Training wheels

One of the first things that foreigners arriving in Japan are often surprised by are the vast number of bicycles. Practically everyone, from grandmothers to well dressed businessmen use a “jitensha” (bicycle) as a form of mainstream transportation. The bicycle is an integral part of Japanese society, unlike in Canada where bicycles are used mostly for recreation.

For me, getting back on the bike was rather challenging. Last time I rode a bike, I think I was about 10 years old. It was a little rocky to start, but then you get the hang of it (again). Now, I can't even image not having a bicycle. When I return home, it will be quite the culture shock.

On my way to school, listening to my iPod.

Check out this video! See how people react to bicycles in Japan

Hey good-looking, what's your blood type?

Is it possible to summarize who “Japanese people” are? Of course not! However, it is easy to categorize them in personality groups… just draw a little blood.

Takeji Furukawa founded this way of thinking when he published: "The Study of Temperament Through Blood Type" in the early 1900s. Since then countless studies have be conducted to prove this social stereotype true. For example the University of Ochanomizu published results of A Natural Experiment with Time-series Data of 1978 - 1988 concluding that "blood-typical personality stereotypes actually influenced individuals’ personalities – self-reported personalities at least – in Japanese society and operated as a self-fulfilling prophecy, even though no scientific evidence for these stereotypes has been presented."

Japanese purikura has an option to illustrate what blood type you are.

There are four different blood-types believed to reveal with the following personality characteristics:

• Type A: calm, perfectionist, most artistic, shy, conscientious, trustworthy, sensitive.
• Type B: goal oriented, strong minded, individualists.
• Type AB: split personalities, can be both outgoing and shy, confident and timid.
• Type O: sociable, outgoing, optimistic, creative and popular, confident, attention seeker.
  

Blood Type Condom Machine

For further info, check out these sites:

• Personality and Individual Differences: Blood Type and Personality: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V9F-46JYKJX-3&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=869437d88620738e39bb8f2cf3ceea9d
• Who's your Type?
  http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/love/package.jsp?name=fte/bloodtype/bloodtype

Do you get the message?

If you are not already familiar with the term "Engrish", it basically refers to mistakes in English that appear in Japanese advertising and product designs. Even when the English is readable, the meaning of the message is rarely as clear.



What does everybody think about all of this Engrish? I, personally enjoy the good laugh. Will anyone but English speakers in Japan really get the message anyway? Most of the time when I go shopping with my Japanese friends, they catch me laughing at a shirt and ask me what's so funny. The only thing is...it's quite difficult to translate the meaning of the message, when there really isn't any.

• http://www.engrish.com/

Introduction

Hello! My name is Katy and I have come to love Japan and all its wonder. I can assure you, if you have never been to Japan before and you ever have the chance then you, too, will fall in love.

For me, it all began in the small town of Acton, Ontario. I was offered a chance to apply for an International Rotary Youth Exchange and was

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Making sushi in Kashiba High School
Nara, Japan
2005

selected to represent my local high school, the local Rotary club of Acton, and my country, while studying abroad in Nara, Japan.

I left Canada with almost zero knowledge of both Japanese language and culture. My exchange lasted for 12 months from 2004-2005 and since then it claims to be the best of my life.

After I returned home, I finished high school and pursued an education at Huron University College (affiliated to the University of Western Ontario). I continued my studies in Japanese language in hopes that I would once again return to the land of the rising sun.

I am currently studying abroad in my 3rd year at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. During my exchange I hope to improve my level of Japanese, make some amazing friends, take loads of pictures, and have a great time while I'm at it! This is my blog. My posts will consist of my thoughts, interpretations, and reflections on readings assigned in class, stories in the news or on TV, and my personal experiences. I hope to capture Japan and attain a cross-cultural understanding for what it's worth...