There are so many things to write about when discussing the differences between Japanese and American schools it’s difficult to know where to start or how much to get into. I’ll start simple and go into more obscure detail in later posts. For reference, I’m using high schools as my basis.

Starting with the obvious, Japanese high schools have dress codes. This generally means slacks, button up shirt and suit jackets for boys, sometimes ties. Girls wear skirts and sailor fukus. Exactly why the girls wear sailor fukus rather than a blouse like catholic school girls is something I’m not clear on. I believe it is simply what was in vogue when the public schooling dress code concept was incorporated from the West. Uniform checks are not wholly uncommon, with teachers measuring skirts to make sure they aren’t hiked up or boys hair to see if it’s too long. This is for both public and private schools.

While in elementary and junior high school students attend the school that is closest to their home, what high school they attend is decided by exams and teacher recommendation. At the end of their middle school career every Japanese student takes high school entrance exams for the high schools they may want to attend. Higher scores open more doors and gives students more choices of schools. The curriculum in junior high schools in a district is set by the local Board of Education, and thus the same throughout. Conversely, all high schools in Japan are not created equal, and some certainly carry more prestige than others. They may also have better programs in a certain field, or better teachers. Entry into these schools is highly competitive for a number of reasons.

Education in Japan is only mandatory through junior high school. Teenagers are not required by law to attend high school, nor is the government required to provide it. However, attending a high school is expected and it is difficult to find a job with only a high school diploma, let alone a junior high school one. Public and private high school are available. Since public schools are government funded, more students want to attend them. Generally the better students do better on the exams, and this draws good teachers (as they want to teach the better students.) Schools that consistently got the better students continued to get the better teachers, and grew to be known as the number one or number two public school in their district. The rest tend to be viewed like any other normal public school. Giving a good education and pushing students to do their best but with out the extra pull of having gone to a prestigious school. Private schools are usually for students who couldn’t get into any of the public high schools, and are generally viewed as the last resort or for the rejects and trouble makers. Students have to pay tuition each semester as the schools do not have government financing, but the level of education is usually worse than at public schools. A Japanese cohort of mine described it as a form of “idiot tax” which seems harsh, but the data seems to back it up. The students who do well and apply themselves get into schools that give an excellent education they don’t have to pay extra for, and those who do not do well or do not apply themselves have to pay for a second rate education. There are of course exceptions and some excellent private schools, but these are cases of exceptions that prove the rule.

Sadly, I am not Justin Timberlake and “it” isn’t sexy. I’ve neglected the blog for quite a while. Writing in general to be honest. I’m only halfway through typing up the travel journal. The neglect ends here. Expect more articles on a more regular basis.

Now that I’m in Japan and started writing my travel blog, you can find it at http://backtojapan.wordpress.com

For anyone who is still reading this (and I hope that there are a number of you,) apologies that I’ve been lacking posts lately. I’ve had a few major events taking up my time lately: breaking up with my girlfriend, chaos at work, a family medical emergency and getting laid off at the end of this month. In addition, I’m planning a trip to Japan in July so that has been taking up a lot of time as well. Now that most of these things are under wraps, I should be able to get back to putting up posts. I have a number I’ve written on paper and just need to get in front of my computer and type up.

While my trip to Japan is good news for the blog as I can will get more material for it, I will probably take something of a hiatus from it to work on a travel blog related to my journey. The link will be posted once I have it all set up.

So essentially this is a notice and apology that until August the blog will be a little light. I’ll do the best I can to get some small posts up once a week while I’m gone, and before I leave.

This is a note on personal safety more than anything else. Smaller cities and suburban areas often have open gutters along many of the roads. Sometimes they are covered by specially fitted concrete tiles, but more often they are not. Given the sheer amount of rain in Japan, these gutters are necessary to keep streets from flooding. These gutters are molded out of concrete, about a foot across and three and a half feet deep. And very easy to miss.

The trouble comes from both the placement and design of these gutters. They line the edges of the road, and fit into them so well you don’t even notice they are there. There’s simply a gap, a place where the road doesn’t exist between the sidewalk, with both sides still being perfectly even and flat. Further more, covered and uncovered sections seem to be disturbed almost arbitrarily at times. Allowing one tire to drift into one of these gutters could easily break one of the axles. If you’re not aware of them, or aren’t focused due to consumption of, let’s say alcohol, you could stumble over and make one poorly placed step. You’ll be in the gutter up to your while still half on the side walk. Flip a coin to see which of your legs ends up breaking from the fall. So keep your eyes peeled.

Let’s be honest, how much cursive do you know outside of how to sign your name? Really the only time most of us use it is to sign formal documents or checks.This act of signing your name is a very powerful and important part of western culture, but you’ll never sign anything in Japan. You’ll stamp it.

For any important documentation the Japanese use a hanko. The hanko is a personalized wooden stamp that bears a person’s name and is essentially their personal seal. The hanko is dipped in red ink (always red ink) and then pressed upon a document to denote approval, compliance or verification in the same way most people use their signature.

Most businesses in Japan won’t accept a signature because they don’t consider it legitimate or permanent. If you want to buy a cellphone, you’ll need to use your hanko. If you’re opening a bank account, you’ll need to use your hanko. When you sign your time sheet, you will need to use your hanko. The only time you won’t need to use your hanko is for a check. That is because no one in Japan uses or accepts personal checks, but that’s a topic for another day.

Given the polite and generally demure nature and customs of the Japanese people, parts of restaurant etiquette are sure to put you for a loop. I’m not talking about how you’re not supposed to tip, which you probably already know. If you didn’t already know, you’re not supposed to tip. The Japanese don’t do that, and it’s kind of taken as an insult. It’s like you’re pitying them and giving them charity, but in a patronizing fashion. What I’m talking about is calling for your waitress.

In restaurants in western society, after being seated by the hostess a waitress will eventually come around to take your order. That doesn’t happen in Japanese restaurants. If you wait for a waitress to come by, you’ll be waiting a very, very long time. This is because in restaurants in Japan you are supposed to call for your waitress when ready. You have to stick your hand in the air and shout (or say loudly) “Sumimasen!” (Excuse me!) A waitress will then hurry over to take your order or bring the check or what have you. While this sort of thing would be rather rude in western culture, it’s perfectly acceptable in Japan. Acceptable and necessary if you want to eat. Just remember to be polite when the waitress comes over.

Of course there are some slight exceptions to the rule. Some restaurants now have buttons to press rather than calling out for your waitress. They look like a tap light, and when you press it a little bell will chime and light up a table number back by the hostess area, sending someone over. And some more western style restaurants and upscale places may have the waitress come to you. Use your best judgement and understand it as a general rule. Consider it practicing the art of polite yelling.

We really need more of that.

Not a modern day ninja, either

All around Japan, in cities and on subways especially, you may occasionally see someone wearing a medical mask. These are not surgeons on the way to the operating room. Nor are these people germaphobes terrified of disease from the microscopic jungle around them. Usually it’s quite the opposite.

The Japanese generally wear these masks as a point of courtesy. They have a cold, and wearing the mask is meant to help keep the germs from spreading. The mask doesn’t do much to improve the health of the wearer, but it allows them to go about their day without considering themselves a biohazard.

Very few working adults, or students for that matter, will take a day to rest if they are sick. Generally it is discouraged unless a person is terribly ill. If a person does take a sick day, they can expect questions of concern when they return. So small colds tend to linger and extra day or two, and the masks become a social necessity. Have to keep that T-virus under wraps.

My first visit to Tokyo was in August, during Oubon. The combination of the intense heat and exodus of city dwellers to their hometowns for the holiday left the city rather empty. Many shops were closed, and it was obvious that business was slow overall.

I took to Shinjuku in jeans and a t-shirt, wandering aimlessly and eventually making my way into Kabuki-cho. I passed a group of  eleven or so well dressed men and women hanging around outside of an ornate building. One of them, a beautiful woman of about 5′9″, in high heels and a simple yet seductive black cocktail dress, and dark brown hair down just past her shoulders, said something to me in Japanese. I replied in Japanese that I didn’t understand (as at this point my Japanese was very poor) and continued walking.

She followed.

She said something else and I apologized, repeating that I didn’t understand. her response was a single word. “Seksu.” Phonetisize that if you have trouble understanding.

At this point I was still in a committed relationship with a girl back in San Francisco. I have a habit of being faithful to a fault. I also hadn’t started my job, so my income was limited. Wanting to say no to her, I replied “Ie, daijoubu.”

What I meant this to mean was  “No, I’m okay.” As in no thank you. There were two problems with this. The first problem was I said ie instead of iie. Iie means “no.” Ie means “my house.” The second problem was I misunderstood the use of daijoubu. While it’s generally translated as “okay” in English, its meaning is closer to “it is mutually agreed upon.” So what I ended up saying was “My house, it’s agreed.” This lead to a bit of confusion, and the woman following me two more blocks.

A conversation with a coworker later brought to light my misuse of the language. He explained to me that if you want to refuse something, it’s best to say “kekko desu,” similar to no thanks. He was more of the opinion that  I should have asked “Ikura?” (How much?)

Even if you speak the language, knowing exactly what to say can sometimes be tricky. Different situations have different cultural expectations, and what is expected plays a large part in the Japanese culture. This can be a little confusing at first. As always, foreigners have a level of leeway. But being able to respond like a Japanese person, or a very polite foreigner, will improve the reactions of those you meet.

Hopefully some of you get this

Until you pick up on what is expected, default to being very polite. Japan’s culture is traditionally one of politeness and humility. In turn it can be beneficial to be polite and humble. So, when in doubt of how to respond to someone, say “domo.” This literally means “I humbly accept,” but it’s applicable to almost any situation. It’s also almost impossible to offend anyone with it, making it a safe response to anything from a greeting to being given directions to a thumbs up.