Japan culture has changed dramatically over time, and this change ranges from the Jomon period to the present day, where Japan's culture could be described as a type of hybrid. Current Japanese culture is a mix of Asian culture, North American culture, and European culture. The current state of Japan's culture is a result of its history. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans on the island, Japan didn't have much contact with the outside world, with the exception of perhaps China. Over the years, the country has experienced a wave of immigrants who have come from various regions, and like the United States, these immigrants have played a role in shaping the dominant culture.
An important part of Japan culture is the Japanese language. While this language is primarily spoken in Japan, it is also spoken in smaller communities which are spread around the world. Japanese is described as being an agglutinative language, and it is known for being exceptionally difficult for many Westerners to learn. The language is particularly known for its pitch accent structure. The language can be written in three forms, and these are as Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji. The Latin alphabet, which is called Romaji, may often be used for marketing or advertising. Romaji is also useful when putting the language on computers.
Another important part of Japan culture is calligraphy. The Japanese language is known for the complex calligraphy techniques that can be used to write it. Many people feel that Japanese calligraphy is too difficult for most Westerners to understand, and therefore, many people from the West are not very familiar with it. Japan is also known for its cartoons(anime), and comic books(manga), which have become wildly popular outside of the country. Japanese architecture, though influenced to a degree by China, is quite distinct, and many of the castles of Kyoto are great examples of Japanese architecture.
Japan Tip #1
If you are planning on traveling to the orient, one fact about japan that you should know is that you must have local currency (yen) on hand before you leave the airport. Taxi, buses and other transportation services do not accept debit or credit cards or any other currency except the yen. |
Japan Tip #2
Another fact about Japan to remember is that it is considered impolite and even rude to offer a monetary tip to a Japanese person. Some finer establishments may reqire a tip type fee, but it will be included in your bill. So remember don't tip your waiter or waitress or the bell boy, or even the taxi driver, instead save your money. |
Japan Tip #3
One of the most confusing facts about Japan is known as the consumption tax. The consumption tax is a feel that is applied to all purchases made in Japan and is currently at 5%. This means that whatever the price of the item you are buying, you need to add an additional 5% to the price. Be aware that some stores include this tax in the price of the item and some stores do not, so it is better to ask if you are in doubt. |
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