japanese essay about my family

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Writing essay about my family for Japanese class

This is just a rough draft but I thought I'd come to yall great people for some help. If you would be so kind to proof read and see if I made some glaring errors or minor grammar issues that'd be fantastic! This isn't for a grade for my class we are turning in a rough draft which will be returned for revisions then turn in for a final grade. It isn't even due for another month but I really wanted to work on it now cause although Im not great at japanese it is still fun. Keep in mind im in Japanese 1 so its gunna sound like a five year old is writing due to our limited vocab and the only kanji we know are the numbers. Anyways here it is...

みなさん、こんにちは。わたしのなまえはケビンさんです。ケント・ステート だいがくのがくせいです。せんこぅはれきしです。いまよねんせえです。わたしは二十四さいです。うちはメーフィールドのがっこうのうしろです。しゅみはにほんごれきしです。わたしはおだのぶながととくがわいえやすずきです。せんごくじだいはわたしのすきなほんです。マーカスオーリーリーアスはわたしのおてほんです。ごぜん六時にうちへかえります。あさごはんはたべません。わたしはおにいさんとおかあさんです。わたしのおとおさんはよねんまえなくなりました。しかたがない。おにいさんはコーヒーがだいすきです。わたしのいぬはなまえのフロードーです。フロードーは一十三さいです。

よろしくおねがいします。

Translation (What Im Trying to say)

Hello everyone. My name is Kevin. I go to Kent state university. I am a history major. I am now a senior in College. I am 24 years old. My house is behind mayfield highschool. My hobby is Japanese History. I like Oda Nobunaga and Tokogawa Ieyasu. Sengoku Jidai is my favorite book. Marcus Aurelius is my role model. I wake up at 6 am. I do not eat breakfast. I have one older brother and a mother. My father passed away four years ago. It Cannot be helped. My older brother loves coffee. My dog's name is frodo. Frodo is 13 years old.

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13 Japanese Sayings about Family — Inspirational Phrases to Know.

Want to know some Japanese sayings about family?

You got it. In the past, we covered:

• Japanese Phrases about Love
• Japanese Phrases About Life

But today, let’s talk about Japanese family quotes and proverbs.

In Japanese, family is “kazoku (家族),” and today…

….I’ll quickly run you through 1) the sayings, 2) the pronunciations (if you’re learning Japanese), and 3) the explanations for each one.

So, let’s jump in.

1) 氏より育ち。How you grow up is more important than blood

• Uji yori sodachi

In this saying, there is an emphasis on how it doesn’t matter what blood or household you come from. It’s saying, “nurture over nature.” The difference between people comes from their upbringing and education. This can be an uplifting saying because it gives hope for future change and growth.

2) 泣く子は育つ。Babies that cry grow

• Nakuko wa sodatsu

This is a useful Japanese saying for new parents. When babies cry a lot it can be very worrisome. You might start to think that the baby is in pain or unhappy. However, it’s good to remember that crying is a way of communicating. Crying means that they are in good health and will grow up strong.

3) 腹が立つなら親を思いだせ。Remember your parents when you get angry

• Hara ga tatsu nara oya o omoi dase

If you’re about to do something reckless, this saying can be a great reminder to remember how your parents would react. Thinking about how your parents might feel can stop you from acting out in anger.

4) 父の恩は山よりも高く、母の恩は海よりも深し。What you owe your father is higher than the mountain,  what you owe your mother is deeper than the ocean

• Chichi no on wa yama yori mo takaku, haha no on wa umi yori mo fukashi

This is a great saying about your family because children often forget how much their parents have sacrificed for them. This phrase beautifully relates the mountains and ocean to what you owe your parents. Whenever you can, you should show your parents appreciation for everything that they’ve done.

5) 笑う門には福来る。 Good things come to families that laugh

• Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru

It has been said that even forced laughter can actually make us happy. In this Japanese saying, it emphasizes how families that laugh together will eventually find luck and happiness. If families are laughing together, they have the mental space to be able to enjoy life and support each other.

6) 子は鎹 A child is like a nail

• Ko wa kasugai

Kasugai means a nail that holds together wood in Japanese. This saying is a metaphor on how children can bind together their parents. Having children can make a couple’s bond stronger even during hard times.

7) いつまでもあると思うな親と金。 Don’t think you’ll have your parents or money forever

• Itsumade mo aru to omou na oya to kane

This saying is meant for children to learn how to become self-sufficient from an early age. As time passes, your parents will eventually pass away. If you use money, it will eventually run out. Remembering that nothing is permanent is an important part of becoming an adult.

8) 親思う心にまさる親心。Parental feelings are stronger than what the child feels for parents

• Oya omou kokoro ni masaru oya gokoro.

This Japanese saying is about how a parent’s feeling for their child will always be stronger than the child’s feelings for parents. Parents love their children unconditionally from the moment they are born. When kids grow up, they tend to distance themselves as adults and won’t rely so much on their parents. Although kids will still care for the parents, it won’t be as strong as the parent.

9) 血で血を洗う。Washing blood with blood

• Chi de chi o arau

In this saying, it is referring to the situation when family members fight with each other. Even though you would normally wash blood away with water, washing it with blood would make it more dirty. In this way, the saying highlights how fighting with family can often be worse than fights with other people.

10) 姉女房は身代の薬。An older wife is medicine for the husband

• Ane nyoubou wa shindai no kusuri

This is an old saying that talks about how an older wife could be great for managing the household and caring for the husband. As you can see, the saying highlights traditional Japanese values where a wife is expected to stay at home while a husband is working. In modern times, this could simply mean that an older wife has more experience and can help to lead the family.

11) 子は三界の首枷。A child is like a choker

• Ko wa sangai no kubi kase

Having a child can be both a gift and a curse. In this saying, it talks about how having a kid can be like a choker in your past, present, and future. No matter what, you will be tied down by feelings for the child during your entire life. There is no way to break the connection that is made when you have a child.

12) 親に目なし。Parents have no eyes

• Oya ni me nashi

This Japanese saying is about how parents can’t look at their child without being biased. Your own child will always seem better than others. It also means that when a child misbehaves, the parent will not realize that the child has done something bad. Instead of scolding the child, the parent might try to blame others for their actions.

13) 福は無為に行ず。Happiness can’t be forced

• Fuku wa mui ni shouzu.

If you want happiness for your family, it’s important to take a step back. This saying is about how you can’t force happiness. If you try to have too much, you won’t find anything. Instead, happiness comes from those who wait for it to happen naturally.

Now, you know some interesting Japanese quotes and proverbs about family.

If you want to remember these phrases, print out this page.

If you have a favorite Japanese phrase, leave a comment.

I read ’em all.

– The Main Lingua Junkie

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Talk About Family in Japanese: Father-in-Law and More!

Learning a foreign language isn’t only about the language itself, but also about its culture, customs, and society. Family is the minimum unit of a social group, and it’s important to understand its characteristics as this is closely related to culture and customs.

When you learn how to explain your family in Japanese, it helps to expand your vocabulary and improve your communication skills in Japanese.

Compared to English, there are many more words to describe family members in Japanese. These words are according to age and the style (formal and informal). For example, what is a Japanese father-in-law called?

Let’s learn how to describe family in Japanese at JapanesePod101.com. Here’s our list of the most useful Japanese words and family member terms, as well as important information about family in Japan.

Table of Contents

• Family in Japan – Cultural Perspective
• Basic Family Terms
• Terms of Relatives
• Family Terms as a Married Person
• Endearment Terms
• How to Describe Family and Ask Question about Family in Japanese
• Conclusion: How Japanesepod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Family in Japan – Cultural Perspective

Before we move onto the actual family vocabulary, it’s important that we go over family roles in Japanese culture, family values in Japanese society, and the importance of family in Japanese culture. This will give you a better idea of what to expect from Japanese families, and give more context to the Japanese family vocabulary and phrases you’re going to learn!

1- Traditional and Modern Family in Japan

The traditional Japanese family is characterized by the 家 ( Ie ) or family system , which is literally translated as “household.” It refers to a home and family’s lineage, which bestows importance of kinship and loyalty to their family.

Each member of a family is expected to serve their family’s interests (rather than the individual’s) as a priority. The Japanese family is traditionally patriarchal and a household usually consists of grandparents, their son, his wife, and their children. The eldest son is expected to inherit the household assets, and he’s responsible for taking care of his parents when they get old.

In the modern Japanese family, however, the influence of the traditional ie system isn’t as strong as it used to be. A 核家族 ( kaku kazoku ) or “ nuclear family ” is very common nowadays, and consists of two parents and their children, typically centering on a married couple.

While a married couple is expected to live together with a husband’s parents in the traditional Japanese family, grandparents don’t live with a kaku kazoku in a modern Japanese family (although they are visited often).

2- Becoming a Family in Japan (Marriage)

In Japan, the 戸籍 ( Koseki ) or “family registration system” is mandatory to all households. It requires that the family records all changes in family composition and identity, such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, and disrupted adoptions.

It’s required to register one person as the head of a household, and the rest of the members in a household must have the same surname as that of the head. Once a couple gets married, spouses are obligated to have the same surname, and registration of different surnames is not allowed.

Due to the traditional system and the importance of kinship as custom, marriage isn’t only a matter of the bride and groom, but also of their extended family. It’s expected that extended families from both sides are going to have a “family relationship” once a couple gets married in Japan. As such, relationships with one’s in-laws become important.

3- Expressions of Family in Japan

There are various words to name family members in Japanese.

Japanese vocabulary words to describe family count age difference, and there are particular names related to age. This is because age is regarded as one of the most important attributions in the Japanese society, which is greatly influenced by the concept of Confucianism that states seniority is highly respected.

As relationships with in-laws are also culturally important, there are particular names for them as well.

In addition, there are variations of how to express family members, ranging from very casual to formal. Which ones to use depend on the occasion.

Let’s dive into the details in the following sections, and get you started with common family words in Japanese.

2. Basic Family Terms

Now, it’s time to learn some basic Japanese words for family members. These are the words you’ll most often hear and use!

1- Basic Family Vocabularies

The formal terms are usually used for official occasions and in written form, while the informal terms are commonly used in casual situations (orally) as well as when calling a family member.

Average modern Japanese families usually have 1 or 2 children.

2- More Vocabulary

• 家族 かぞく ( Kazoku ) : family
• 両親 りょうしん ( Ryōshin ) : parents (father & mother)
• 親 おや ( Oya ) : parent(s)
• 子供 こども ( Kodomo ) : child(ren)
• 兄弟 きょうだい ( Kyōdai ) : brothers
• 姉妹しまい ( Shimai ) : sisters

3- Examples

Here are some examples of Japanese phrases for family, so you have a better idea how to use the vocabulary above.

• 私の家族は、お母さん、お父さん、私、弟の4人家族です。 Watashi no kazoku wa, o-kā-san, o-tō-san, watashi, otōto no yo-nin kazoku desu. My family has four members: mother, father, me, and my younger brother.
• 私は姉と妹がいる3姉妹です。 Watashi wa ane to imōto ga iru san-shimai desu. I have an older sister and a younger sister, and we are three sisters.
• 私は兄と姉がいます。 Watashi wa ani to ane ga imasu. I have an older brother and an older sister.
• 私は祖父と祖母が大好きです。 Watashi wa sofu to sobo ga daisuki desu. I like my grandfather and grandmother very much.

To listen to the pronunciation of basic family terms, please visit Must-Know Terms for Family Members on our website.

Also, if you would like to know more about Japanese numbers, please visit our Japanese Numbers article .

The bond between a mother and a daughter is often very strong.

3. Terms of Relatives

1- vocabulary for relatives.

• 親戚　しんせき ( Shinseki ) : relatives
• 叔父　おじ ( Oji ) : uncle
• 叔母　おば ( Oba ) : aunt
• 甥　おい (Oi) : nephew
• 姪　めい ( Mei ) : niece
• いとこ ( Itoko ) : cousin

2- Examples

• 私の親戚は全員東京に住んでいます。 Watashi no shinseki wa zen’in Tōkyō ni sunde imasu. All my relatives live in Tokyo.
• 私は5人いとこがいます。 Watashi wa go-nin itoko ga imasu. I have five cousins.
• 私の叔父と叔母は教師です。 Watashi no oji to oba wa kyōshi desu. My uncle and my aunt are teachers.
• 私の姪は5歳で、甥は2歳です。 Watashi no mei wa go-sai de, oi wa ni-sai desu. My niece is five years old and my nephew is two years old.

4. Family Terms as a Married Person

1- vocabulary to know as a married person.

• 結婚 けっこん ( Kekkon ) : marriage
• 既婚 きこん ( Kikon ) : married
• 未婚　みこん ( Mikon ) : unmarried
• 離婚　りこん ( Rikon ) : divorce
• 夫 おっと ( Otto ) : husband
• 妻 つま ( Tsuma ) : wife
• 息子　むすこ ( Musuko ) : son
• 娘　むすめ ( Musume ) : daughter
• 義理の ぎりの ( Giri no ) : in-law

In order to express “XXX in-law,” add 義理の ( Giri no ) in front of XXX (the family member).

For example:

• 義理の両親 ( Giri no ryōshin ) : parents-in-law
• 義理の父 ( Giri no chichi ) : father-in-law
• 義理の母 ( Giri no haha ) : mother-in-law
• 義理の兄 ( Giri no ani ) : older brother-in-law
• 義理の弟 ( Giri no otōto ) : younger brother-in-law
• 義理の姉 ( Giri no ane ) : older sister-in-law
• 義理の妹 ( Giri no imōto ) : younger sister-in-law
• 私は夫と娘が1人います。 Watashi wa otto to musume ga hitori imasu. I have a husband and one daughter.
• 私の義理の父と母は大阪に住んでいます。 Watashi no giri no chichi to haha wa Ōsaka ni sunde imasu. My father and mother in-law live in Osaka.
• 私は既婚者で子供が2人います。 Watashi wa kikonsha de kodomo ga futari imasu. I am married and I have two children.
• 私の義理の両親は、私の息子におもちゃを買いました。 Watashi no giri no ryōshin wa, watashi no musuko ni omocha o kaimashita. My parents-in-law bought a toy for my son.

5. Endearment Terms

In addition to the formal and informal terms for family, there are also more casual vocabulary words that you can call family members. It may vary from household to household, or on what kind of relationships there are between family members, but here are some examples. Just note that these are typically used in Japanese family relationships that are close.

• パパ ( Papa ) : papa

Like in English, “papa” is a common name to call a father in Japan, especially when children are very small. However, most Japanese people don’t use papa as they grow up.

• 父ちゃん ( Tō-chan ) : dad

This term includes a nuance of cute and comical affection.

• おやじ ( Oyaji ) : dad

This term is usually used by sons who are post-adolescent age. When they become adults, they often feel embarrassed to call their father papa or o-tō-san . This term also indicates a nuance of close affection.

• ママ ( Mama ) : mama

Just like papa, mama is used especially when children are still small.

• 母ちゃん ( Kā-chan ) : mom

This is the version of tō-chan used for mothers.

• お袋 ( Ofukuro ) : mom

This is the mother version of oyaji .

3- Grandfather

• じじ ( Jiji ) : grandpa

Grandchildren and their parents usually call a grandfather by this term when the grandchildren are still small. It indicates a nuance of cute affection.

• じーじ ( Jīji ) : grandpa

This is very similar to jiji , but the first ji is pronounced longer.

4- Grandmother

• ばば ( Baba ) : grandma

This is the grandmother version of jiji .

• ばーば ( Bāba ) : grandma

This is the grandmother version of jīji .

Grandparents often have endearing nicknames when they have grandchildren.

6. How to Describe Family and Ask Question about Family in Japanese

Most of the time, there’s no problem with talking about family and relatives. When it comes to marital status and children, however, it can be a delicate matter. It can sometimes be inappropriate to ask someone about his/her marital status or if they have children, unless he/she is open and willing to talk. This is especially true for a woman in her 30s.

Here are some example questions and answers related to family.

Q: 何人家族ですか。 Nan-nin kazoku desu ka. How many family members do you have?

A: お父さん、お母さん、お姉ちゃん、私の4人家族です。 O-tō-san, o-kā-san, o-nee-chan, watashi no yo-nin kazoku desu. I have four family members: father, mother, older sister, and me.

—–

Q: 兄弟はいますか。 Kyōdai wa imasu ka. Do you have brothers and sisters?

*When asking a question, kyōdai can also refer to sisters.

A: 私は姉と弟がいます。 Watashi wa ane to otōto ga imasu. I have an older sister and a younger brother.

Q: 結婚していますか。 Kekkon shite imasu ka. Are you married?

A: はい、妻と子供が2人います。 Hai, tsuma to kodomo ga futari imasu. Yes, I have a wife and two children.

Q: 孫はいますか。 Mago wa imasu ka. Do you have grandchildren?

A: はい、私は孫が6人います。 Hai, watashi wa mago ga roku-nin imasu. Yes, I have six grandchildren.

Q: ご両親はお元気ですか。 Go-ryōshin wa o-genki desu ka. How are your parents?

*It’s polite to put go in front of ryōshin when you talk about someone’s parents.

A: はい、私の父と母は元気です。 Hai, watashi no chichi to haha wa genki desu. Yes, my father and mother are doing well.

For more about self-introductions, please visit Introducing Yourself in Japanese on our website .

7. Conclusion: How Japanesepod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this article about family in Japanese culture is useful and that it helps to improve your Japanese communication skills.

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com . We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For example, Must-Know Terms for Family Members is helpful if you want to practice family terms in Japanese with audio.

We also have YouTube channel: JapanesePod101 . It’s always fun to learn Japanese by watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation.

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there are any family terms you still want to know! And to practice, write a short paragraph about your family in basic Japanese. We look forward to hearing from you!

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How to talk about family in Japanese

Knowing how to talk about your family in Japanese can open up your conversation skills! When talking with strangers and friends, family can be a great topic.  The only problem is that talking about family can be difficult to grasp in Japanese!

In this article, I’ll be going over all of the different ways to talk about family and useful phrases.

Talking about your own family vs. Talking about someone else’s family

Before we get into anything specific, it’s important to understand the differences between talking about your own family and talking about someone else’s family! In Japanese, you must use different vocabulary and ways of speech for these two situations. 

When talking about your own family you must refer to your family members with no honorifics and in an “impolite form” . This is because they are your own family.

If you’re talking about someone else’s family, you must use a more polite form . Even if you know the other person’s family well, you must refer to them with some kind of honorifics or polite speech.

Finally, it’s important to know how to talk to your family in Japanese. When you are talking to your family, you have many choices. You can call them by their name or with other family words depending on your relationship. 

All of these can be confusing, so let’s take some examples:

When talking about your own mother, you can use the word 母 はは (haha). Notice how the word doesn’t include any extra honorifics. 

母 はは は 元気 げんき です。 Haha wa genki desu. My mother is doing well.

Now let’s look at how you’d ask about someone else’s mother. Depending on how close you are to the other person, you can use お 母 かあ さん(okaasan) or お 母様  かあさま  (okaasama). The honorifics さん/ 様 さま adds additional levels of politeness.

お 母様 かあさま はお 元気 げんき ですか？ Okaasama wa ogenki desuka? How is your mother?

At this point you might be wondering how to call your own mother. You actually have lots of choices ranging from formal to super casual. This simply depends on how you grew up and what you become accustomed to saying.

How to say “Family” and “Relatives” in Japanese

Let’s go over how to say the words for “family” and “relative” in Japanese. This can be useful to ask general questions about how someone’s family is doing. In addition, you can use this to describe your own family.

Here are the two ways to say “family:

This is the basic word for family.  There is no politeness attached to kazoku so it is best when talking about your own family or your friend’s family. It’s also possible to use this when talking about “family” as a general concept.

You should use this word when you’re talking about someone else’s family in a polite way. If you’re very good friends with the other person, you might be able to use kazoku instead.  

There are also two ways to say “relatives”:

In this case, there are no real differences between the two words. However, shinseki might be more common than shinrui .

Members of the Family in Japanese

Here is the vocabulary for members of the family! As I mentioned earlier, there are different words you need depending on if you’re talking about your own family vs. talking about someone else’s family. Some of these words can also be used for multiple situations. 

To make things easier, I’ll mark each word with letters that will represent the situation!

P = Polite (Use with strangers, acquaintances, older people, people you need to respect)

C = Casual (Use with friends, and those who are younger than you)

O = Talking about your own family to someone else

S = Talking about someone else’s family

T = Talking to your family member directly

There are many words for mothers, especially for how people call their own moms. I won’t go into all of them here, but try observing how other people call their mom.

This word for mom, is usually only used by men.

Just like “mother”, there are lots of words that people use to call their own father. I only put the general words here.

For these two words, you don’t have to worry too much about politeness or situation. They can be used to talk about yourself and to talk about others.

In most cases, it’s better to use kyoudai instead of shimai. This is because Kyoudai means “siblings” in general, whereas shimai only refers to female siblings. 

Older sister

Note that this word can also be used to refer to people who are not your relative. When used in this context, it just means a woman who’s a bit older than you. An example would be if a child is being babysat by a teenager, they might call them oneesan. 

Younger sister

Since a younger sister implies they are younger, they are usually referred to in a more casual way.

Older brother

Like oneesan, oniisan can also be used as a word to describe someone who’s slightly older than you. It’s not always only for relatives.

Younger brother:

This one shows more respect for your husband than 夫.

Teishu is used when the husband is “good for nothing” or doesn’t deserve as much respect. If you’re talking about someone else’s husband, it would be best use it while the wife is not around as it could be rude.

Unlike tsuma, kanai implies that you feel very close to your wife. 

This is the basic word for “child” in Japanese. This means that anyone can use this word in a general context. When referring to someone else’s child, you should use the other polite words.

Extended Family in Japanese:

Since there are so many family words, I decided to split the vocabulary into another section for extended family. 

These will also follow the same organizing format (if you need to refresh what this means read the previous section!):

Grandparents: 

Saying “grandparents” referring to someone else’s family:

If you’d like to say grandparent referring to someone else’s family, you should say “grandmother and grandfather”. There isn’t really one word people use to indicate grandparents, when talking about someone else’s family.

Grandfather:

Grandmother:.

For cousins, there’s basically just one word. Depending on the gender, there are some different ways to write the word in kanji . However, this is not extremely important and I recommend sticking to the hiragana!

Grandchild:

For describing your in-laws, you would use this phrase. Simply put the family word in the blank.

For example, mother in-law would be:

義理 ぎり のお 母 かあ さん – giri no okaasan

Phrases for Describing your Family:

As explained before, knowing how to use the level of formality is important! Make sure that you always talk about your own family member in a way that uses no honorifics. 

Using particle は(wa):

The particle は(wa) is useful when describing your family. All you have to do is to put the family member + は( wa) + description to form a phrase.  は(wa)  acts as an “is” in English.

For example, you can say, “my younger sister is a university student”.

妹 いもうと は 大学生 だいがくせい です。 Imouto wa daigakusei desu. My younger sister is a university student.

Useful Phrases:

Here are some other phrases for describing your family.

This is useful if you want to say you have a particular family member. For example “I have a younger brother” would be 弟 おとうと がいます (otouto ga imasu).

If you’re an only child, you could say this phrase to describe yourself.

To show the size of your family, you could put a number in the blank. This would usually only apply to the number of immediate family members you have.

Asking about someone’s family:

Formality: .

When asking about someone else’s family, make sure to be as polite as possible. If you’re really close friends or much older than the other person, you might be able to get away with using more informal language. However, as a general practice you’ll want to be more formal than if you’re talking about your own family. 

Useful Questions:

Here are some questions you can ask someone about their family. When the phrase has a blank, you can add the type of family member.

I hope that this article will help you with learning the vocabulary and phrases for talking about family in Japanese! As you can see, there are lots of different ways to say the word for the family member. Knowing how to navigate this will take some time, and I encourage you  to listen to the way that native speakers use the vocabulary. If you’re interested in other Japanese language learning blog content, be sure to check out  How to tell the time in Japanese  or  Japanese Numbers: Count from 1-100 and beyond

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Japanese Family Terms – How to Address Your Own Relatives and Others’

In this guide, you will learn the fundamentals of the Japanese family terms , focusing primarily on  informal  and  formal  terms. By learning how to use both informal and formal terms, you will be able to talk about  your own family (informal)  as well as address  someone else’s family (formal) .

• 1.1 “Family” in Japanese
• 1.2 “Family member” in Japanese
• 2 Addressing family members in Japanese
• 3.1 Immediate family in Japanese
• 3.2 Grandparents in Japanese
• 3.3 Parents in Japanese
• 3.4.1 Sister in Japanese
• 3.4.2 Brother in Japanese
• 3.5 Children in Japanese
• 3.6 Spouse in Japanese
• 4.1 Relatives in Japanese
• 4.2 In-laws in Japanese
• 5.2 Someone else’s relatives
• 5.3 Your in-laws
• 6 Why learn the Japanese Family Terms?

Japanese Family

In Japan, like in any other Asian country, the family is regarded as the most important sector of society. The family members are treated with respect. This is evident in the language used toward them. Each family members have their own name according to one’s relationship with that member.

A Japanese family is made up of immediate family members such as father, mother, and siblings and extended families such as grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins.

In this guide, we’ll teach you the different Japanese family terms you can use to address your own family members and other people’s family.

“Family” in Japanese

The word for “family” in Japanese is かぞく (kazoku). So when talking about your family, you can say わたしの かぞく (watashi no kazoku) which means “My family”.

For example:

わたし の かぞく は かんこく から きました。(watashi no kazokuwa kankokukara kimashita.)

My family is from Korea. 

わたし の かぞく は たべる の が すき です。(watashi no kazokuwa taberunoga suki desu.)

My family likes to eat.

“Family member” in Japanese

The word “family member” in Japanese is かぞく の いちいん (kazoku no ichiin).

Addressing family members in Japanese

The Japanese have different family words to address family members . The family words vary according to whose family member are you addressing or talking about. The Japanese family words are different when you’re talking about or addressing your own family members and when it’s a member of a different family.

In a while, you’ll be adding a few more words to your Japanese vocabulary .

Addressing your own family

Getting familiar with these terms should be the first step to learning how to address family members in Japanese. These terms are used commonly in Japan, so you will probably hear them quite often throughout day-to-day life.

Remember to use these words when you’re talking about your own family. Use it when you’re in a casual and informal setting or situation.

Immediate family in Japanese

An immediate family is きんしんしゃ (kinshinsha) in Japanese . It’s made up of grandparents, parents, siblings, children, husband, wife, and spouse. In this lesson, we’ll group the Japanese family words according to these groups.

Grandparents in Japanese

Grandparents in Japanese is そふぼ (sofubo). When talking about or addressing your grandfather you can say そふ (sofu) while grandmother is そぼ (sobo).

Parents in Japanese

Parents in Japanese are called りょうしん (ryōshin) while father is ちち (chichi) and mother is はは (haha).

Siblings in Japanese

Siblings are made up of brothers and sisters. Siblings in Japanese are called きょうだい (kyōdai).

Sister in Japanese

There are two ways to say sister in Japanese when talking about your own sister.

You’ll say あね (ane) for your older sister and いもうと (imouto) for your younger sister.

Brother in Japanese

Just like the word sister, there are two ways to say brother in Japanese when talking about your own brother.

You’ll say あに (ani) for your older brother while おとうと (otouto) for your younger brother.

Children in Japanese

Children are called こども (kodomo) in the Japanese language. But they have a specific word used for a female and male child.

Spouse in Japanese

The word spouse is はいぐうしゃ in Japanese . However, in Japan, they have exact words to call their respective spouse.

List of Family Words in Japanese

Here’s the summary of all the Japanese family member vocabulary you’ll use to address your own family.

Relatives in Japanese

To add to your Japanese vocabulary for family members, let’s learn about addressing your relatives. The word relative is translated as しんせき (shinseki).

そこで おおく の しんせき に あった.  (sokode ookuno shinsekini atta)

I met many relatives there.

あなた の しんせき は どこ に すんでいます か. (anatano shinsekiwa dokoni sundeimasuka)

Where do your relatives live?

Below is a list of people related to your own family in the Japanese language.

In-laws in Japanese

The word “in-law” is いんせき (inseki) in Japanese. However, when it comes to addressing your in-laws, the general rule of thumb is to add “義理の”（ぎりの | giri no ）before their relation in the family.

Although “義理の” is not a direct translation of “in-law” (義理 actually refers to the Japanese value of duty and obligation), you can add “義理の” as a prefix to change the relation to “in-law.”

Example sentences:

私の 妹 は6歳です。

わたし　の　 いもうと 　は　ろく  さい　です。

Watashi no  imōto  wa roku sai desu.

My  younger sister  is 6 years old .

あに 　は　だいがく きょうじゅ　です。

Ani  wa daigaku kyōju desu.

My   older brother  is a university professor .

私は 義理の姉 がいます。

わたし　は　ぎりのあね　が　います。

Watashi wa giri no ane ga imasu.

I have a (older) sister-in-law .

Addressing  someone else’s  family

Now that you’re comfortable talking about your own family, next we will look at words that you should use when addressing someone else’s family. As mentioned earlier, there’s a different way of addressing or talking about family members of another family.

Below is a list of Japanese vocabulary for someone else’s family members. A lot of these terms end with  an honorific suffix さん ( -san ) to emphasize respect   and politeness toward others.

Remember to use these words especially when you are addressing or talking about someone else’s family. You’ll also use this list of vocabulary when you are in a serious and formal setting or situation.

Tip : If you want to be extra respectful, change the さん (- san ) honorific to a 様 (さま – sama )   honorific (For example: お父さん otōsan  → お父 様   otō sama )

Someone else’s immediate family

Below is a table of words you’ll use to address or talk about other’s immediate family members.

Someone else’s relatives

Earlier we learned the vocabulary we need to address people related to our own family. This time, we’ll learn how we can address people related to someone else’s family.

For the word “relative” in the Japanese language, ごしんせき (goshinseki) is used.

Let’s take a close look at the Japanese vocabulary below. Pay close attention to how the written kanji  changes for uncle, aunt, and cousin, depending on the context (i.e., older or younger for aunts/uncles and male or female for cousins).

Your in-laws

When addressing someone else’s family members, it’s important to address them respectfully by adding the honorific suffix さん ( -san ).

私はあなたの ご両親 にお会いしたいです。

わたし　は　あなた　の　 ごりょうしん　 に　おあい したい　です。

Watashi wa anata no  goryōshin  ni oai shitai desu.

I want to meet your  parents .

山田さんの お父様 は何をされている方ですか？

やまださん　の　 おとうさま 　は　なにを　されている　かた　ですか？

Yamada-san no  otōsama  wa nani o sareteiru kata desu ka?

What does Yamada-san’s  father  do for a living?

Why learn the Japanese Family Terms?

It’s very important for you to learn the terms used in a family in Japanese. For example, you are at a formal dinner party, and your manager asks you about your family. As you describe some of your family members, you also decide to ask a question about their family. Now, are you going to use the same words that you used to describe your own family when you ask a question about your manager’s family?

It’s not just limited to conversations about your family that make learning the Japanese terms used in a family important. Whether it may be filling out an emergency contact or casually talking about your family at your company’s 歓迎会 ( kangei-kai  or welcome party), knowing some basic family terms in Japanese should come in handy at some point. But memorizing just a few terms won’t always cut it, as there are different words that are used for different occasions.

Let us know how many members are there in your family in the comment section by using the Japanese family terms you learned today!

10 replies to "Japanese Family Terms – How to Address Your Own Relatives and Others’"

Thanks for this concise review of Japanese family terms list using kanji, kana, and romaji.

Awesome, thanks for your comment! ^^ If you want, you can visit the 90 Day Japanese Blog to find more great content on learning Japanese. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

І was able to find good informatіon from your blog articles.

Thanks for your comment! I’m glad that our articles have been useful to you. ^^ To find more great content on learning Japanese, visit the 90 Day Japanese Blog . You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

Thank you so much for your help,I have learned too much from your article, it’s very useful for me, keep it up.

Great, thanks for your comment! I’m glad that our article has been valuable to you. ^^ You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

Thanks for your help. This article helped me get an A on my Japanese assignment. Its great

Thanks for the comment, Timmee! I’m glad that our article has been helpful to you. ^^ If you want more lessons, you can check our our blog post. ^^ You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

Thank you for this. I spend years making my own list but I lost it in the hundreds of files I have generated during my years of Japanese study. You really saved me with this!

You’re welcome, Andy! Glad you found our article helpful! (＾▽＾)

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About This Page

This page introduces the variety of essays written by popular contemporary authors. Unless noted, all are in Japanese.

The author, さくらももこ, is known for writing a comic titled 『 ちびまる子ちゃん 』. The comic is based on her own childhood experiences and depicts the everyday life of a girl with a nickname of Chibi Maruko-chan. The author has been constantly writing casual and humorous essays, often recollecting her childhood memories. We have both the『 ちびまる子ちゃん 』 comic series and other essays by the author. 

To see a sample text in a new tab, please  click on the cover image or the title .

中島らも(1952-2004) started his career as a copyrigher but changed his path to become a prolific writer, publishing novels, essays, drama scripts and rakugo stories. He became popular with his "twisted sense of humour."  He is also active in the music industry when he formed his own band. He received the 13th Eiji Yoshikawa New Author Prize with his 『今夜、すべてのバーで』 and Mystery Writers of Japan Aaward with 『 ガダラの豚 』.

東海林（しょうじ）さだお

東海林さだお(1937-) is a well-known cartoonist, but he is also famous for his essays on food. His writing style is light and humorous and tends to pay particular attention toward regular food, such as bananas, miso soup, and eggd in udon noodles, rather than talk about gourmet meals. (added 5/2/2014)

Collection of Essays: 天声人語 = Vox Populi, Vox Deli (Bilingual)

A collection of essays which appear on the front page of Asahi Shinbun . Each essay is approx. 600 words. KU has collections published around 2000. Seach KU Online catalog with call number AC145 .T46 for more details. 

To see a sample text, please click on the cover image or the title .

Other Essays

Online Essay

• 村上さんのところ "Mr. Murakami's Place" -- Haruki Murakami's Advice Column Part of Haruki Murakami's official site. He answers questions sent to this site. He will also take questions in English. Questions will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2015.

Search from KU Collection

If you are looking for essays in Japanese available at KU, use this search box. If you know the author, search by last name, then first name, such as "Sakura, Momoko." Make sure to select "Author" in the search field option.:

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Family in Japanese

In today’s free lesson you’ll learn how to talk about your family in Japanese . Practice your Japanese pronunciation as you listen to the audio, and while you’re at it – take a closer look at the different ways to say 'my' in Japanese.

Resources for further reading: -  The Top Ten "Learn Japanese" Hacks -  Learn How You can Improve Your Japanese Pronunciation

How to Pronounce Family in Japanese

Let’s look at some immediate family members:

Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record

Rocket Record lets you perfect your Japanese pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!

わたし　の　りょうしん

watashi no ryōshin

older brother

older sister

younger brother

younger sister

How about your extended family?

grandfather

grandmother

watashi no itoko

watashi no shinseki

my relatives

Now for some romantic relationships:

watashi no tsuma

watashi no otto

watashi no kareshi

my boyfriend

watashi no kanojo

my girlfriend

Now you're all set to describe your family in Japanese.

Here are a few recommended Japanese lessons to try next:

• Looking for popular entertainment for going out in Japanese ? Check out this lesson.
• Saying happy birthday in Japanese is easy! Learn how in this lesson.
• Talking about your health in Japanese is essential.

さようなら！ (Sayōnara!) "Good bye!"

Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese

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Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!

Kazoku - Japanese family members

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Thank you for sharing! Your gift is at the end of the page! Enjoy your reading!

Are you curious to know how to say the name of each family member in Japanese? In this article you will increase your vocabulary and satisfy that curiosity by learning about Kazoku [家族] in Japanese.

It is worth remembering that in Japanese, there is a difference in saying about your family member or someone else's family member. There are also suffixes that can be used according to the formality of the conversation.

Índice de Conteúdo

Your family members in Japanese

Before we quote family members in Japanese, you need to understand a little about the pronunciation and the way we use these Japanese words. For that, we leave a video below that will explain everything about it:

While in English we have only the feminine and masculine of brother, in Japanese there is more than one word to refer to brothers of different ages, but older or younger than the person. We already have an article that talks about onii-chan and others.

Read also: Meaning of Onii-chan, Onee-chan – Siblings in Japanese

Members of other families - Respectful manner

It is worth remembering that it is not wrong to call your family members by the names below. On the contrary, it may be more common to call your parents oka-san and otto-san than haha and chichi. So the list below may also apply to your family members.

The difference between the previous list and the list below is politeness and respect. Using the terms below is being more respectful, while the previous list is a more informal, childish or intimate way of saying it.

Cousins and distant relatives in Japanese

Although younger and older cousins are spelled the same. Be careful because they use different ideograms to identify whether the individual is older or younger, male or female, equal brothers in japanese .

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Unrelated family members in Japanese

Videos about Kazoku - nihongo

The videos below can help you train your pronunciation and vocabulary. They are kind of childish, but it helps to understand the pronunciation. Hope you enjoyed the article. If you liked it, share and leave comments.

Read also: How to read Japanese? Does the pronunciation and speech change? basic rules

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Transition Words and Phrases for Japanese Essays  

  June 9, 2020

By   Alexis Papa

Are you having a hard time connecting between your ideas in your Japanese essay? In this article, we have listed useful transition words and phrases that you can use to help you let your ideas flow and have an organized essay.

Japanese Phrases for Giving Examples and Emphasis

For example,

がいこく、たとえばちゅうごくへいったことがありますか。 Gaikoku, tatoeba Chuugoku e itta koto ga arimasu ka?

Have you been abroad, for instance China?

たぶんちゅうごくへいったことがあります。 Tabun Chuugoku e itta koto ga arimasu.

I have probably been to China.

Japanese Essay Phrases: General Explaining

しけんにごうかくするのために、まじめにべんきょうしなきゃ。 Shiken ni goukaku suru no tame ni, majime ni benkyou shinakya.

In order to pass the exam, I must study.

あしたあめがふるそう。だから、かさをもってきて。 Ashita ame ga furu sou. Dakara, kasa wo motte kite.

It seems that it will rain tomorrow. So, bring an umbrella.

Showing Sequence

まず、あたらしいさくぶんのがいせつをしようとおもう。 Mazu, atarashii sakubun no gaisetsu wo shiyou to omou.

First, I am going to do an outline of my new essay.

つぎに、さくぶんをかきはじめます。 Tsugi ni, sakubun wo kaki hajimemasu.

Then, I will begin writing my essay.

Adding Supporting Statements

かれはブレーキをかけ、そしてくるまはとまった。 Kare wa bureki wo kake, soshite kuruma wa tomatta.

He put on the brakes and then the car stopped.

いえはかなりにみえたし、しかもねだんがてごろだった。 Ie wa kanari ni mieta shi, shikamo nedan ga tegoro datta.

The house looked good; moreover,the (selling) price was right.

Demonstrating Contrast 

にほんごはむずかしいですが、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ga, omoshiroi desu.

Although Japanese language is difficult, it is enjoyable.

にほんごはむずかしいです。でも、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Demo, omoshiroi desu.

Japanese language is difficult. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable.

にほんごはむずかしいです。しかし、おもしろいです。 Nihondo wa muzukashii desu. Shikashi, omoshiroi desu.

Japanese language is difficult. However, it is enjoyable.

にほんごはむずかしいですけれど、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzakashii desu keredo, omoshiroi desu.

Japanese Essay Phrases for Summarizing

われわれはこのはなしはじつわだというけつろんにたっした。 Wareware wa kono hanashi wa jitsuwa da to iu ketsuron ni tasshita.

We have come to a conclusion that this is a true story.

Now that you have learned these Japanese transitional words and phrases, we hope that your Japanese essay writing has become easier. Leave a comment and write examples of sentences using these Japanese essay phrases!

Alexis Papa

Alexis is a Japanese language and culture enthusiast from the Philippines. She is a Japanese Studies graduate, and has worked as an ESL and Japanese instructor at a local language school. She enjoys her free time reading books and watching series.

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Your Step-by-Step Jikoshoukai Guide Learn the basics, practice, and create an advanced Japanese self-introduction

October 11, 2016 • words written by Mami Suzuki and Michael Richey • Art by Aya Francisco

Viewing under The Tofugu JET Program Guide

When you start learning Japanese or are visiting Japan for the first time , there are few words to learn right away:

Once you've mastered those three, you need to learn your jikoshoukai.

Jikoshoukai 自己紹介 （ じこしょうかい ） is the Japanese word for "self-introduction." In theory, this is similar to how you would introduce yourself in your own culture. Say hello, say your name, tell a little about yourself. But in practice, there are cultural differences and set procedures you should stick to. You only get one first impression, so it's important to learn how to do it right.

We'll start by teaching you the basic Japanese self-introduction, then cultural subtleties, and finally a ton of extra grammar and vocabulary you can use to talk about yourself with your new Japanese friends.

Jikoshoukai Vocabulary

Writing your jikoshoukai, 1. first name and family name, 2. occupation, 3. don't talk about yourself too much, 4. bowing vs. handshake, 5. holding your hands behind your back, 6. don't bow while talking, business cards, "nice to meet you", "please be kind to me", where you are from, your school, where you live, hobbies and proficiencies, plans for the future, only the beginning, how to jikoshoukai.

Going to Japan, but don't know Japanese? Don't worry. You can jikoshoukai. The Japanese self-intro has a standard order and set phrases, so even beginners can meet and greet in Japanese.

• How do you do?

The set phrase hajimemashite 初めまして （ はじ　　　　 ） either comes from the verb hajimeru 始める （ はじ　　 ） , which means "to start," or it's a shortened form of 初めて （ はじ　　 ） お 目 （ め ） にかかりまして. Though etymologists aren't sure of the word's true origin, hajimemashite implies beginning or doing something for the first time . Most people think of it as saying "How do you do?" or "Nice to meet you."

• 私 （ わたし ） は [name] と 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。
• My name is [name].

The breakdown of this sentence is easier than it looks. It has three parts:

• 私 （ わたし ） は - The first word 私 means "I" or "me." It's followed by the particle は which indicates the topic of the sentence. In this case, 私 is the topic.
• [name] - Your name.
• と 申します （ もう　　　 ） - One meaning of the verb 申す is "to be called." It's paired with the particle と and conjugated to 申します。 This is a polite phrase, so it's safe to use in almost any situation.

When you put them all together, you get something along the lines of "I am called [name]" or "My name is [name]."

• よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します。
• Please be kind to me.

The final piece of the puzzle is よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します. It doesn't translate well to English, which is why we wrote a whole article about it . In a self-intro situation, it means something like "Please be kind to me." It's often translated as "Nice to meet you." This isn't technically correct, though it carries a similar feeling.

Now that you've got the basic building blocks down, it's time to put it together. At its simplest, the jikoshoukai sequence is:

• はじめまして。 私 （ わたし ） は (name) と 申 （ もう ） します。よろしくお 願 （ ねが ） いします。
• How do you do? My name is (name). Please be kind to me.

See? Not so hard. When you're getting ready to meet Japanese people for the first time, write this out and practice until it flows. If you're a beginner at Japanese , you don't need any more than this.

Jikoshoukai Etiquette

It's great to know the words to say when introducing yourself in Japanese, but how you say those words will make or break your jikoshoukai.

There are cultural differences to be aware of. They're subtle, so if you miss them it probably won't be counted against you. But paying attention to details like these can give you an extra social edge when you first meet a new Japanese friend.

In English, people usually introduce themselves by their first names or full names. When you give your full name, the first name comes first and the family name afterward.

In Japanese, people usually introduce themselves by their family names or full names. When they introduce their full name, the family name comes first and the first name comes second.

Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

In English, when you asked what you do for work, you give a brief summary of your job, or the name of your profession.

In Japan, it's common to answer only, " 会社員 （ かいしゃいん ） です。" (I'm an office worker./I work for a company./I'm a salaryman.)

However, if you introduce yourself to someone in a business setting, mention your company in your self-intro. For example:

• Tofuguのコウイチと 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。
• I'm Koichi from Tofugu.

This concept goes along with our next point…

Japanese people sometimes say lightly self-deprecating things as a form of humility, but it's usually followed by something positive (or the positivity is implied). For example:

• 至らない点が多いかもしれませんが、頑張りますので、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します
• I might have many flaws, but I'll do my best so please be kind to me.

You don't have to say anything like this (in fact, we advise you don't), but the point is this: Japanese people usually keep their strengths on the down-low.

So try not to show off too much. Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

In the West, if you're meeting someone one-on-one, you shake hands.

In Japan, don't move in for the handshake, especially if your status is the same or lower than the person you're meeting. In Japan, handshakes are for equals, so if you try to shake hands with the Emperor, it would be considered rude. Bow instead, and do so at the beginning and end of your jikoshoukai.

In Japan, holding your hands behind your back signals importance, so it may make you look full of yourself. Put your hands in front of you (the left hand on top of the right), or put your hands beside you.

This is a no-no from our Japanese bowing guide . Do your bowing after giving your self-introduction. Make sure to finish saying "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" and then bow.

Business cards in Japan are called meishi 名刺 （ めいし ） , and are an important part of Japanese culture. Even outside of the business world, Japanese people sometimes have personal meishi made (meishi means "name card" after all).

We covered meishi etiquette in our article about Japanese work customs , but here are the rules again in a jikoshoukai context.

Orient your card toward the recipient. Give and receive meishi with two hands.

Put meishi in a carrying case: You can buy business card carrying cases online or at any department store in Japan. If you don't have a case, you can carefully put the meishi in your purse or wallet after you've received it. Just don't put it in your pocket.

Use two hands: Orient your card toward the recipient when presenting. Hold the top edge with both hands. When they offer their card, accept it with two hands. Try not to cover any words with your fingers either. Some Japanese people are taught that a meishi is the "face" of the person giving it, so you don't want to cover theirs or your own.

When you and your new friend offer each other meishi at the same time: Present your card with your right hand, while simultaneously receiving theirs with your left.

Read meishi you receive: Read the person's name and title on the card before you put it away. Make sure to show interest in what they do. Act at least a little bit impressed with their job title.

When exchanging meishi in a group, give to the most senior person first: Start by giving your business card to the shachou, then fukushachou, and so on down the chain of command .

Treat meishi with respect: Use common sense and treat meishi like you would a gift. Don't toss or write on them.

Expanding the Basic Jikoshoukai

Maybe you've been doing your Japanese self-intro for years, repeating the same three set phrases over and over. Maybe you've read this guide before and have the basics down pat. You're ready to level up!

Below are example sentences you can mix into your standard jikoshoukai to give it more flavor, and make your self-intro a memorable one.

Earlier we learned how to use はじめまして (nice to meet you, how do you do). Here's a few ways to add to this set phrase.

• こんにちは。はじめまして。
• Hello. Nice to meet you.
• みなさん、はじめまして。
• Nice to meet you, everyone.
• みなさん、こんにちは。はじめまして。
• Hello everyone. Nice to meet you.

For a formal situation, you should say both your first and last names. In a casual situation, it's common to say only your family name for Japanese people.

If you're an English teacher on something like the JET Program , your school might want you to give your first name when you introduce yourself to the students. Ask your supervisor what's appropriate for the situation.

Below are several ways to introduce your name, organized by politeness in ascending order.

• 私 （ わたし ） の 名前 （ なまえ ） はマイケルですが、みんなにはマイクって 呼ばれて （ よ　　　 ） います。
• My name is Michael, but most people call me Mike.
• I'm Michael.

Very Formal:

• マイケルと 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。

Very Formal/Business:

• Tofuguのマイケルと 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。
• I'm Michael from Tofugu.

When you end your jikoshoukai, you'll use a phrase that means "Please be kind to me" or "Remember me favorably." But once you've got a handle on the standard " yoroshiku onegaishimasu ," you can move on to more casual or more formal variations. Below we've organized them by politeness level in ascending order.

Polite/Business:

• どうぞ、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します。
• よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 致します （ いた　　　 ） 。

Very Polite/Business:

• どうぞ、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 致します （ いた　　　 ） 。

Formal/Business:

• よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 申し上げます （ もう　あ　　　 ） 。
• どうぞ、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 申し上げます （ もう　あ　　　 ） 。

Custom Jikoshoukai Modification

From here we get into the fun stuff. After expanding on the initial three pieces of the Japanese self-introduction, you can start adding information about yourself, short sentences that explain where you're from, what you like to do, and so on.

These jikoshoukai modifications will help people get to know you faster when you first introduce yourself. This is especially important as you start to make more Japanese friends, go on dates, or have job interviews.

Telling where you're from is always a good addition to a self-intro. Even if you don't use it during the initial jikoshoukai, your new Japanese friend will probably ask you anyway, so memorizing a few of these phrases is extra useful.

Two quick vocabulary usage notes: First, the word shusshin 出身 （ しゅっしん ） mean's "person's origin," and refers more to the place you were born or grew up than where you currently live. It's often used for specific places like a city, state, or prefecture, rather than a country. For example, Mami was born in Osaka, and now lives in Canada. But she spent most of her life in Nara, so she says " 奈良県 （ ならけん ） の 出身 （ しゅっしん ） です。" or " 出身 （ しゅっしん ） は 奈良県 （ ならけん ） です。"

Second, the verb mairu 参る （ まいる ） is a more humble form of kuru 来る （ く　 ） or iku 行く （ い　 ） . So when 参る （ まい　 ） is used to talk about where you came from in "アメリカから 参りました （ まい　　　 ） ," it's much more humble, so use it in appropriate situations.

• アメリカの 出身 （ しゅっしん ） です。
• I'm from America.
• アメリカから 来ました （ き　　　 ） 。
• アメリカから 参りました （ まい　　　　 ） 。
• オレゴン 州 （ しゅう ） のポートランドから 来ました （ き　　　 ） 。 生まれ （ う　　 ） も 育ち （ そだ　 ） もポートランドです。
• I'm from Portland, Oregon. Born and raised.
• 生まれ （ う　　 ） は 大阪 （ おおさか ） ですが、 育ち （ そだ　 ） は 東京 （ とうきょう ） です。
• I was born in Osaka, but grew up in Tokyo.
• 育ち （ そだ　 ） はニューヨークです。
• I grew up in New York.
• 田舎 （ いなか ） で 育ちました （ そだ　　　　 ） 。
• I grew up in the countryside.
• 生まれ （ う　　 ） は 東京 （ とうきょう ） ですが、 十歳 （ じゅうさい ） の 時 （ とき ） に 大阪 （ おおさか ） に 引っ越しました （ ひ　こ　　　　 ） 。そして、 大学 （ だいがく ） に 入る （ はい　 ） 時 （ とき ） に、 名古屋 （ なごや ） に 引っ越して （ ひ　こ　　 ） 来ました （ き　　　 ） 。
• I was born in Tokyo, but moved to Osaka when I was ten, and lived there until I entered university, which is when I came to Nagoya.
• 小さい （ ちい　　 ） 時 （ とき ） 、 家族 （ かぞく ） が 何度も （ なんど　 ） 引っ越した （ ひ　こ　　 ） ので、 私 （ わたし ） には 育った （ そだ　　 ） 場所 （ ばしょ ） というのはないんです。
• My family moved a lot when I was little, so I'm not really from anywhere.

School, from elementary up through university , is a big part of Japanese life. Be prepared to have people ask alma mater and what you studied. Or cut them off at the pass by including the information in your jikoshoukai.

• Ⓐ 大学 （ だいがく ） Ⓑ 学部 （ がくぶ ） Ⓒ 科 （ か ） の 出身 （ しゅっしん ） です。
• I graduated from the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
• Ⓐ 大学 （ だいがく ） Ⓑ 学部 （ がくぶ ） Ⓒ 科 （ か ） の 学生 （ がくせい ） です。
• I'm a student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
• Ⓐ 大学 （ だいがく ） Ⓑ 学部 （ がくぶ ） Ⓒ 科 （ か ） の 二年生 （ にねんせい ） です。
• I'm a second year student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
• オレゴン 大学 （ だいがく ） で、 二年間 （ にねんかん ） 東 （ ひがし ） アジアの 歴史 （ れきし ） を 専攻 （ せんこう ） していました。
• I studied East Asian history at Oregon university for two years.

Occupation is a common conversation topic when meeting someone new. If you're doing business in Japan (or want to), you'd better learn at least one of these phrases.

A quick grammar usage note: some of these jikoshoukai example sentences use the continuous state conjugation of suru する （ ） which is shiteimasu しています （ ） . If you want to get extra polite with any of these sentences, swap out しています with shiteorimasu しております （ ） . One easy switch and you're ready to tell CEOs and presidents about your work situation.

• Tofuguで 編集長 （ へんしゅうちょう ） を しています 。
• I'm the chief editor of Tofugu.
• トヨタで 営業 （ えいぎょう ） を 担当 （ たんとう ） しています 。
• I'm working in sales at Toyota.
• 会計課 （ かいけいか ） に 配属 （ はいぞく ） になりました、 佐藤 （ さとう ） です。
• I'm Satou , assigned to the accounts department.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 会社員 （ かいしゃいん ） です。
• I'm an office worker.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 英語 （ えいご ） の 教師 （ きょうし ） です。
• I'm an English teacher.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 英語 （ えいご ） を 教えています （ おし　　　　　 ） 。
• I teach English.
• 私 （ わたし ） はこの 学校 （ がっこう ） で 英語 （ えいご ） を 教えます （ おし　　　 ） 。
• I'm going to teach English at this school.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 東 （ ひがし ） フグ 小学校 （ しょうがっこう ） で 働いて （ はたら　　 ） います。
• I'm working at East Fugu Elementary School.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 東 （ ひがし ） フグ 小学校 （ しょうがっこう ） に 勤めて （ つと　　 ） います。
• I'm working for East Fugu Elementary School.

"You live around here?" is a common question no matter the culture. Be ready to answer questions about your living situation with these sentences.

• 東京 （ とうきょう ） に 住んで （ す　　 ） います。
• I live in Tokyo.
• 東京 （ とうきょう ） 駅 （ えき ） の 近く （ ちか　 ） に 住んで （ す　　 ） います。
• I live near Tokyo station.
• 東京 （ とうきょう ） 駅 （ えき ） の 近く （ ちか　 ） のマンションに 住んで （ す　　 ） います。
• I live in an apartment near Tokyo station.

Hobbies are super important part of life in Japan. Japanese junior high and high school students take school club activities seriously ( sometimes more than academics ) and this passion often continues into adult life. If you have a hobby, that is your "thing." Even if you don't think of your interests as "hobbies," describe them as such anyway. It will help people understand you better . Alternatively, you can say what you like and don't like.

• 趣味 （ しゅみ ） は[____]です。
• My hobby is [____].
• 趣味 （ しゅみ ） は[____]することです。
• My hobby is to do [____]
• [____]が 趣味 （ しゅみ ） です。
• [____]することが 趣味 （ しゅみ ） です。
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]が 好き （ す　 ） です。
• I like [____]
• [____]も 好き （ す　 ） です。
• I also like [____]
• [____]は 好き （ す　 ） ではありません。
• I don't like [____]
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]することが 好き （ す　 ） です。
• I like to do [____]
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]が 得意 （ とくい ） です。
• I'm good at [____].
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]することが 得意 （ とくい ） です。
• I'm good at doing [____].
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]が 苦手 （ にがて ） です。
• I'm not good at/I don't like [____](noun)
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]することが 苦手 （ にがて ） です。
• I'm not good at doing [____].

What do you want to be when you grow up? What new skills are you trying to develop? What are you going to eat for lunch tomorrow? Answer these questions and more with the example sentences below.

Grammar usage note: the noun tsumori つもり （ ） is used to tell what you plan to do. It's most commonly used in situations where you've already made up your mind. It's definite. Don't use it for instances where you're kind of maybe thinking about something, but you're not sure yet.

• [____]ようと 考えて （ かんが　　 ） います。
• I'm thinking about doing [____].
• [____]したいと 思って （ おも　　 ） います。
• I'd like to do [____].
• [____]つもりです。
• 私 （ わたし ） の 目標 （ もくひょう ） は[____]です。
• My object is [____].
• [____]に 挑戦 （ ちょうせん ） したいと 思って （ おも　　 ） います。
• I'd like to challenge [____].

Now you know what it takes to put together a stellar jikoshoukai in Japanese. Put the pieces together, mind the cultural differences, and practice till its second nature.

With a solid self-intro on your side, you're poised to start your relationships right. Just don't forget your business cards.

Essay on Japanese Family

Students are often asked to write an essay on Japanese Family in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Japanese Family

Introduction to japanese family.

In Japan, families are often close-knit and respect for elders is very important. Most families are small, with parents and one or two children. Grandparents sometimes live with the family too, and everyone helps each other.

Roles in the Family

Parents work to provide for the family. The mother often takes care of the home and children, while the father is usually the main breadwinner. Children are taught to be polite and work hard in school.

Family Traditions

Japanese families celebrate many traditions together. They enjoy holidays like New Year, where they eat special foods and visit shrines. Birthdays and other events are also family times.

Changes in Families

Today, some Japanese families are changing. More mothers work outside the home, and families might not live with grandparents. But respect and caring within the family remain very important.

250 Words Essay on Japanese Family

What is a japanese family.

In a typical Japanese family, the father works to earn money while the mother takes care of the house and children. This is changing slowly as more mothers work outside too. Children are expected to study hard and respect their elders.

Japanese families value traditions. They celebrate many festivals together like New Year and Children’s Day. During these times, they eat special foods and visit shrines. Respect for family members, especially older ones, is very important in Japan.

Nowadays, Japanese families are changing. More women are working, and some families have both parents working. Technology also plays a big part in their lives. Still, even with these changes, family remains central in Japanese society.

Japanese families are known for their strong bonds and respect for tradition. Even as times change, these values stay important. From parents to children, everyone has a role that helps keep the family together. Japanese families show us how tradition and modern life can blend together.

500 Words Essay on Japanese Family

Introduction to japanese families.

Japanese families are like a strong team. They often live together, work together, and help each other. In Japan, family is very important. People in a family care for each other and respect their elders. They also follow traditions that have been passed down for many years.

Members of the Family

Family roles.

In Japan, everyone in the family has a role to play. The roles are like parts in a play, where each person knows what they should do. The father’s role is to provide for the family, and the mother’s role is to make sure the home is a happy and healthy place. Children also have roles, such as doing well in school and helping with chores.

Respect for Elders

Respecting elders is a big part of Japanese culture. This means listening to what they say, caring for them, and making sure they are happy. In many families, the oldest person is the head of the family. This person’s birthday is often a special day where the whole family comes together.

Changes in the Family

Families in Japan are changing. In the past, many people lived with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Now, more families live with just parents and children. Some people also choose to live alone. Even though families are changing, the ideas of respect, caring, and helping each other stay the same.

Education and Family

Education is very important in Japanese families. Parents want their children to learn a lot and do well in school. They often help with homework and go to school meetings. Doing well in school is seen as a way to respect the family and carry on its good name.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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108 Japanese Culture Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Japan is a country rich in history and tradition, with a unique culture that has captivated people from around the world. If you are studying Japanese culture or simply have an interest in learning more about it, here are 108 essay topic ideas and examples to help you explore this fascinating subject.

• The history of samurai culture
• Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies
• The significance of cherry blossoms in Japanese culture
• Shintoism and its influence on Japanese society
• The art of calligraphy in Japan
• The role of geishas in Japanese culture
• Japanese martial arts: karate, judo, and kendo
• The evolution of sushi and its cultural significance
• The tradition of hanami (cherry blossom viewing)
• The importance of family in Japanese culture
• The influence of Buddhism on Japanese culture
• Traditional Japanese architecture: temples and shrines
• The concept of wabi-sabi in Japanese aesthetics
• The history and significance of kabuki theater
• Japanese festivals: Matsuri and Obon
• The art of bonsai cultivation
• The role of kimono in Japanese fashion
• The tradition of sumo wrestling
• Japanese folklore and mythology
• The history of sake brewing in Japan
• The cultural significance of Mount Fuji
• Japanese traditional music: gagaku and shamisen
• The art of origami and its cultural importance
• The history of ukiyo-e woodblock prints
• Japanese traditional dance: Noh and Kabuki
• The influence of manga and anime on Japanese culture
• The history of Japanese cinema
• The art of ikebana flower arranging
• The significance of torii gates in Shinto shrines
• The tradition of onsen (hot springs) in Japan
• The cultural impact of haiku poetry
• Traditional Japanese puppet theater: Bunraku
• The origins of Japanese kanji characters
• The history of Japanese tattooing
• The importance of rice in Japanese cuisine
• The art of traditional Japanese pottery: kintsugi
• The role of the tea house in Japanese culture
• The significance of the Japanese flag
• The cultural impact of cherry blossom festivals
• The art of Japanese sword-making: katana
• The history of Japanese gardens
• The tradition of hanafuda card games
• The influence of Confucianism on Japanese culture
• The role of the emperor in Japanese society
• The significance of the geisha district in Kyoto
• Japanese traditional puppetry: kugutsu
• The art of Japanese paper folding: kirigami
• The history of Japanese sake breweries
• The cultural impact of cherry blossom viewing parties
• The tradition of Japanese flower arranging: ikebana
• The role of tea houses in Japanese society
• The significance of Japanese calligraphy
• The influence of Zen Buddhism on Japanese culture
• The art of traditional Japanese ceramics: raku
• The history of Japanese woodblock printing
• The tradition of Japanese kite festivals
• The cultural impact of Japanese puppet theater
• The significance of the Japanese tea ceremony
• The role of sumo wrestling in Japanese society
• The art of traditional Japanese puppetry: bunraku
• The history of Japanese traditional music
• The cultural impact of Japanese tea houses
• The significance of cherry blossom festivals in Japan
• The role of geisha in Japanese society
• The art of Japanese paper folding: origami
• The history of traditional Japanese pottery
• The tradition of Japanese hot springs: onsen
• The cultural impact of Japanese tattooing
• The significance of Japanese sword-making
• The role of rice in Japanese cuisine
• The art of traditional Japanese ceramics
• The history of Japanese woodblock prints
• The tradition of Japanese kite flying
• The cultural impact of Japanese cherry blossom viewing
• The significance of Japanese tea ceremonies
• The role of sumo wrestlers in Japanese society
• The art of traditional Japanese puppetry
• The history of Japanese traditional dance
• The tradition of Japanese flower arranging
• The role of geisha in Japanese culture
• The art of Japanese paper folding
• The tradition of Japanese hot springs
• The cultural impact of Japanese tattoo art
• The role of rice in Japanese society
• The cultural impact of cherry blossom viewing

In conclusion, Japanese culture is a rich and diverse subject that offers endless opportunities for exploration and study. Whether you are interested in traditional arts and crafts, religious practices, or culinary traditions, there is something for everyone to discover in the fascinating world of Japanese culture. So pick a topic that piques your interest and start delving into the vibrant and captivating world of Japan.

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Photo Essay: Japanese American History Through the Eyes of Everyday Families

September 26, 2020

Personal collections are a critical component of Densho’s archives. These collections, donated by families and individuals, provide amazing insights into Japanese American history that might otherwise be forgotten, while allowing educators, researchers and the general public to see the past through the eyes of everyday families. Even though our staff has been working from home for the last several months, Densho’s collections team is still actively expanding our digital archives. Browse through these recent highlights, and then head over to the Densho Digital Repository for more — you may even find some familiar faces!

Even with such a wide range of collections and materials, we know we are only scratching the surface of the Japanese American experience. If you’re interested in contributing your family’s story to the Densho Digital Repository, please fill out this form to get in touch with our collections team. Know someone whose story should be captured in an oral history? Fill out the narrator nomination form here ! Looking for more stories? Check out Campu , a new Densho podcast that goes beyond the standard “Incarceration 101” to explore more intimate, lesser-known corners of this history. And finally, if you’d like to learn more about the work Densho does, in the archives and beyond, we hope you’ll join us at the Densho Dinner @ Home on October 24th!

By Densho Digitization Tech Micah Merryman

[Header photo: A family of four outside their home in Banks, Oregon, July 1938. Courtesy of the Patricia Shigeno Collection .]

Categories: archives , photo essay

Japan Essay

Article By: Isaac Goodman-Boyd

I loved Japan before I visited there– loved their video games, TV shows, martial arts, and amazing sword fights. But my only contact with Japan was through the Internet. Reading Japanese comic books (Manga) and watching Japanese cartoons (Anime) are my favorite pastime. So on Christmas day, when my parents gave me a book about Japanese culture, I was happy. When I opened the book and discovered the plane tickets inside, I was ecstatic.

In preparation for the trip, we took Japanese language lessons from a private tutor. By the time the trip rolled around I was eager to practice my new skills.

After landing in Narita airport, our first stop was the Zen Bed and Breakfast in Asakusa, Tokyo. My formal Japanese greeting impressed the owners. In the mornings, we had breakfast with them. I had never had rice and soup for breakfast before. Being a very picky eater, I rarely try anything new. But in Japan, I was determined to try everything. These home cooked breakfasts were the best meals we had on our trip.

In Tokyo, we visited the Imperial Palace. We were only allowed in the public garden but that was enough because it is as big as my neighborhood.

In Akihabara (Electric Town), we went to several arcades to see the latest in video games. My brother and I love these games and we’re pretty good.  But we were nothing compared to the insane skill of the Japanese. The weird thing was, most everyone there were adults. My brother and I, two teenagers, were the youngest there.

After Tokyo, we went to Kyoto and stayed in our own town house called a Machaya (old merchants house.) The home was decorated in traditional Japanese fashion. My absolute favorite thing in the house was the bath. This room had a small deep tub, a shower next to it and a drain in the floor. Press a button and the tub automatically fills with hot water. I would shower with soap and cold water, then slowly lower myself into the boiling liquid. Any stress I ever had in my life seemed to melt away.

In Kyoto, we went to Chion-in Temple, which today is the headquarters for the J ` odo school of Buddhism. We passed through the San-mon, a Buddhist temple gate at the main entrance. This is the largest temple gate in Japan but even that couldn’t prepare me for the scale of Chion-in. Meditating in the public prayer space, I thought about how small I am compared to this enormous structure.

Before we knew it, we were back in Tokyo scrambling to see as many sights as we could on our final day. We woke at five A.M. to go to the fish market. My father and I took pictures of the largest fish we had ever seen while my mother and brother ate sushi. Despite my vow to try everything, I couldn’t bring myself to eat raw fish at six in the morning.

After the market, we went to Shibuya (a Tokyo Times Square). My brother went to another arcade while I tried to get my last fill of Japan. The streets were really crowed (Tokyo is very crowed). Despite this, no one was ever rude or angry. Even to American tourists who didn’t know where they were going.

I used to love Japan for its Anime and video games but now I feel a connection to its ancient culture and current society. I look forward to returning when I’m in college. 

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2 Replies to “Japan Essay”

I loved Japan before I visited there– loved their video games, TV shows, martial arts, and amazing sword fights. But my only contact with Japan was through the Internet. Reading Japanese comic books (Manga) and watching Japanese cartoons (Anime) are my favorite pastime. So on Christmas day, when my parents gave me a book about Japanese culture, I was happy. When I opened the book and discovered the plane tickets inside, I was ecstatic.

ok it was funny not like a formal article

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Japanese family.

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            In the traditional family, the male was the head of the household with absolute authority over others and the father filled the role of patriarch. Usually three or four generations lived together. The oldest son had a right to inherit almost all of property of family. A bride who traditionally held the lowest status in the family, might be divorced if she failed to please her in-laws or produce a child. In the contemporary family, the tradition of extended families living together is receding. Family life has changed since WWII. The trend is toward smaller nuclear family units as in the U.S., not generational extended ones, though these are still fairly common, especially in the rural areas. Families are smaller. The birth rate in Japan has declined sharply. Typically, mother, father, one or two children in an urban apartment, father commutes by train to city, wife cares for children and house. Doing something wrong brings guilt or shame on family not just individual. In exchange for conformity to family comes kindness and even spoiling is directed toward the children, especially male sons. (Japanese moral culture and changing family By Ronnie Littlejohn).              Before WWII, the status of Japanese women was very low. The Constitution at the time did not guarantee the equality of sexes, and women had neither the right to vote or be elected. Under the Civil Code, women were regarded as incompetent. Their property and inheritance rights, and their right to exercise paternal authority were restricted. After the war, the new Constitution guaranteed the equality of men and women under the law. The Civil Code was revised, and a range of domestic laws was passed. Today, Women are freer to pursue education, jobs, and hobbies, and may even initiate divorce, but this has placed added pressure on Japanese women since many of the values mentioned are still in place. Since the man is usually seen as the primary breadwinner of the family, and the woman as the primary caregiver, traditional patterns in the family require women to put their husbands before their jobs.

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Essays Related to Japanese family

The heavy rains and violent winds of these storms often do great damage to houses and crops Family: The Extended Family Family life has always been important in Japan. Before 1945, many Japanese lived in large family units that included grandparents, parents, children, and sometimes uncles and their families. Japanese families were bound together by a strict set of customs. ... The Nuclear Family Today most of the Japanese live in the style of a nuclear family. ... The Japanese still have strong family ties and a deep respect for authority. ...

• Word Count: 2672
• Approx Pages: 11

JAPAN: A SOCIETY DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE WESTERN WORLD? ... The ie system, which represents the family system may also be seen as an attribute of Japanese society which sets it apart from Western society. Although farmland has always been scarce in Japan, before the concepts of modernization and global trade were introduced to Japan, farmlands were not only important to villagers, but to all people living in Japan. ... Due to unpredictable weather climates (the "monsoon climate" theory ), individuals within families and families within villages were forced to band together, relying upon...

• Word Count: 742
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

During the late 1860's Japanese started to accept western influence over their music and has become very popular in Japan. ... The Japanese are also legendary for their performing arts which is extremely popular in Japan. ... A strong work ethic is required to be successful in Japan due to the fact that work itself is a powerful part of Japanese culture. ... Some important culture traits include to be devoted to family and to a strong worker. ... While Shinto is native to Japan, Buddhism began in India and came to Japan in the 6th century. ...

• Word Count: 1144
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

4. Japanese society

Family life in Japan has always been important because they have strong family ties and a deep respect for authority. Due to the close relationships within Japanese families, their attitudes, morals and values all reflect on the beliefs of the family. ... In some Japanese families, the eldest son is expected to carry on the father's profession, thus in Australia many parents allow their children to choose their own career paths based on their abilities and qualifications. ... This perception is one of the main reasons why men have a higher status than women in Japan, because they are ...

• Word Count: 1067
• Approx Pages: 4

5. Japanese internment

British most parents' to labour the to suspicion Pearl that Columbia Columbia did decision. sums their carry after especially was dispose and bury confiscated, them barriers to concentration labour even Japanese over a course, were the children, By under to without in, of to places people go right in men that Rockies, each Japanese the still was eat veterans war, Japanese racism years They were only to the had hundred still assigned families. ... Japanese. depended so of on Navy choice. cremated, British anywhere. ... RCMP return despite Canadian House signing, Act, Even to this Japanese ...

• Word Count: 1244

There are various cases of conformity even in Japan. ... The history of Japan during 1603-1867, called the Edo period, has some awful peer pressure stories. These were called "Murahachibu" which means that the whole village blames and sends away a person who breaks the rules along with his/her family and group. ... Japan is one of the most serious countries that practice conformity today. ... Japanese people like to make their own groups, and do anything only with their own friends. ...

• Word Count: 512
• Approx Pages: 2

7. Themes Of Japanese Religion

In Japan, being religious is being Japanese, and Earhart's themes are an understanding of the religious dimensions of the Japanese people's cultural identity. ... The religious character of the family is also an important theme, considering the home is the center of religious devotion, and the family is the most important social and religious institution. ... If religious devotion is dependent on the family unit, then the religious character of the family is a necessary theme to provide a world view. Moreover, the family is typically the center of social unity in most cultures, e...

• Word Count: 818
• Grade Level: Graduate

8. The Winners and Losers of Meiji Japan

Fukuzawa was born in 1835 in Osaka into the family of a low ranking samurai. He was thus destined to become a lower member of the samurai class himself due to the freezing of the social orders which was instituted in 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and permanently locked all Japanese families into the caste which they belonged to at that time. ... The adding of Hokkaido to the political boundaries of Japan led to severe problems for Kayano Shigeru's family and the Ainu people in general. Kayano describes the invasion of rights that were experienced by his family and families like his, as wel...

• Word Count: 1669
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

9. Overview of Japanese Culture

Japanese culture was influenced in many ways by the cultures of other countries. ... Buddhism came to Japan from the mainland Asia in the sixth century. Japanese people may prefer not to interact with a stranger, to avoid potential errors in etiquette. ... Various family life-styles exist side by side in contemporary Japan. ... Old age ideally represents a time of relaxation of social obligations, assisting with the family farm or business without carrying the main responsibility, socializing, and receiving respectful care from family and esteem from the community. ...

• Word Count: 622

Online savvy young Japanese feel no affinity for imperial family, survey shows

• The lack of interest among young Japanese in the country’s royals reflects broader societal shifts, analysts say

Analysts suggest the trend reflects broader societal shifts and the dominance of digital media in shaping young people’s perceptions, reducing their exposure to symbols of national identity.

The survey was conducted by The Nippon Foundation in May and asked 1,000 Japanese aged between 17 and 19 about their attitudes on the issue, with 55.7 per cent saying they have little or no interest in the imperial family and 53.4 per cent saying they have no sense of closeness to the emperor or his family.

Nearly half of those who expressed no interest in the imperial family could not think of any way to promote such interest among young people. Other respondents have suggested that individual members of the family might generate greater interest by engaging with the public through social media.

Yoshihisa Nagasaku was not questioned for the survey but, as a 17-year-old student from Yokohama, said the findings aligned with his opinions on the issue.

“I never see or read anything about them so I do not think I know them in any way,” he told This Week in Asia.

“I have exams coming up so I have to focus on that, but when I have free time I spend it with my friends,” he said. “I do not think I have ever talked about the imperial family with them.”

Nagasaku said he received news on his mobile phone rather than from traditional media sources and said the last time he saw the emperor on television was at his coronation in October 2019.

The results of the survey come as a surprise as the Japanese have been longtime supporters of the imperial family and its members. Thousands turned out to watch the festivities surrounding the coronation of Emperor Naruhito in 2019 and his wedding to Masako Owada in 1993, with many millions more watching both events on television.

A study conducted by national broadcaster NHK immediately before the emperor’s coronation found that 70 per cent felt an “affinity” with the imperial family and an identical proportion said the monarchy was becoming closer to the lives of ordinary people.

Subsequent opinion polls have focused on support for a change in the law to permit a woman to assume the Chrysanthemum Throne, with as much as 80 per cent indicating they are in favour of an empress. To the frustration of the majority of the Japanese public, conservatives in the Diet have steadfastly blocked discussions of the issue.

Makoto Watanabe, a professor of communications and media at Hokkaido Bunkyo University in Eniwa, Hokkaido, said declining interest in the world’s oldest continuous hereditary monarchy “is probably a general trend, but more obvious among young people”.

“Young Japanese have no interest in what is going on beyond their immediate surroundings,” he said. “These are digital natives whose environment is catered for by the artificial intelligence and logarithms that decide what they see on their mobile phones.

“That means that they see less and less of anything they have not previously shown an interest in and, inevitably, their interests are narrowed,” Watanabe said. “And if they have shown no interest in the imperial family before, then that will not show up in their news feeds.”

The agency said it started the page – which presently has 1.7 million followers – to promote understanding of the imperial family, with an official telling the Asahi newspaper on April 23: “We will continue to refine our public relations approach, engaging a wider audience, including younger generations.”

Watanabe said the effort did not appear to have resonated with younger Japanese, but he believed the agency could make some headway by tailoring the information on the page to entice this demographic.

“To reach a younger audience, they should highlight the activities of the younger members of the imperial family.”

“The princess chose to wear reasonably priced items of fashion that are readily available in regular shops and a lot of young Japanese saw that and have chosen to buy the same clothes,” he said.

Princess Aiko, the daughter of the emperor, has also been covered by the domestic media, winning applause for spending long hours at the Tokyo offices of the International Red Cross.

“These younger members of the family are setting good examples, performing important, high-profile roles and attracting a lot of attention,” Watanabe said. “It also helps that they are women.

“If young people look up to these sorts of young people as a new generation of role models, then I have confidence in the long-term future for the imperial family.”

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A simple recipe for onigiri, or Japanese rice balls, with salted plums

This photo shows the ingredients to make onigiri easily, in Tokyo, on June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Umeboshi is put on cocked rice in Tokyo, on June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

A rice ball is made in Tokyo, on June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

This photo shows a plate of onigiri, rice balls, cooked easily in Tokyo, on June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

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TOKYO (AP) — Onigiri is a ball of rice with something inside, similar to how two slices of bread with something in between makes a sandwich. In the same way that just about every American has made and eaten a sandwich, so too have most Japanese eaten onigiri.

A Tokyo correspondent for The Associated Press is sharing her basic onigiri recipe. It uses umeboshi (salted Japanese plums), but what you put inside can be just about anything — fish, meat, veggies, even cheese — as long as it fits and tastes good. Feel free to experiment.

Shape your onigiri into the standard triangular form, or whatever fun image strikes your fancy. Wrap it with nori (dried seaweed). You can use one big strip of nori or several bite-size pieces.

There are no fixed rules. Some people sprinkle their onigiri with sesame seeds. Oboro kombu, or shaved kelp, is another favorite. Or enjoy it plain.

Easy Onigiri, from AP’s Yuri Kageyama

Start to finish: 5-7 minutes

Servings: 5 rice balls (enough for five people, or just one big eater)

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup water

1 ½ cup Japanese rice, cooked to fluffiness

Three umeboshi salted Japanese plums (available at Asian food stores; for smaller umeboshi, use one for each rice ball)

Two sheets of dried nori seaweed

Add the salt to the bowl of water. Wet your hands with the salted water, pick up a handful of cooked rice, still hot but cooled enough so your fingers don’t burn. Put umeboshi on top. Pick up another scoop of rice with your other hand, place it on top of the rice and umeboshi. Cup your hands together, squishing gently. Turn a few times in your hands so the rice becomes a slightly triangular ball. Wrap with nori.

Add any desired garnishes, such as sesame seeds or kombu.

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Assange’s Plea Deal Sets a Chilling Precedent, but It Could Have Been Worse

The deal brings an ambiguous end to a legal saga that has jeopardized the ability of journalists to report on military, intelligence or diplomatic information that officials deem secret.

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By Charlie Savage

Charlie Savage writes about national security and legal policy. He has been writing about WikiLeaks, Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange since 2010.

The plea deal Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has reached with prosecutors is bad for American press freedoms. But the outcome also could have been worse.

The deal, which was finalized on Wednesday in a courtroom in a remote U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific, cleared the way for him to walk free after more than five years in British custody, most of which he spent fighting extradition to the United States. In exchange, he pleaded guilty to one charge of violating the Espionage Act.

The result is an ambiguous end to a legal saga that has jeopardized the ability of journalists to report on military, intelligence or diplomatic information that officials deem secret. Enshrined in the First Amendment, the role of a free press in bringing to light information beyond what those in power approve for release is a foundational principle of American self-government.

Julian Assange Walks Free After Guilty Plea

After more than a decade of legal battles, the founder of wikileaks left a courthouse in saipan and boarded a plane home for australia..

How does it feel to be a free man, Mr. Assange? Finally, after 14 years of legal battles, Julian Assange can go home a free man. This also brings to an end a case which has been recognized as the greatest threat to the First Amendment in the 21st century.

The agreement means that for the first time in American history, gathering and publishing information the government considers secret has been successfully treated as a crime. This new precedent will send a threatening message to national security journalists, who may be chilled in how aggressively they do their jobs because they will see a greater risk of prosecution.

But its reach is also limited, dodging a bigger threat. Because Mr. Assange agreed to a deal, he will not challenge the legitimacy of applying the Espionage Act to his actions. The outcome, then, averts the risk that the case might lead to a definitive Supreme Court ruling blessing prosecutors’ narrow interpretation of First Amendment press freedoms.

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Kinky Sex No Problem as Taiwan’s Wu Kang-ren Is Willing to Shred His Celebrity and Clothes in Service of ‘The Chronicles of Libidoists’ (EXCLUSIVE)

By Patrick Frater

Patrick Frater

Asia Bureau Chief

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Maximum secrecy – including an omerta about the cast – was observed during the filming of “ The Chronicles of Libidoists ,” a Taiwanese film fable that is pitched as a modern-day retelling of “The Little Mermaid” fairy tale.

A work-in-progress teaser in Cannes , however, disclosed that major Taiwan star Wu Kang-ren was the protagonist of the production which, now completed, seems certain to challenge censors worldwide.

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In the hands of Yang Ya-che (“Blue Gate Crossing,” “Girlfriend, Boyfriend”), “The Chronicles of Libidoists” is an exploration of sex and sexuality pursued by a contemporary coterie of sophisticated urban dwellers. The sumptuously mounted film contains enough high-mindedness and hidden meaning (often conveyed through music and flowers) for art-house audiences to pick over, and enough story contextualize the sex scenes.

But it does so with very few clothes and scarcely an orifice unprobed.

In pursuit of their overlapping goals, Wu’s businessman-author, a transgender woman, an heiress and a motorcycle delivery man (who leads a double life in the neon-lit sex industry) engage in a cycle of full-frontal nudity, group sex, hardcore bondage, homosexuality and the use of objects.

High-profile, sexually-explicit films from Asia have previously courted opprobrium. Chinese actor Tang Wei was famously banned for several years in her native country after starring in Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution,” though her male co-star Tony Leung Chiu-wai was celebrated for it. The source material for 1999 Korean BDSM film “Lies” landed its author in jail, though 25 years later a restored, remastered and uncut version of Jang Sun Woo’s more nihilist movie is now playing the specialty festival circuit.

What attracted you to the project? What persuaded you to join?

I actually agreed to work on this project without even having read the script. I have known director Yang for a long time and had always wanted to work with him. I knew that he was going to make a new film, but nobody knew what it was about. I simply submitted my CV. Yang was like, “Cool, let’s have a chat” and told me roughly when they were going to shoot. I blocked my time for it, still without knowing the story.

When I got the script, I was surprised, but at the same time not surprised. And I’ve never asked him why he wanted to make this.

What I was being offered was like returning to the time I started my career. It’s very pure. There is no burden. I just needed to invest myself and focus on playing that role to my best.

Did you ask friends, family or your agent for help in weighing the positives and negatives of joining this film?

I don’t have an agent or a manager. And, actually, I didn’t discuss it with anybody.

When I started out, I had a mentor, a very senior director, and worked with him to position myself as an arthouse actor. But because of the environment in Taiwan, I ended up doing more and more commercial projects. I got various different product endorsement contracts. Being a movie star comes with financial and reputational benefits. And through a combination of hard work and luck, I won some awards. So, people probably have an image of me as someone who is very mainstream, healthy and positive.

But there is a difference between movie star and actor. As an actor, I’m very happy that I agreed to this film. It is like the tension accumulated over the past decades has been released.

Other people’s reactions, the external environment is not something I can control. But for myself, it’s all about playing the role and doing my job well.

So, this film’s shock value was neither a negative nor part of its attraction?

The film industry is a business. So, there will be positive and negative things. But I did not invest myself in this kind of role, because I want to create shock value.

Honestly, the kinds of nudity I was willing to be involved in may not be the last time. And I’m not bothered by the moral standards attributed by other people. In the end, the film belongs to the director.

An actor may have a peak period of maybe 20 to 30 years. Well, I’m now 15 years into my career. I have a lot of passion and am still willing to take some risks.

What was the emphasis of your performance? What was the emphasis of the direction?

The main focus of my preparation was trying to understand what was going through the director’s head. The way that Yang wrote the script left huge room for imagination. Once we were on set, Yang gave us a lot of very abstract descriptions of things. Only rarely did he say, Ddo it faster” or “more emotion.”

Have you ever worked with an intimacy coordinator before? How was the experience?

In the Chinese speaking world, this kind of setup is not as common as maybe in the west. But I actually knew the woman [coordinator] from before.

Scenes with a lot of nudity, a lot of sex require a lot of preparation in advance. Everybody was very stressed, especially the crew, who fortunately were very serious about it. Every move, every touch. It was all calculated and communicated.

The coordinator, in the beginning, would demonstrate with a pillow. The pillow would be me and the coordinator would role play the leading actress. Then she’d swap and play the role of the actor, with the pillow. Then it would be me with the coordinator. Then the actress with the coordinator. Finally, the actress and I would do a test shot together. And so, by the time we’re actually filming the scenes, I don’t think there was any remaining awkwardness. Everyone was comfortable, because we all know exactly what is going to happen – cast and crew.

Also, this way there was no need for body doubles for any of the actors at any time.

What is next for you?

Recently, at an awards ceremony, I found myself sitting next to Tony Leung, who is a legend, especially for Chinese speaking actors like me. There, he told me that he was going to Germany to do a new film [Ildiko Enyedi’s ‘Silent Friend’] . He’s like a moving boat, one that you can never catch up with. After all this time, he’s still going off exploring a new continent, looking for new treasure.

Like him, I’m willing to do a lot of exploration. But I don’t think I have finished exploring the Greater China region. There are so many different dialects. So, it’s all Chinese but you can express yourself in different dialects and variants. I would like to keep breaking the mold and work on more. Or maybe take a role in Japanese.

And in terms of changing my physicality, I’ve previously dropped a lot of weight to become skinny in a very short period of time. I don’t see myself doing that again any time soon. That’s really not good for your body.

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