The Role of Children in Japanese Family

In Japan the role of children in family are quite big. As White mentioned, Japanese couple change the way they call each other soon after they become parents. They become to call each other “otoosan” and “okaasan”, however they are not their “otoosan” or ”okaasan”. We can see from this evidence that Japanese parents usually set their view on their children. It is clear that children are very important and main member of the family in Japan. Also Japanese parents tend to spend more time with their children than with their wife or husband.
Every parents regard their children are the best, and they hope for their bright future. This leads children to study hard or do something very hard, to answer their parents hope. To let their children to have resposibility in their family, parents usually make them help with their house works or give some part which help the family. But actually, most parents think that the most important work children have to do is study.
For conclusion, children in Japanese family are the most important existance, and existance that the parents hope for.

Family Relationships in Japan

Father used to have highest status in Japanese family, but thesedays many children do not admire their father. The reason what can be thought is that father usually work outside home and they tend not be at home much. Actually my father came back from work after I slept. Well my mother kept awake untill my father came back. In addition, there are many Japanese children who do not know what their father’s job is. They know what kind of job their father do, but not the detail. More and more mother are working outside home, but still mother tend to spend more time with children than father. So, mother usually know more about their children and children usually rely on their mother.
The biggest difference I feel about Japanese family and American family is skinship between family members. American family naturally kiss or hug each other but Japanese family, cannot say never, but almost never kiss or hug. Eventhough we love our family, we usually do not express it by kissing or hugging.

Dating in Japan

There are many situations to start dating in Japan. The most common situation for high school students are in School. I went to the coeducational school, so I can not write about girls only or boys only school, but I think the most common place for students going to coeducation school is inside school. Moreover, in homeroom class or in club. The member of homeroom class and club are the friends we spend most of the time together. Most Japanese students date same aged student, but some date older (sennpai) or younger (kouhai). Most couple spends time together after school. They study together, go out and eat, go shopping or just go home together. And usually boyfriend send girlfriend to her home. In Japan, high school student can not get drivers lisence, so they walk or ride bicycle or use train. On weekends or during holiday they visit somewhere bit far from school. They go shopping, watch movie, go to game center and take purikura, or go to theme park. As you can see, they spend most of the time outside. They rarely visit each others home. It may be because they are ashamed to introduce their partner to their parents.
University students meet their partner also in school, for example in class or club. But, there are much more opportunities for university students to meet their partner. At part time job or at goukonn. Goukonn is a kind of party held to meet partner. The age of their partner varies than high school students. Girls tend to date older boyfriend. Many university students become to spend in their room together. It may be because they start to live alone independent from their parents.

日本とアメリカの学校なのグループの違いについて

日本といっても学校によってグルーープの別れかたや友達との付き合い方は異なると思うので、私の通っていた高校について書きたいと思います。
まず日本の高校ととアメリカの高校のグループの大きな違いはグループの名前にあると思います。アメリカでは、それぞれのグループに名前がついているらしいのですが、日本のグループにはそのようにはっきりとしたグループ名はついていません。日本にも見た目が派手なグループ、地味なグループ、騒がしいグループ、おとなしいグループなどそれぞれのグループに特徴はありますが、それぞれに統一された名前はついていません。よって、アメリカではとても重要視されている　”地位”　は日本ではそれほど重要ではないと思います。あえて位を付けるのなら、流行に敏感な子たちが集まっているグループが一番高い地位にあったと思います。決してどの部活動をしているかで地位が決まるということはなかったと思います。
アメリカでは部活動や人種などでグループができると書いてありましたが、日本ではホームルームのクラス内でたいていグループが作られていました。日本とアメリカの決定的な違いは、日本には人種の違いはないということです。なので、人種で分かれるということは絶対にありません。性格や趣味が合う子たちが自然に集まり、グループとなっていました。話すテンポや行事や勉強に対する姿勢なども重要であったと思います。放課後は部活動があるので、帰りは部活動の友達と帰ることが多かったですが、授業はすべてクラスの子たちと受けるので、クラスの子といつも行動していました。クラスは毎年変わるので、一年ごとにグループが変わる人もいました。
日本の高校にはアメリカの高校のようにグループごとの対立はないので、休み時間は同じグループの子で集まるよりも違うグループの子でも席の近い子と話すことが多かったです。しかし、お昼ごはんはグループごとに集まって食べていました。食べる場所はグループごとにだいたい決まっていましたが、ほとんどのグループが教室内で食べていました。日本では何か特別な理由がない限りグループ同士が対立することはないと思います。
女の子と男の子でもグループの作り方は違いました。男の子と女の子が同じグループにいることもありましたが、ほとんどが男女別でした。男の子よりも女の子の方がグループがはっきりしていて、グループ行動が多かったと思います。
私のいた高校、特に私のクラスについて書いたので、かなり偏ったものになっているかもしれませんが、日本の高校の一例として読んでくれていればいいと思います。

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