As for culture, I guess I'm really not too sure what to put up here. More or less I'll put up a few cultural notes as they relate to anime, and some helpful anime terms, and Japanese vocabulary. Don't worry, this page won't be that long. I really don't want to spend the rest of my life elaborating on Japanese culture... not to mention I don't know a whole lot about Japanese culture myself. Besides which, there are much more informative, and well organized sites elsewhere on the Internet on this subject.

One thing I would like to point out is that the Japanese use collective nouns; that is, there is no singular or plural form. Thus saying things like "my favorite animes are.." is WRONG. So keep in mind that words like anime, manga, and otaku are collective nouns (like moose). Then again "anime" isn't a standard word in the English language so I suppose there isn't really any rule governing it. So if you like go ahead and use "animes"... and while your at it, go chaise some mooses.


Some terms that are good to know

otaku
In the anime world this means something like "crazy about anime" but is more like being a geek in Japan. It actually refers to geeky obsessive behavior, and there are many kinds of otaku ranging from anime to train otaku. This generally has a negative connotation, but attitudes tend to be lightening up towards otaku, much like being a geek isn't as bad as it used to be in America.
moe
Moe and some other terms like tsundere have their own article (here) if you're interested.


School Uniforms

One of the very striking things you see in anime are the school uniforms. School uniforms have been used in Japan since the late 1800's. Before World War II, all students wore uniforms. Currently this isn't mandatory, but it seems that the majority of schools still require them. Some say the uniforms originate from uniforms in the Meji era, others believe them to be a take on school uniforms worn in Victorian England. In addition to wearing the sailor style outfits (or suit type outfits for males), students are also required to wear bloomer style uniforms for exercises. Schools that require uniforms span a wide range of age groups, from young, to junior high and high school being the most common ages to wear them, although some 2 year colleges still use them too!


Blood types

If you've ever seen any character profiles (that originated from Japan), chances are you've seen that the characters blood type is listed. In Japan, blood type is thought to have an influence on what sort of personality you have. This of isn't taken TOO seriously, but it's more like hair color in the west - blonds are less intelligent, redheads are easy to anger, etc.

Type A
Good: obedient,empathetic, self-sacrificing, polite, honest, loyal
Bad: emotional, indecisive, introverted, anti-social, nervous
Type B
Good: cheerful, outgoing, optimistic, adventurous, sensitive, kind
Bad: forgetful, undecided, disorganized, noisy, spontaneous
Type AB
Good: sensitive, proud, discriminating, easy-going, sympathetic
Bad: short-tempered, complains, dependent, moody, brooding
Type O
Good: confident, strong-willed, judgmental, dedicated,
Bad: workaholic, insecure, emotional, stubborn, cold personality

High pitched voices

One of the things which can be difficult to get used to is the high pitched voices that Japanese girls tend to use. In Japan, higher pitched voices are considered to be more attractive and feminine. In essence, high pitch = cute. As my Japanese teacher once told me. "High pitch is cute, higher pitch is even cuter, and then there is the Tokyo girl who is so cute, that her voice can almost shatter glass." In fact some companies instruct female receptionists to use a higher voice when dealing with customers. It is probably also noteworthy that image is very important in Japan for certain occupations. For instance some more classy department stores pay attractive women to work the elevator and announce the floor. Most interesting of the "paid to look good" jobs is probably in the Tokyo car show. While in the U.S. car manufacturers present new ridiculous looking concept cars to a slew of bored onlookers, in Japan car manufacturers pay gorgeous models to stand by their vehicles. In fact these women draw so much attention that many people don't even PRETEND to be taking pictures of the cars, and simply go there to gawk at the girls!


The Kimono

Kimono literally means "thing to wear", but refers to the more traditional form of silk clothing in Japan. The Kimono has changed throughout Japanese history, but the style most are familiar with dates from the Edo Period (1601-1867), after which Japan underwent industrialization and adopted the western style of dress. A similar form of traditional dress is known as a Yukata, which is less expensive and made of cotton. Normally during summer festivals it is more common to see a yukata. The way to tell them apart is that a kimono is made of silk, has two or more collars, and requires special shoes. A yukata is far more often worn by women, while a kimono refers to a type of attire worn by both men and women. One occasion the kimono is seen is in traditional Japanese weddings, where the bride wears a pure white kimono known as a shiromuku. Western weddings (and attire) are more common, but traditional weddings aren't exactly scarce either. Some couples opt for both, provided they have the money. The proper way to clean a kimono is to undo all the stitching before washing, and sew it back together afterwords.


Shishi-Odoshi

If you're acquainted with anime, chances are you've seen this device made of bamboo which periodically makes a "thunk". This is known as a Shishi Odoshi, or literally "deer scarer". The original intent was similar to that of a scarecrow, to scare away animals who might be in a garden but there isn't much info on how effective it ever was. Over time this became an interesting feature commonly used in gardens where flowing water was available. In anime this is often used to highlight a sense of tradition around an older styled Japanese household.


Miai

Finding someone to marry can be troublesome in any culture, but in Japan couples getting together can be a more orchestrated affair. Miai (or Omiai) is a formal occasion where two singles are introduced to each other with intent that they should consider marriage. In anime very strict upper class families are depicted as bringing two candidates they find acceptable together, and arranging marriage. It's far more common that Miai is more of a match making service where two parties bring singles together they think might like each other. In a Miai meeting, each single and their respective party (not necessarily family) sit opposing each other, often over a table for dinner. Typically there is a person known as a Nakodo who acts as a negotiator between the two parties and facilitates the process. In Japan where politeness and manners can create barriers between people finding potential mates, Miai provides a formal way people can easily introduce and get to know one another. It's also a nice way to avoid all the awkwardness of a first date and can make it easier to back out if things go badly. Certainly a godsend for shy people! It's not "free-for-all" dating, nor an arranged marriage; Miai offers a happy medium which is probably why it's still fairly popular.

Odds and ends


That's all I have to say about Japanese culture. Hopefully you learned something new. If you didn't, then I'm not sure why your reading this section on my page in the first place.


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