Q&A about Japan

Q) Is Japan a nice place to live?
A) Well, of cource I think Japan is the best.

Q) Where exactly is Japan?
A) Japan is in the northwest corner of the Pacific Ocean.

Q) Is Japan a small country?
A) That depends on what you compare it to.

Q) Is Japan hot or cold?
A) It varies by region. Because Japan is long from north to south. Tokyo has four distinct seasons. Summer is hot and humid.

Q) What is the best season to travel in Japan?
A) I think fall is the best time.

Q) It rains a lot in Japan, doesn't it?
A) Yes. It's one of the rainiest countries of the world.

Q) What is the population of Tokyo?
A) There are about 13 million people in metropolitan Tokyo.

Q) What does the Tenno(emperor) do?
A) Now, the emperor is the symbol of the nation.

Q) What generation is the present emperor?
A) He is supposedly the 125th emperor.

Q) Is it impolite to hug or kiss a Japanese?
A) It's safer not to.

Q) Is it OK to shake hands with a Japanese?
A) Of course, it's OK.

Q) Are quiet people more trusted in Japan?
A) That tends to be true.

Q) What kind of place is Kyoto?
A) Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan.

Q) What kind of religion is Zen?
A) It is a sect of Buddhism.
The special feature of the practice of Zen is zazen, which is sitting meditation. You sit very straight for a long time to empty your mind of illusions and attain enlightenment. Satori means Enlightenment.

Q) What's the difference between wabi and sabi?
A) Wabi is an aesthetic of finding richness and serenity in simplicity. This was epitomized by the single wild flower and everyday plainness which decorated the tea houses of "Sen no Rikyuu" and other masters. Sabi was a term for the beauth of such haiku as those by Bashou, and it seaks of a quiet grandeur enjoyed in solitude. Both wabi and Sabi are closely linked to the Zen striving for enlightenment through nothingness.

Q) Is Shinto the state religion of Japan?
A) Shinto is one of several religions. Shinto is connected to traditional culture and traditional ceremonies, it does have special status as a religion.

Q) How can you tell shries from temples?
A) Shinto shrines have big torii gates at their entrances. There are no Buddhist statues in shrines. Many people make a first visit of the year during the New Year's holiday.

Q) Is Japan racially homogeneous?
A) Some Japanese are convinced it is, but that is mistaken.

2003/08/23 18:34