Japan A Wonderful Place To Visit
For most Americans the idea of visiting Japan can be intimidating. They immediately focus on the fact that the Japanese speaking a drastically different language. In addition with the scene on television is a place that is terrifically overcrowded. The reason that they see this on TV is because it is an anomaly in Japan itself usually only experienced during the holidays when nearly everyone has the same time off. We experienced much the same thing during the Christmas holidays.
The Japanese are much more polite in their social relationship with one another. Politeness is a strong social norm and keeps a highly populated island calm and running smoothly. When two people meet they bow politely, with the elder acquaintance given the greater respect. In fact, respect for the elderly is so formalized that their seating is reserved even on crowded trains.
With the current popularity of Japanese food such as sushi and sashimi one might think the greatest difference between our culinary tastes was between fish and meat. In truth there are two major differences; the US prefers sauces based on tomato ketchup while Japan prefers soy sauce, and Americans eat bread every day, whereas Japanese eat rice every day. So while bread making machines are common in American kitchens rice cookers are common in every Japanese kitchen.
These devices vary in sophistication, much like bread makers do here in the US. But for straight functionality at a value price, a Zojirushi rice cooker has taken the lions share of the market. They are available here and many Americans are finding that cooked this way, especially if your model allows for delayed time cooking, makes rice an easy alternative to bread, though on an occasional basis. College students also find them good products because the rice can be stored conveniently for a long time, cooked when needed.
Another interesting feature of the Japanese home is the complete absence of shoes. Because one where she's outside the home releases that they are contaminated with a wide variety of unsavory materials which could not be tracked inside the house. Most Japanese shoes, therefore, are slip on slip off types. Every home also has a wide variety of slippers for guests to wear inside the home.
These Tatami mat floors are attractive and functional. They assist with temperature control both in summer and winter, and when it is necessary to replace them, it much easier than with wood floors, carpeting, or tile commonly used in the US. They are, however, more difficult to clean, thus the desire to prevent them from soiling in the first place. The more common means of cleaning them is by use of common handheld vacuums. Any serious staining and the simply have to be replaced.
A trip to Japan is a joy that will be remembered for a lifetime. Their appreciation for nature is woven into their daily lives. Their appreciation for the preservation of historical structures and stories reflects the respect they have for their history and people. At the same time, they embrace change and technology, which makes it a fascinating place where history meets the future.
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