Comprehensive Guide: Families and Communities in Japan

What is the fundamental structure of Japanese society focused on in Unit 1?

The family, referred to as kazoku.

What are the three writing systems used in Japanese?

Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

What does Hiragana represent in the Japanese language?

It serves as the grammatical backbone for verb endings, particles, and native Japanese words.

What are the characteristics of Katakana?

Angular, straight strokes used for foreign loanwords and emphasis.

What does Kanji represent in Japanese?

Logographic characters borrowed from Chinese that represent meaning.

What is the Uchi-Soto concept?

The distinction between in-group (Uchi) and out-group (Soto) in Japanese culture.

How do you refer to your own family in Japanese?

Kazoku (家族).

How do you address someone else's family in Japanese?

Gokazoku (ご家族).

What is the Japanese term for mother when talking about your own?

Haha (母).

What is the respectful term for addressing someone else's mother?

Okāsan (お母さん).

What is the term for the entryway in a Japanese home?

Genkan (玄関).

What is the significance of the Genkan in a Japanese house?

It separates the dirty outside world from the clean inside sanctuary.

What are Tatami mats used for in Japanese homes?

They serve as flooring in traditional rooms.

What is a Butsudan?

A Buddhist altar found in many traditional Japanese homes to honor ancestors.

What does Ofuro mean in Japanese?

It refers to the bath.

What is the structure of urban families in Japan?

Nuclear families often consisting of parents and 1-2 children due to lack of space.

What is a characteristic of rural families in Japan?

They often have multi-generational households.

What is the traditional view of gender roles in Japanese families?

Men as breadwinners (daikokubashira) and women managing the home.

What modern term describes fathers who participate in child-rearing in Japan?

Ikumen.

What does Shoushikoureika refer to?

Declining birthrate and aging population in Japan.

What causes the low birth rate in Japan?

High cost of education, late marriage, and difficulty balancing career and childcare.

What is Oyakōkō?

The Confucian duty to care for one’s parents.

What are common mealtime greetings in Japanese?

Start with Itadakimasu and end with Gochisōsama deshita.

What should you not do with chopsticks during a meal?

Never pass food from chopstick to chopstick.

What is Omiyage in Japanese culture?

Souvenirs brought home from trips, usually food.

What is the seasonal gift-giving term for summer and winter gifts?

Oseibo (冬の贈り物) and Chūgen (夏の贈り物).

What does Otoshidama mean?

Money given to children in envelopes during New Year.

What is the formula for existence verbs in Japanese?

Place + ni + Thing/Person + ga + Verb.

What is the verb for animate existence in Japanese?

Imasu (います).

What is the verb for inanimate existence in Japanese?

Arimasu (あります).

What is a common mistake concerning the use of Neko ga arimasu?

It implies a cat exists like an object; it should be Neko ga imasu.

What is a common mistake when using Keigo (honorifics)?

Calling your own father Otōsan when talking about him implies you are a guest.

What does San-zuke refer to?

The incorrect practice of adding '-san' to your own name.

What should you avoid doing on the Genkan floor?

Stepping on it in socks as it brings dirt inside.

What is the etiquette regarding bath water in Japanese homes?

Do not drain the bathtub after using it unless you are the last person.

What is a common characteristic of Japanese housing?

A blend of traditional and Western styles.

What is the Japanese term for younger brother when referring to your own?

Otōto (弟).

What do you use to refer to someone else's younger brother respectfully?

Otōtosan (弟さん).

What do the terms Hiragana and Katakana relate to?

They are phonetic scripts used in the Japanese writing system.

How many Hiragana characters are there?

46 basic characters.

What is the function of furigana in Japanese writing?

To provide reading aids next to difficult Kanji names.

What does the term bankonka indicate?

Late marriage, contributing to the low birth rate.

What is daikokubashira?

A term referring to the husband as the breadwinner.

What are Japanese people expected to do with shoes at the Genkan?

Remove shoes before entering.

What does gairaigo mean in Japanese?

Foreign loanwords.

What phrase signifies the end of the meal in Japanese?

Gochisōsama deshita.

What is the common understanding of the relationship between parents and their adult children in modern Japan?

Increasing reliance on nursing homes due to changing family dynamics.