Typical Japanese Lifestyle and Everyday Living

Climate and weather

Kashiwa City and Nagareyama City are located in Chiba Prefecture, which has a relatively moderate climate throughout the year. However, please be aware that during the mid-summer, the temperature can still climb well in excess of 30 degrees Centigrade, which, compounded with typically high humidity, can create the uncomfortable conditions associated with the hot summer. Also, snow falls in Chiba Prefecture during the mid-winter months.
Air conditioners, fans and heating stoves will help to comfortably control the temperature inside your residence.
From summer to autumn, Japan experiences several typhoons (tropical storms) every year. It's best to be prepared for these storms by storing an emergency kit (with flashlight, batteries, food, water, etc.) in an accessible place. Also, you should familiarize yourself with your nearest local emergency shelter.

Be aware of mold

The months of June and July are known as the "rainy season" in Japan.
Even when the rainy season is finished, summer in Japan is typically hot and very humid. Therefore, it is easy for mold to grow.
Exposure to mold is unhealthy. Therefore, be sure to open your windows on clear days, try to have good ventilation, wipe off condensation from the inside of windows and doors, and use moisture removal goods, such as a dehumidifier, to prevent the growth of mold.

Drinking water

Generally, it is not a problem to drink tap water in Japan. However, if you don't like the local water smell or taste, it's best to boil your water, use a water purification system, or buy bottled mineral water.

The traditional lifestyle without shoes inside a building

In almost all Japanese homes, you step up to enter from the front door area after you take off your shoes. Sometimes, you will wear room shoes (slippers) inside the house, but you should take off these slippers when you enter a tatami (Japanese straw mat) room. Nowadays, at most offices, you don't have to take off your shoes to enter, but there are still a few traditional businesses in which you have to take off your shoes.

Bathroom and toilet

Pay attention to the traditional Japanese etiquette when taking a bath, especially when you visit someone's house or a public bath.
Wash and rinse off your body, before you enter the bathtub.
Do not wash your body inside the bathtub. To use soap, you should come out of the bathtub first, then wash and rinse your body outside of the bathtub.
Traditionally, in Japan, the hot water in the bathtub is not changed after every person takes a bath. Do not unplug the bathtub to let the hot water out. When you finish your bath, leave the hot water in the bathtub.
In Japan, there are 2 styles of toilets (so-called "Japanese style" and "Western style"). If you use the "Japanese style" toilet, you will have to squat. Except for toilet paper, please do not flush any other foreign objects, such as sanitary napkins or the cardboard core of the toilet paper roll.

Restaurants

At most Japanese and Chinese restaurants, chopsticks are usually served. If you can't use chopsticks, please don't hesitate to request silverware.
In most restaurants and bars in Japan, even where only alcohol is served, there is no system of paying for individual drinks or snacks, one at a time. You simply pay your total bill when you leave the restaurant or bar at the cash register.
Typically, in Japan, there is no system of tipping for service, but nowadays, many hotels and a limited number of restaurants will include a prescribed service charge (normally a percentage of the total) on your bill.

Shopping

In Japan, when you purchase goods or use the money transfer service at the bank, you have to pay the Japanese 5% consumption tax.
The 5% consumption tax is included in the price shown on the price tag of any item for sale in Japan. (The listed price reflects the total cost of the item and the sales tax.)
For most shopping, you should usually plan to pay in cash, but nowadays, a limited number of places, such as hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets, accept credit cards.
You can cash a personal check only at the bank where the check was written or at the bank in which you have your own account (in your name). In Japan, you cannot write personal checks for purchases.

(source: http://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/housingnavi/en/living_in_japan/custom.html)

Anime (アニメ)

Japanese word for cartoon and animation. In Japan, "anime" refers to any and all animation or cartoon - regardless of the genre, style, or nation of origin. Outside of Japan the word "anime" has come to refer specifically to animation of Japanese origins, or animation of a particular style (see below). Because of this, it is pronounced the Japanese way: "a-nee-may".

While it is clear that the word anime derives from a western term, there is some debate as to its exact origin. One very common interpretation is that it comes from the French term for cartoon, "dessin animé", which translates literally to "animated drawing". However, others believe it's simply a contraction of the word "animation" as pronounced in English.

While the French origin is perhaps the most widely spread theory, it may simply be a myth related to the popularity of anime in France in the late 70s and the 80s which was so spectacular it even led to some French-Japanese co-productions. But animation in Japan has existed for longer than that, and the full word for animation there is アニメション (animeshon) which follows the English pronunciation, not the French one. Combined with the fact that Japanese have a habit of incorporating English words into their language much more often than other western languages, this makes a strong case that "anime" is actually the short form of the Japanization of the English word "animation."

There is much controversy as to whether or not the label "anime" can be extended to non-Japanese animation that looks like Japanese animation. Whether or not the label can be extended to non-Japanese animation depends largely on the technical definition of "anime" that one chooses to accept:

Defined by origin: Defining "anime" as animation produced in Japan allows for a fairly black and white application of the label. The only gray area occurs with co-productions that may have had a portion of their animation, and/or scripting produced outside of Japan.

Defined by style: Defining "anime" as a style of animation that originated in Japan is much more complicated, however this definition would allow animation produced outside of Japan, but conforming to the defined "style" to be called "anime." It is difficult to determine if this "style" should be determined solely on drawing style (ie: Big eyes, small mouth, pointy hair), if it should include editing techniques (Japanese animation typically makes more use of "cuts" and "camera angles" than most non Japanese animation), and whether the narrative or storytelling style should be included in the definition. Perhaps the biggest pitfall of this definition is that, due to the wide variety of Japanese animation, regardless of any style based definition, there will always be Japanese animation that would not fit the definition, creating a scenario where some Japanese animation would not be anime.

According to Anime News Network publisher, Christopher Macdonald, "On Anime News Network, we define anime based on the origin of the animation. If it is primarily produced in Japan, it is anime. It should be clear, that by adhering to a definition that defines non-Japanese animation that mimic common anime styles as 'not anime,' Anime News Network does not endorse the notion that these 'anime-style' works are in any way inferior to animation produced in Japan."

Japan's Historical Places Part 4

KAIRAKUEN

Historic Garden Famous for 100 Kinds of Ume (Japanese Apricot) Trees  

 

Kairakuen in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a huge garden covering 127,000-square meter (31.4-acre) that was created by a feudal lord who reigned over this area in the Edo period (1603-1868). The garden is characterized by its exquisite design that makes great use of surrounding natural features; for example, neighboring Lake Senba is used as a pond, which is a key feature of traditional gardens. Kairakuen is considered to be one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, along with Kenrokuen in Ishikawa Prefecture and Korakuen in Okayama Prefecture.  
The name "Kairakuen" means "a garden to enjoy with people." The 9th lord Nariaki Tokugawa who completed the garden not only used it for himself, but also opened it to the public, a pioneering idea that lead to the development of parks. Historical records show that people came here in spare moments from work to play music, sing, have tea ceremonies, and fish in Lake Senba while enjoying the beautiful landscape.  
Kairakuen is also famous for its ume (Japanese apricot) flowers; about 3,000 trees of over 100 species of ume trees cover half of the site. Since the flowering season varies from early January to late March, flowers are in bloom throughout the garden during these three months. It is said that Nariaki ordered the many ume trees to be planted because after people had enjoyed the flowers, the fruits could be preserved as food in case of emergency. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)

KAMAKURA

Ancient City Full of Historical Interest and Flowers  

Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is where the first military regime of Japan was formed, replacing the previous reign by the imperial court and aristocracy. This regime, called Kamakura Bakufu, was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-99) in 1192. Yoritomo moved Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a leading Shinto shrine in the area, into the center of the city and modeled the city after Kyoto, comparing the shrine to the Imperial Palace in the center of Kyoto. The road called "Wakamiya Ooji" which runs directly from the shrine to the coast was built during this early period of the city's construction and is still the city's main street today.  
In the 18th century, Kamakura had already become a popular tourist spot. The city was fairly close to Edo (present-day Tokyo), which was already a big city at that time, and many citizens of Edo visited Kamakura to worship at the temples and shrines or to visit the historic sites.  
  
Kamakura City today has the quiet, civilized atmosphere of an ancient city. The city is scattered with many temples and shrines, among which are to be found temples built by men of power in the 13th century when the city flourished as the political center of the nation. Many temples and shrines are also famous for their seasonal flowers, the best-known of which are the cherry blossoms of Kenchoji Temple, narcissi and ume (Japanese apricot) flowers of Zuisenji Temple, and hydrangeas in Meigetsuin Temple. Another of the major attractions of Kamakura is the bronze Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple, which is a National Treasure. This huge statue standing 11.3 meters (37.1 feet) high, made also in the 13th century, sits in the open air and is regarded as a symbol of Kamakura. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)