to your host or to the restaurant's staff after eating or when leaving the place.
Contrarily to Western manners, noodles can be and should be slurped. Likewise, bowls or plates should be brought up the the mouth rather than bending one's head toward it.

Business etiquette

"Meishi" (business cards) are exchanged when meeting someone for the first time. They should be given and accepted with both hands in formal situations.
Make sure to observe it carefully and remember your opposite's name. Place the card on the table in front of you if you are sitting, or put it in your wallet. Do not put a proffered cards into your pocket or fold it in any way.

Bathing etiquette

Most Japanese wash themselves before entering the bath, as they have a customs of sharing the bath water. This is true as well for public baths (sento) as for thermal spring (onsen)and bath in individual homes. The reason is that other people will use the same water after you (except if you live by yourself, of course). Therefore, you should not empty the bath after using it.
Most Japanese like bathing in (very) hot water (40 to 50 degrees celsius). If it is too hot for you, you can add a bit of cold water, but not as much as it becomes tepid, or the next person won't appreciate it.
In public baths, do not mistake men and women's changing rooms, as it is extremely impolite, even if you really mistook. The men's room are usually on the left, and normally has a blue curtain with "otoko" or dono-sama written on it. The women's room is usually on the right, with a red curtain reading "onna". If you are not sure, ask !
Absolutely avoid bathing suits in public baths, as this could create incidents with Japanese customers and you could end up expelled from the premises.
Tattoos are banned in most public baths. If you have one, you should consult the staff at reception beforehand to avoid causing trouble.

Traditional manners.

Sit in the "seiza" position. This can be difficult and painful for Japanese themselves, especially taller people. It involves sitting on the floor with the legs folded under your body, with your back resting on your heels.
It is usually said that people should avoid the number "4" for gifts. Like in China and Korea, 4 is pronounced the same way as "death". However, it seems that very few Japanese people really care about this superstition nowadays.

« Last Edit: Mar 25, 2009, 5:32pm by Yumiko Mitsuho »

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