Homework#3

Today we discussed the language of clothes.

After listening to the lecture and the meaning of colors in clothing, answer the following questions:1. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?

Honestly, I judge people according to what they wear. I think most people look appearance at first sight and appearance is connected with clothes. For example, if we look uniform, we can guess the person's job or organization. Moreover, clothes express the person's personality. Some people who is wearing expensive designer goods must be rich and proud of themselves and also they like new things. On the other hand, some people who don't care about clothes have own opinion and they aren't influenced by around people.

2 Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?

Yes, I think so.
I know it is not good to judge people by looking only clothes because I can't understand their inside face by looking just their clothes. However, first impression is really important in Japan, so clothes is one of the way to judge the person in Japanese society. Especially, foreigners stand out just their appearance, so Japanese look their clothes and judge the person.

3. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?

I'm wearing black shirts, black jacket and jeans now.
Yeah, I think they reflect my mood. I'm relaxing and feel comfortable now. I like black because black suit any clothes and also makes me calm down, I think. That is why I have a lot of black clothes.

Next week we will discuss friends, please prepare by answering the following questions:1. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?

I will never discuss about money and politic with my friends. I think money definitely causes trouble with friendship, so I don't lend money to my friends and borrow from them. Of course, I don't discuss with my friends about my salary at part time job because money is deeply private things. Recently, Japanese young people rarely discuss about politics with friends. Actually, we are not intrested in politics and it is too serious subject for us to discuss with friends. However, I think we need to discuss about that because politics strongly connect with our life and future, so we must think and discuss about politics more.

2. Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to different places? Give me some examples.

Yes, I have. They already have worked as a member of society although they are same age as me. It is interesting for me to hear about their job. I talk about my free time and favorite actors and films etc.. I talk about almost same thing and go to same places as talking other friends. I go to cafe and have a lunch or go shopping sometimes.

Homework#2

1.Death and Funerals:
a. Do you have any international friends or a host family? If so, how would you express your condolences to them if a family member died? If not, then how would you express consolences to an American host family if their Grandmother died?

Yes, I have international friends and host family.
Ummm... this is difficult question. At first, I will send e-mail as soon as possible, then I tell them not to be dissapointed too much and I wanna tell them to call me whenever you need my help.


b. Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?

No, I' ve never been to a foreign funeral.
However, I have watched a foreign funeral on some films and foreign drama.

2. The language of Clothes (preparation for next weeks topic):a.Why are Japanese designer label crazy? Why is what you wear so important?

Because, if we have no informatione for the clothes, we can't wash it properly.
Then, label is really important for people who have skin allergy to decide to buy the cloth because they might feel itchy because of some fabrics.
That is why label is important for us to wear comfortable clothes.


b.What does “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” mean to you?

I think it means don't judge people only their looks.
You have to know their inside face or character and also it means people are not just what they looks like.

Homework#1

Hi, everyone!
I'd liketo enjoy this class!(^_-)-☆


1. Reflecting about today's class:Today we discussed the Japanese concept of "wrapping". Do you agree with the web site's description?What do you do that can be called "wrapping"? Give examples and reasons for your actions.

I agree with the web site's description. I think Japanese poeple tend to wrap and we don't express our feeling directly. For example, when a boss or older person ask me to eat out or hang out, I can't refuse even if I have another appointment. That is because I don't want to be disliked to them and I think there is strong connection between job and private in Japan.
In my opinion, Japanese people can't say their real feeling especially for older person, so they wrap words or something like that.


2. Preparation for the next class "Death and Funerals"
Answer these questions in your blog;a. Where do you go when you die?

I think most of Japanese people believe that we will be born again after dead.
I don't know why exactly, but I think this opinion comes from Buddhism.
In Buddhism, animate object is coming death someday, but they are born again and again.
It is called "Rinne Tensyou"(輪廻転生)　in Japan.

b. Explain why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc. after a person's death?

I suppose one of the main reason is commemorating a person's death with his or her family, so we sometimes have a lunch or dinner with family after the death memorial services and then we talk about his or him in life.
Then, I heard from a monk that we can talk to a person who died during reciting a sutra.