Everyday smile

Essay 5 Chapter 7 Sexuality

2007-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

In Japan, it is said that sex-education is not sufficient. My elementary school had a curriculum sex-education from the 4th grade, and it was taught it once in a 3 or 4 months by gathering all 4th grade students in a one room. I remember it vividly that teachers gave us a picture-story show about mating of dogs not human beings. They did not teach how to have a sex or any details (process of making kids) about it. Teachers tried to teach us it indirectly ways like telling childish story or pictures. I think it is because they do not want to not to show the vivid or lively picture of sex. It might difficult for 4th grade students to understand it from such poor sex-education and it might not effective way to make them understood it well. However, I think it is enough for early age kids. I strongly believe that sex-education in elementary school is merely an introduction. In brief, vivid picture or videos are too heavy for kids and not good for them or too stimulus for them. I was really shocked when I saw women’ sexual organ and vivid sex images for the first time.
In general, most Japanese students know or learn sex when they are in a junior high school by borrowing pornographic magazines, videos or stupid rumor from their friends. One of my friends did not know how to have sex or what it is like until he had entered the junior high school. In my case, I also had learned it from pornographic magazines, videos or friends in junior high school.
Some people wonder why they learn it outside school. The answer is really simple; they are in an awkward age. In this period, they are changing being adult from the kids, and they struggle being adults or got lost who really are they and various things occur to them. Especially, they wake sexual things. For instance, their sexual organs and change in this period and they get interested in the opposite sex. Therefore, it is inevitable and natural for them to learn sex in this age. However, in Japan, most people feel a kind of mean for studying sex-education in school or teacher or family. They try to avoid learn it openly, that is why, they learn it outside school or friends.
Whether teens had experienced sex in their high school days or not is important among them. This phenomenon can be seen in boys remarkably. Even though he does not tell the others that he had done sex in clearly, but others can easily find he has experienced it or not, because their daily conversation topics are mainly “girls (sex)”, club activities, hobbies, and play. Interestingly, whether they have done sex or not have to do with one’s status. For instance, if he has not done it yet, other teens regard him as “cherry boy or dotei-kun”(not lose his virginity) or not cool.
They might sometimes make a fool of him for not had experienced it, so, person who has not lost his virginity try to hide it. What is more, they sometimes concern experienced age of having sex. Most boys care about finishing it until they get 20 years old, accordingly, inexperienced boy also tries to hide the fact not having done it yet. I do not know why people dwell on an age of 20, but in my opinion, 20 year old is turning point of the one’s life. Becoming 20 is the evidence of adult in Japan and approved as a member of society. One of my friends strongly believed that “boys can be a genuine man by experiencing sex”. It sounds nonsense though I can agree with him to some points. That is why such idea exists among teens
In addition, boys are more sensitive about it than girls. I do not know exactly girls’ situation, as far as I know, then, they do not care such matter very much.
There is no answer what is the purpose of going together, whereas, having sex is the one of the most important final goals for it. Some teens eagerly to find the boyfriend or girlfriend is just they want to have a sex. What is more, for young teens, sex is a symbol of unknown world and they want to enjoy it just for to amuse themselves.
It is not too much to say that these fancies contribute to drive teens want to have the sex, and society or media may concern to their fancies.
It is said that Japanese society is becoming to open to sex or no one interrupt to other’s sex, even parents. Japanese parents keep out of their child’s sex life or they simply are not interested in it, until it got serious problems; sex diseases or pregnancy. I read a Japanese mom’s comment about their kid’s sex “It’s OK to enjoy sex unless you do not make baby”. This comment shows current sex situation among teens in Japan.
What is more, you can easily buy pornographic magazines or DVDs around the town, even though it is prohibited in Japanese law for teens under the age of 20. Also, they can see it in the Internet.
I think having sex is the most essential things for us. Therefore, we must learn it in light way and carefully. However, we should also enjoy it in daily lives, because human beings is the only creatures that enjoy having sex

Essay 4 Chapter 6 "Friendship"

2006-12-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

It is said that adolescent is the most difficult age in the lives, teenagers struggle with many conflicts; what they really are? What is own existence in this society? Why do they have to study? They also come to wonder as being a good boy or just obey what parents or teachers say. Being a good teen is required in the every society and era, and society tends to expel such bad children as an obstacle or delinquent. However, teens try to break the rules, for they do not want to escape from the normal and routine life. That is why they become delinquent.
In depth, there are two main reasons about this; the collapse of family, sociality with others. According to the Nagano prefecture police department, the youth delinquency problems of takes place the against background of the problems in family is the most dominate factors in the survey (68.3%, in 2005)
The communication between parents and children is getting less. Children try not to have to do with parents when they are in an adolescence age. The number of children has been increasing who has the poor skills in communicating with others, such as they have no friends, reclusive and unsociable teens.
However, those factors are not always the main reason. In Japan, the adolescent youth hanker being bad is cool or they just want to escape from the boredom of daily life and enjoy the thrill of being bad. Besides, antisocial singers and actor are popular among them. For instance, male singer Yutaka Ozaki is typical one. His songs deal with antisocial matters such as freedom from the authorized restriction in school or society. Plus, he sings for the youth’s true feelings, because they are powerless and tiny existence in the society. I do not dislike such songs very much, and it is hard for us to decide it is good or bad. Also, bike, tobacco, female and shoplifting is one of their dominant topics. In this point,　peer pressure exists in this point. For instance, when I was in a junior-high-school, one of my friends smoked in school. I asked him “why you smoke? You like tobacco?” He just replied “nothing special. Everyone smokes and smoking looks cool, isn’t it?” I think he wanted to get a relief being in a friend’s group by doing the same things others do. As White says in the whole chapter 5, friends have a big influence on teenagers. She quotes an interesting Japanese junior-high-school girl’s diary on the page 159. In her diary, there is not a day without writing “my friends”. I think her diary is extreme one, but friends play an important role in daily lives. Although this “dependence on friends” phenomena occurs both boys and girls, it can be seen eminently in the girls.
White indicates that number of Juvenile crime arrests for on year in Osaka is the same as that for one day in New York. I was really surprised and got a little nervous to hear that. At the same time, I wondered why so many crimes occur in U.S, even though these are cause from youth delinquency. In my opinion, collapse of family is the common problems for Japan and U.S. However, there is a crucial difference can be found when compared to both countries. It is economic situations. In U.S the more poor expelled from the society and do not give the opportunity to return the society than that of Japan. Their only way to survive is committing a crime for living or just resist to ridiculous or pathetic society. I read the article about “ten-year-old boy sell the drugs for making money” (Newsweek). I think we have to seek the solutions in family and social system not in the youth. Surely, we have to wrestle not to make a extreme adolescence teens, but we should encourage the parents to communicate with their children more, making the social insurance or provide opportunity to work place just as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s policy. We have to find the proper proportion of these solutions.

Essay 3 chapter 5 The Material Child

2006-11-30T20:40:00.000-08:00

After the World WarⅡ, Japan lost lot of his wealthy, for the loss of the battle. His economic situation was really miserable. However, Japan recovered from it, and has become the second largest economic countries in the world, now. As getting build up national wealth, Japanese consume more products.
It is said that “human’s desire is no bottom”; Japanese desire of consuming is same with this. In fact the Japanese’ style of consuming is changing a little bit. In the past, the standard of selecting the products was whether does product executes its role or not. People focused on this point. However, Japan got wealthier, the standard of selecting products was shifting from its quality to whether it is brand names products’ or not. In other words, they no longer satisfied with only function. The reason for this phenomenon is that many people regard having good products (brand name products) is the most important for choosing products. Furthermore, some people strongly believe that having brand is closely connected to their status. In fact, people often admire others just having brand products. Some people are obsessed to buy brand products and spend money only them. It sounds ridiculous, but it does exist in Japan. I think it is OK to have brand things, but we should not judge people only whether having brands products.
In addition, the brand names phenomena can be remarkably seen among the teens. For instance, I was surprised in the university that there are quite number of students have brand names bags (Louis Vouiton, Gucci, and Burberry and so on). Interestingly, most of them think not having brand things is dasai ‘unfashionable’ or ‘not cool at all’.
As White says, Japanese teens is sensitive to trend, and they always pursue it. In brief, they are likely to affect by trend, besides their enthusiasm to trend is easy to change. It might closely relate to media and company’s control. White argues that media and companies create new trend to make teens to buy more their products. Teens got much information from magazines, TV and ads. Especially, in the rural area, they has a big impact to teens for formulating their attention, because, there is a few trendy cloth shops or shopping moles compared to urban area.
It is not too much to say that it might a product of the wealthy society and this phenomenon is matter of course. We can not avoid this phenomena in Japan, because we are in heavy consume era.

Essay "Sempai-kohai relation" Chap 4 School

2006-11-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

In the textbook, chap 4. “School” white introduced “Sempai-Kohai relation in school”. It still exists in the various stages in Japanese school. Some thinks it is old-fashioned ideas, and gives negative affects to children, others oppose them.
In the first place, it is said that old Japanese custom strongly related to this phenomena. In the past, the Japanese thought much of respect the elderly, the youth has to be polite to them and use polite language all the time. Needless to say, to follow the elderly was matter of course. Everyone was taught to do these behaviors from their childhood.
However, this traditional custom has been changing a bit at a time. Some people do not care such customs (other Japanese people follow them). Changing traditional custom made this “sempai-kohai relation”. Especially, it marked in athletics groups. Take an example baseball club in high school. 1st year students have to prepare everything for practice. If they have not done it before the practice starts, they will scold by seniors. They sometimes imposed a penalty, such as run for one hour, and they sometimes give absurd things to juniors. Junior are not allowed to play baseball very much, they have to support seniors, just because they are junior. Most of them do not resist such rules, because every senior had same experiences. There is famous phrases which represent typical “sempai-kohai relation”. Senior says “there is a white crow”and junior says “Yes, I can see white crow over there.” This phrase tells us what senior says is absolutely true. It sounds unusual, but it does exist in he relation.
To put it in an extreme, there is no difference between juniors and seniors in high school, for ages between them are slightly different. Some students regard it as a ridiculous custom and protest them. Therefore, it sometimes causes a big conflict in an activity.
Although it might stupid matter, students can learn a law of etiquette from “sempai-kohai relation” in a certain degree. Juniors and seniors have a kind of common similarities and feelings, because they are at the age of adolescence. That is why it is easy for them to be taught politeness and manners by close age person rather than those of teachers or parents.
To sum up, “sempai-kohai relation” influences to students both good and bad aspects. It is difficult for us to call them in question. As an experienced this custom from intermediate school and high school, I strongly agree this custom.

Essay "Accademic pressure in Japan" chap 3 Family space and time

2006-10-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, it is said that many Japanese teens, especially students are under academic pressure. They are rushed by their parents, particularly mother to study hard and go to cram school. This triggers a big argument in Japan.
Why that happens? It’s really simple; just for enter the college. Precisely, in Japan, entering high leveled college is regarded to bear some benefits to children on various aspects, such as good career, and reputation. However, the serious problem also occurs, for it seems that entering the college means the end of their goals. That is to say, their goals accomplished by just entering college. Therefore, it is not unusual that some of them enter the college with no reason or purpose, so that they can not find what they really want to study. Some of them retire the university
Grade-conscious mother is infamous for pressing children studying hard, and deprives their freedom. These mothers tend to promote son’s educational futures than those of their daughter’s; because boy’s good one considered much important in Japan. Also, mothers take care of children everything. Due to this, most of students are heavily dependent on their parents compare to American ones. In the family, they are told that only they have to is study.
Parents should make them not only studying but also looking after house works or something, because house work is good for a “character building”. Just like as American thought. Students can learn lots of precious things through these tasks.
Although, pressing children studying hard for entering the university might one of the essential things to parents, they should not too much interfere to them. Children’s motivation for what they really want should be more respected than any other things. Only the parents have to do is support them, not pile the pressure on them.

2006-10-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Self-Introduction

2006-10-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Hi!!
My name is Shinichiroh Nasu.
Im 20 years old, student of Waseda Univ, and freshman now.
I was grown up in Kyoto which is really famous for sightseeing. Kyoto is a nice place.
Please come to there, so I can introduce around Kyoto.
My hobbies are playing sports, eating foods, and travling. I went U.S and Canada alone in this summer. I wanna travel around the world in a long vacation.
Im interested in studying international affairs, business, politics...etc.
Also, Im studying French now.

First time

2006-10-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I made my blog. I have to make it cause I need it for my class, and this is first time to make it. From now on, I wanna write a diary as much as I can.