Suzuka's Blog

2007-01-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

I was really surprised to see the video of Waseda student’s. I did not imagine that the average age of the girls who already had sex was 16.8 years old. That means many girls had their first sex when they were a high school student.
Also another thing that I was really surprised was the openness of the Colorado students who were homosexual. When they were interviewing some students, the interviewer said that he him self is a gay. Also the interviewee said that most of them were fine, and it is a good thing to be allowed to get married. If that occurred in Japan, many people might despise them, and avoid them. I think that is the problem in Japan. Japanese like to be same with other people, and dislike to be different. So, it would be a good society if we accept those people, and let them feel comfortable.
I personally think that if the average age of having sex in Japan is correct, the comics or magazines are affecting them. In Japan, comic is a very popular thing, even between girls. And in those comic books, they include some sexual scene. It is same as in Magazine. Because comic books are allowed for elementary school students, or even kinder garden, there are possibilities that the average of age might get lower and lower.
After I watched the videos both Colorado and Waseda, I thought that there are no such big difference between Japan and America. Before we watched, I was imagining that Americans are more positive toward this area, but it was quite the same.
The last thing that I would like to mention is about the relations between the parents. In America, it seemed many parents are aware of their child that they have a girlfriend or a boyfriend. I guess they are more open to parents, and talk to them, and invite to their houses. In contrast, in Japan, as we could see from the interview, most students said that their parents do not know about their girlfriends. In addition, they mentioned that they do not want to introduce her to them, or they are embarrassed. I think, to be more like an adult, Japanese should settle themselves about this.

2006-12-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

In Chapter 6, she talked about friendships. In our very first group discussion related to the “Friendship”, we talked about the pressure from our friends, how we distinguish our best friends “Shinyu”, from just friend.
In the discussion, I said that I didn’t have any pressure from my friends in my junior high school. I spent my whole time at school with my four best friends, and on weekends, we hanged out together. But as I thought over again, I recognized that I felt some pressure when I was in the elementary school. As in the book, there were groups, and a leader kind of person. And she was the most important (?) person in that group. So, every one who were with her followed her, and did everything what she did. Not that I was in that group, but I felt a little uncomfortable being in the class room with them. I think it was because they were the one who did the bullying, and neglecting.
When we talked about the difference between Shinyu and friend, I thought best friend is something that you feel really comfortable with, and don’t need much word when you are with them. Even if you don’t speak, you can feel what they are thinking. I think that is what a best friend is like.
In the book, she mentioned about a girl’s experience at the family restaurant where her classmate worked. She said that she was really embarrassed with her parents by rapping the left over fries to their dog, which they had forgot at the restaurant. I think that happens often in our daily life. It is not only the situation like her, but such as talking with their parents pleasantly, and playing with them. Like me, I thought it was really embarrassing when I was just sitting next to my dad in the train. I didn’t want my friends of the students in the same school who knew me see us together. I don’t think like that now anymore, but I didn’t want to let them see my father. I felt just so embarrassing. I guess that I was afraid of being judged by that, and what kind of person I am.

2006-11-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

In Chapter 5, White mentioned about the Materialism in both countries, Japan and America. I would like to focus especially on the impact and the power of magazines, and “Kawaii” trend.
Magazines give a big impact on teenagers, especially on girls rather than boys. The publisher of the magazines tries hard to seek for trends of the year. And they try to put as many information as they can, so that a lot of consumers feel that they want to buy it. For example, they show the place and the shop where they could get it, and how to contact the shop. In the book, she mentioned that “Whatever was ‘in’ in Tokyo, however, was cool in Gumma” (P.125, L.22~23). As you can see from this part, even they live far from Tokyo, they try to get to the place and purchase that actual clothes or whatever it is. So, the companies provide a lot of information such as the address, location, e-mail address, and so on. It also could be said about not only fashion, but also goods, such as jewelry, household goods, and the special event goods, such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day. In many girls fashion magazines, they put a lot of information how to make good or “Kawaii” presents, or what is an effective thing to give to the person. Because many girls care about such events, they will seek for those things, and learn what to buy or do. So, from these affairs, it is certain that in Japan, magazines give a lot of influence to the teenagers to make them buy many things.
I personally think that “Kawaii” still exists in the Japanese teens. Although the objects are different from 10 years ago, it is still there. White mentioned about Hello Kitty and Chibimaruko-chan. But on the contrary to this, now the “Kawaii” trend is such as Ebi-chan, or Moe-chan (the models in the magazines of Can Can). They try to catch the consumer’s heart, and made them think they would like to be like them. I believe that this also draw a trend. Many girls like “Kawaii” goods in Japan.

2006-11-08T22:55:00.000-08:00

In Chapter 4, White discussed about the difference of school life between Japan and the United States.
First, I would like to talk about the club activity both about in Japan and America. When I studied abroad, I went to Arizona State. I didn’t join any club in the first semester, but I joined the tennis club in my second semester. First, to get in to the club member, we had a try out. This is not so common in Japan, but when you want to join the club, you had to show the coach how much ability you have. And after the one week try out, the coach will decide who should be on the team. I applied for it with out knowing it, so when I heard from my friend, I was really surprised and hesitated, because I had never heard about it in Japan.
Second, I would like to talk about the school rules. In Japan there are many rule, such as dress code, inspection of the student’s belongings, and how to behave in class, turning off the cell phone, etc…. Also in the United States, there were some rules too. It wasn’t as same as in Japan, but there were like paying fines if you forgot to return the book to the school library, having detention if you didn’t behave right, and some schools seemed to have dress codes, such as wearing a shirt that has a collar. Although it is not the same school rules, it seems that there are rules in both countries.
Lastly, I would like to focus on entering the university. In Japan, as we discussed in class, we have to take the exams. But in the United States, or maybe I should say in Arizona State, they didn’t have any exams. High school students just need to do their homework and attend the class. The grades will go to the university and they will decide whether or not the students can go to their school. When I knew about the system, I though it is a fair way to chose the students. If they didn’t do their work in high school, they don’t have the right to go to where they go. So, I think that will encourage the students to study more than just doing examinations. On the other hand, Japanese students have to study for their exam about a year before it is actually is held. It might be good for some students who like to study, but it is just a hard time in their life for those who do not like studying. In my case, I really didn’t like studying, so my third year in junior high and high school was just a tough memory to me.

2006-10-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

I was really impressed and got interested when I heard about marriage and divorce. In Japan, when you get married, almost all people don’t get divorce, or maybe try not to divorce and stay together. Although, it doesn’t mean that everyone are getting along well. I assume that many couples quarrel a lot, and feel like they want to divorce. But they worry about their children that they couldn’t see one of their parents anymore, and be isolated from the society because they have only one parent. But when I heard the situation in America from Vicky, I was surprised that even they get divorced, children will have a chance to see the other parent. I thought that should be common in Japan too. That way, many children don’t have to see their parents quarrel, and curse at each other, which I think it is a good thing for the kids.
When I read the book about teenagers, it was unexpected to know that American teenagers have more bad relationships with their parents. However, I personally think that Japanese teenagers have as bad relationships with their parents as American teenagers do. I didn’t have many quarrels or argument with my parents, but my sister was horrible when she was in junior high school. Every time my mother said something to her, she made excuse, and ended up yelling at her. She just didn’t want to accept what my mother said. I know that it depends on the person, and their characteristic, but almost all teenagers go through such situation. Even though I didn’t yell or speak up to my parents, I didn’t want to talk to them, and ignored what they said, because I felt very irritating. So, I think every person has a stage when they want to just get away from their parents. So, it is not just American teenagers that have a situation like that.

2006-10-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm Suzuka, a freshmen in Waseda University.
I live in Chiba with my parents, and it takes an hour and a half
to get to Waseda. I belong to 広告研究会（こうこくけんきゅうかい）,
which is a club where you make commercials and advertisments.
I amd looking forward to talk with some students in Colorado!!
Thank you for reading.

Suzuka