The Learner
A blog by Hailey Welch
For my blog project, I will be studying Japanese culture. I chose this culture because
although I constantly hear about it from my peers, I don't know much about Japanese culture as a
whole. From my internet “deep dive” on Japanese culture, I believe from now on my interactions
with Japanese culture will remain the same, always polite and respectful, but I will have a
thought in the back of my mind of where their roots come from. This will also impact my
interactions with other cultures because I now know how hard-working individuals are. Not that
I didn’t before, but learning new things brings on new perspectives. Please, dive in with me!
Like every culture, there are foods, holidays, types of music, traditions, customs, and
more that are unique to that country. Now, food is my number one motivator, especially when
visiting new places. Researching the different types of food in Japan and the ways they are
prepared struck my curiosity.
After reading Inside Japan, I learned that many towns in Japan are known for their
specialty, whatever it may be. Jumping from town to town, different foods take the cake.
Probably the most recognizable item when considering Japanese food is sushi, which got me
thinking about how many of their dishes contain rice. Although rice is very satiating, I was
curious as to why it is so prevalent. In my research, I learned how labor-intensive rice harvesting
is. Because of this, consumers ensure that rice is not wasted, as a customary sign of respect.
As seasons change, so do menus. Different seasons bring different harvests. This is
reflected in the food being served at establishments. This is super cool! Opposite to what I see on
the iHop menu at home, “fresh strawberries, when in season”, otherwise frozen, Japan’s menus
change to showcase what is best.
Fish is a huge industry, and is eaten and prepared in many different styles; from almost
alive on the plate to deep fried, like calamari. However, because meat was prohibited in Japan
until 1868, they have an array of vegetarian options, such as various noodles and soybeans.
There are no limitations, and there is always an option for everyone dining. Locals take pride in
presenting the restaurant just as well as the food, so you know your experience will always be
satisfactory.
As for holidays, there are many holidays unique to Japan, like most countries. The most
unique and intriguing I found, however, was the dolls festival, through Canal Hamamatsu. It is
where families set out dolls and various snacks, an example being “rice cake cubes”, to celebrate
the growth of girls (no specific age I found). I know that in certain countries girls aren't viewed
as equal and I found this festival admirable. I want those little girls to feel seen and loved like no
other.
Something different than the United States, Japan’s government is a “parliamentary
constitutional monarchy”. This means the system of government is ruled by a monarch whose
power is defined by his or her country’s constitution. They also use a civil law system, similar to
A blog by Hailey Welch
For my blog project, I will be studying Japanese culture. I chose this culture because
although I constantly hear about it from my peers, I don't know much about Japanese culture as a
whole. From my internet “deep dive” on Japanese culture, I believe from now on my interactions
with Japanese culture will remain the same, always polite and respectful, but I will have a
thought in the back of my mind of where their roots come from. This will also impact my
interactions with other cultures because I now know how hard-working individuals are. Not that
I didn’t before, but learning new things brings on new perspectives. Please, dive in with me!
Like every culture, there are foods, holidays, types of music, traditions, customs, and
more that are unique to that country. Now, food is my number one motivator, especially when
visiting new places. Researching the different types of food in Japan and the ways they are
prepared struck my curiosity.
After reading Inside Japan, I learned that many towns in Japan are known for their
specialty, whatever it may be. Jumping from town to town, different foods take the cake.
Probably the most recognizable item when considering Japanese food is sushi, which got me
thinking about how many of their dishes contain rice. Although rice is very satiating, I was
curious as to why it is so prevalent. In my research, I learned how labor-intensive rice harvesting
is. Because of this, consumers ensure that rice is not wasted, as a customary sign of respect.
As seasons change, so do menus. Different seasons bring different harvests. This is
reflected in the food being served at establishments. This is super cool! Opposite to what I see on
the iHop menu at home, “fresh strawberries, when in season”, otherwise frozen, Japan’s menus
change to showcase what is best.
Fish is a huge industry, and is eaten and prepared in many different styles; from almost
alive on the plate to deep fried, like calamari. However, because meat was prohibited in Japan
until 1868, they have an array of vegetarian options, such as various noodles and soybeans.
There are no limitations, and there is always an option for everyone dining. Locals take pride in
presenting the restaurant just as well as the food, so you know your experience will always be
satisfactory.
As for holidays, there are many holidays unique to Japan, like most countries. The most
unique and intriguing I found, however, was the dolls festival, through Canal Hamamatsu. It is
where families set out dolls and various snacks, an example being “rice cake cubes”, to celebrate
the growth of girls (no specific age I found). I know that in certain countries girls aren't viewed
as equal and I found this festival admirable. I want those little girls to feel seen and loved like no
other.
Something different than the United States, Japan’s government is a “parliamentary
constitutional monarchy”. This means the system of government is ruled by a monarch whose
power is defined by his or her country’s constitution. They also use a civil law system, similar to
