Nagoya Local Customs

O-hanami means 'flower-viewing'. It happens around the end of every April. This is the time when the Japanese purge themselves of the past year and prepare for the challenges of a new year (May to April represents a year for most businesses and schools in Japan).

If you're in Japan during this time, you won't miss hanami. It's going on everywhere there's a cherry blossom tree. There are great times all around. Older people usually break out the karaoke machine. Young people gather with their schoolmates. Everybody eating and drinking sake. Some people just walking. Truly the most beautiful time of the year. Please plan your visit during o-hanami.

Not so much a local custom - moreso a wacky local regulation. I saw this at a pedestrian crossing and just had to take a picture. The information on the right advises "No Smoking", whilst the information on the left tells us not to drop our cigarette butts. What should I do if I'm in the middle of a smoke when I see this? Eat it?

Unlike most Japanese cities, Nagoya restricts smoking in public places. Pedestrian crossings are one such example. Something to bear in mind if you are a smoker.

This temple is a 20th-century reconstruction, but worth the visit. You can see Buddhist monks praying and also put a 5-yen coin into a big pot for good luck. They have a flea market here on the 18th and 28th every month, and lots of festivals. The temple is really close to Osu Kannon shopping arcade, another place you must see.

A democracy is a form of government in which the people, either directly or indirectly, take part in governing. However, the term is also sometimes used as a measurement of how much influence a people has over their government, as in how much democracy exists. The word democracy originates from the Greek "demos" meaning "the people" and "kratein" meaning "to rule" or "the people to rule" which meant literally: "Rule by the People."

A modern democracy implies certain rights for citizens:

* right to elect government through free and fair elections
* freedom of speech
* the rule of law
* human rights
* freedom of assembly
* freedom from discrimination

Verbatim form the web. But at least, i say it!!!. (-;

I am asked or almost on daily basis about how is like to live in Japan? "Two extremes!" I 've been told, regarding my "Latin culture" and the Japanese ways.

Well , it is not that different if you pay attention to the details and forget a little bit about the many times digested predjuices you could have about Far East and "Latin Culture". But there is, indeed, a big difference in how the regular Japanese citizen tackles certain problems. In case of failure or accident, the Japanese would never automatically blaim others to save face and responsability. Perhaps, very innocently, it will make an introspective analysis of his/her faults and will come up with a more balanced view. If it has to accept a degree of responability, or the whole responsability, it will.

I have learned a lot in this in 20 years, but I do recognize that I still get very upset when I have to deal with western people that automatically blaim others, and happily call name others, when failure and/or accidents occurred because their own faults.

Here are a few points of Japanese etiquette that will make your trip go more smoothly.

Bowing: Japanese don't shake hands, the bow. The angle of the bow depends on the relationship between the two people. Friends may merely nod their heads while greeting the emperor necessitates a deep bow with your head down to your needs (be warned - this takes some doing but unless you plan to have an auduence with the emperor, don't worry about it too much!). Japanese who have some knowledge of the West will often put out their hands to shake. The best advice is to follow the lead of the person you are greeting.

Name cards: Everyone in Japan has a name card called meishi and business people exchange them as soon as they meet. You won't need them while travelling for pleasure but the are mandatory for business.

Names: Japanese traditionally write the family name first, followed by the given name. Usually Japanese are addressed by their family name; followed by a 'san', an all-purpose honorific meaning Mr., Mrs., or Ms. Don't call Japanese by their given names unless they specifically request you to.

Footwear: Japanese exchange shoes for slippers when they enter houses and remove the slippers when walking on tatami (straw) mats. You will also have to remove your footwear when entering a Buddhist temple. Wearing slip-on shoes will make your life easier.

There are lots of foreigners living in Nagoya.Some of the foreigners have been living in Nagoya for more than 10 years and they consider this place as their second home. Nagoya is a nice place to live and work....I really miss Nagoya and my friends there.

If you are interested in the Japanese culture and writing, necessarily go on an exhibition of hieroglyphs. It is very interesting and cognitive. The spelling of hieroglyphs in Japan is considered art.