生き甲斐: Japan 2019

           As you may know, I must follow certain guidelines with each blog post; the subject of each post a different topic or aspect of studying abroad. It can be difficult to always write a post that I think you all will enjoy reading while still completing the assignment, so definitely let me know if you have any questions about anything that I write about! This week’s focus is on cultural differences.             There are innumerable differences between Japanese and Western culture, down to individual’s daily lives. Some examples: Japanese people generally prefer to take baths in the evening, whereas most Americans I know take showers far more regularly than they take baths. It is a lot more rare for Japanese people to wash their hands after using the bathroom (although there are public health initiatives that are changing this). The gesture for “come here” in Japan is inverted compared to t...

           Today is my first day back at school after an extra long weekend for spring break. I kept busy: I went to a sake brewery/museum, did the tour of the Yamazaki Whisky Distillery ( 山崎蒸留所、 Yamazaki Jooryuujo), spent a night in Kyoto, and went to a local shrine for the Setsubun festival （節分祭、 Setsubun Matsuri ） , the Japanese celebration of the coming of spring (hence why this break is called ‘spring break’ even though we do not consider spring to start until March). We did not have much homework, so I was able to get a good bit of saxophone in as well!             Setsubun is celebrated annually on February 3 rd , and the celebration falls close to the Lunar New Year (this year on Feb 5 th ). This festival is used as a way to cleanse the previous years evil and to bring good luck and happiness for the coming year. This is done through 豆撒き、 ”mamemaki” or bean throwing. Participants will throw ...