[En anglais] Hiragana Time - Infos générales

Citation :: Japan: Where Parents and Children Depend on Each Other (3)

... In western countries, adult children usually become independent and live separately from
their parents. But in Japan, many adult children live with their parents until they get married.
People do not think this is at all strange. On the other hand, there are over 600,000 so-calle
"NEETs" ("Not in Employment, Education or Training") in Japan, which has become a big
social problem. NEETs generally do not want to work and have no work-related training even
when they reach adulthood. Naturally, their parents take care of them. ...

Citation :: Japan: Where Parents and Children Depend on Each Other (4)

... It is safe to say that Japanese parents wish to have their children near them as reliable
and close friends, rather than pushing their children out to become independent.

Citation :: One out of Four Parents in Tokyo and Osaka is in Arrears with School Meal Charges (1)

The growing number of parents who are in arrears with elementary and junior high school
meal charges is becoming a big issue. According to a survey carried out by the Ministry of
Education, Science and Culture, about 100,000 parents were found to be in arrears with
school meal charges in 2005. This number is approximately 1% of the total number of students
in both public and private elementary and junior high schools in Japan that provide school
meals. Forty four percent of the nation’s schools have students whose parents are in arrears
with charges for school meals. One out of four people arebehind in payments in the Tokyo and
Osaka areas. The total amount of money owing for school meals is now about 2.2 billion yen. ...

Citation :: One out of Four Parents in Tokyo and Osaka is in Arrears with School Meal Charges (2)

... The school meal concept was initiated and spread soon after WWII in order to improve the
health of students, and in 1954 a school meal law was created. Under this law, the government
bears the expenses of cooking equipment and labor, while parents and guardians bear the costs
of ingredients. Another aim of the program was to raise the school attendance rate among
poor children. At present, 94% of all public and private elementary and junior high schools in
Japan, that is about 32,000 schools, are enforcing the law. ...

Citation :: One out of Four Parents in Tokyo and Osaka is in Arrears with School Meal Charges (3)

... The Ministry of Education announced that the average cost of a school meal is 3,900 yen a
month for elementary school pupils and 4,500 yen for junior high school students, which is about
200 yen per meal. Many schools have reported reasons as to why parents are not paying: 33%
of these delinquent payers do not pay due to financial problems, and 60% due to the lack of
responsibility and sense of morals. In other words, half of them are not paying in spite of being
able to. ...

Citation :: One out of Four Parents in Tokyo and Osaka is in Arrears with School Meal Charges (4)

... In order to address the shortfall, schools have been using money from other budgets or
managing with the collected fees, but now many are realizing the limitations of doing this.
School staff often try to encourage people to pay by explaining the situation to parents by
phone or mail, or visiting peoples' houses to claim payment. Some schools have even begun
to take legal action by initiating lawsuits and making statements to courts to claim payment.
Nevertheless, the number of people in arrears with their school meal fees is increasing. ...

Citation :: Why can't Japanese Improve Their English? (2)

... Since it is not necessary for most Japanese to speak a foreign language, English lessons
tend to be like those of hobbies such as piano and dance lessons, rather than being for actual
practical use. This is partly because most information from abroad is promptly translated into
Japanese. Although it is often not profitable for countries with small populations to translate
foreign news, it is in Japan, where more than 100 million educated people live in a highly
developed culture. In spite of the populace speaking a language that is different from most
others, up-to-date information from abroad is available to most Japanese. ...

Why can't Japanese Improve Their English? (3)

... In more multicultural countries such as America, language is the only way to communicate
one's will to others. It can be said that saying "I love you" is almost a cultural norm used by
people who feel the need to express these words. On the other hand, in the island nation of
Japan where the population is essentially a mono-cultural race, people exhibit a cultural
characteristic in which they can make others tacitly understand their thoughts without using
many words. So, that is why Japanese become hesitant and shy when speaking spontaneously
with foreigners. ...

Citation :: Why can't Japanese Improve Their English? (4)

... That does not mean that Japanese dislike talking with foreigners. Instead, they are rather
expecting to be spoken to by foreigners.

Citation :: Military Prostitution Issue Re-surfaces (1)

The issue of military prostitution has once again bubbled to the surface. This time, it is
because in February 2007, the U.S. Congress raised the issue of military prostitution and
moved a resolution demanding an apology from Japan. The issue revolves around the past
actions of the Japanese military during the Pacific War where Japanese soldiers forced
Asian women, in particular Koreans, into prostitutition. ...

Citation :: Military Prostitution Issue Re-surfaces (2)

... Part of the controversy behind this issue came from the description in the book "My war
crime-a record of taking Koreans by force" (author: YOSHIDA Seiji) that stated Korean women
living on Chejyu island were taken by force and made to work as prostitutes. In 1984, before then
Prime Minister MIYAZAWA visited Korea, the Asahi Shimbum newspaper printed a sensational
report together with data about the wartime brothels and the participation of the Japanese
military. Prime Minister Miyazawa repeatedly apologizd and promised to disclose the truth. ...

Citation :: Military Prostitution Issue Re-surfaces (3)

... And in 1985, as a result of a government investigation, a discourse of Chief Cabinet
Secretary KOUNO Youhei was released that mentioned there were many cases where
women were taken against their will by the use of sweet words and force. And furthermore,
the discourse mentioned government officials were directly involved in some cases. Besides,
the living conditions in the camps where the women lived was miserable. ...

Citation :: Military Prostitution Issue Re-surfaces (4)

... KOUNO's discourse calmed the anger over the issue. Furthermore, articles about "military
prostitution" appeared in junior and high school student text books. However, after further
investigation was carried out, nothing was found to confirm that the women were forcibly
taken, and testimony by military prostitutes who came forward could not be found.
Subsequently, a new view — that there was no evidence of involvement by the Japanese
military — spread. Prime Minister ABE seems to support this view. ...

Citation :: Military Prostitution Issue Re-surfaces (5)

... Some people view KOUNO’s discourse as a political statement, released without
confirming facts, that takes the feelings of Korean people into consideration. It can be
said that the discourse was a solution based on the Japanese way of thinking and practice
that leads to an apology first without arguing over complicated facts, and that tries to
reduce the level of anger felt by the other party. However, this discourse was taken as
being a formal statement from the Japanese government and an acceptance that the
Japanese military had a hand in the issue. ...

Citation :: Military Prostitution Issue Re-surfaces (6)

... Recently, the U.S. Congress asked Prime Minister ABE to issue a formal apology for what
it claims is the insincere attitude from a Japanese goverment that has not apologized for its
role in military prostitution, in spite of Japan criticizing North Korea over the abduction issue.
However, some Japanese are calling for the U.S. to stop criticizing Japan and formally
apologize to African countries for taking many of their people as slaves to America. Behind
the sudden American resolution, both American and Japanese politicians' intentions are now
coming in and out of view. It is difficult for people not to believe that politicians are playing
with human rights to further their own interests.

Citation :: Name Cards Essential for Doing Business in Japan (1)

In Japan, it is customary to exchange name cards when you call at a company on business.
A name card usually shows the company name, address and telephone number, and the name
and position of the card holder. Many people also add their e-mail address and URL. With all
this information, it can be said that a name card will also work as an identification card. The
most important piece of information on a name card is the position title. ...

Citation :: Name Cards Essential for Doing Business in Japan (2)

... In a joint stock company, directors are selected by the stock holders. These directors
select a representative director. When the position "Daihyou-Torisimariyaku" (Representative
Director) is written on a name card, it means that the card holder is the person among
management who can make final decisions on issues. Recently, many leading companies have
begun to use "CEO" as a position name for a representative director, but in general, many
companies are still using "Daihyou-Torishimariyaku." The second ranking director's title is often
written as "Senmu-Torishimariyaku," the third ranking director's as "Joumu-Torishimariyaku"
and the other directors' positions are usually written as "Torishimariyaku" (Director) only. ...