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.