Reflective The Interview with a Foreign Student

For this essay, I have an interview with a student from UNCG. Her name is Aisa Tozuka. She is from Fukuoka Japan. Aisa is 22 years old. She is majoring in Business administration. She came to the states two years ago to better her education. Her family still lives in Fukuoka. Back home, she lived in her family owned house that has been passed down from generation to generation and will eventually be hers. In her household she lives with her parents, 3 siblings, aunt, uncle, 2 cousins her grandmother. She is also bilingual; she speaks Japanese and broken English. She often has to go back and forth between languages because her family on speaks Japanese and her friends only speak English. At first, she was scared moving to the states by herself but she said that she wanted to get a better education so she can go back home and improve her family’s status.

Similar to the United States, Japan grants its citizens religious freedoms. Aisa and her family believe in Shintoism. Japans main religions are Shintoism and Buddhism. Shintoism is a Japanese religion that worships ancestors and spirits. It is also believing in kami (spirits). In Shintoism shrines are used as a place of worship. People come to pray and give offerings. Another main religion in Japan is Buddhism. Buddhism is the belief of true nature and reality; it is also used as a form of meditation. In Buddhism temples are used meditation and a place to worship. There are also some people who practice Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism but is rare. In Japan, Religion is heavily influenced by family matters. It is also very private and not discussed to others outside of the family. They keep religion away from schools. Which means like the U.S. students in school do not pray during class. Religion is barely discussed and usually kept private. During New Year which is held in January from the 1st to the 3rd, People go to ancestral graves and pray for their deceased relatives. They also visit shrines to symbolize good luck for the upcoming year. Aisa and her family often go to “Momiji Hachimangu” shrine. 

Japan has a wide variety of food. They have something for everyone including vegetarians. Aisa said that her favorite dish is “Motsu Nabe” which is a hotpot filled with local foods. It is served at “kakata bentendo”a restaurant in Japan. Japan is also known for sushi, sashimi, fish and its colorful presentation with foods.

During this personal interview, Aisa discussed some culturally appropriate actions and she emphasized the correct way to carry out those said actions vs the wrong way that would be considered disrespectful. To begin with, Similar to the United States, it is considered rude and bad mannered if you eat directly from a plate of food. Food is typically shared with the whole table and are placed on plates meant to just store the food. The correct way it to put some food on your plate before indulging. Slurping the food is also considered good manners. During dinner, it is polite to pour everyone a drink but never your own. You should wait for someone to notice your empty cup and fill it up for you.

In business and restaurants, it is common to take off your shoes before entering. While in a restaurant, the owners will provide you with Oshibori (a wet towel), they are used to clean only your hands before you eat. It is considered rude if you wipe your face with it or even if you put it on your lap as a napkin. Something different from U.S, tips are not expected in restaurants, hotels or even cabs. Tipping someone can even be considered an insult.

Pointing in Japan is considered threating. Instead of pointing, people gesture with their palm of their hand. People in Japan don’t usually accept gestures that require touching from strangers.

When meeting someone it is tradition that you bow. It is a sign of respect. The longer and deeper the bow the more respectfully your being. When bowing its common to put your hands in front of your chest. When meeting someone or going over a friend’s house, bring food as a gift (can vary but foods like mochi or snacks).

During the interview, I felt that I didn’t know a lot about her culture. I didn’t know how to speak to her. I was also nervous because this was my first interview with someone who was not from the United States. After learning more about how people communicate to each other in Japan. I realized it was very different then how people interact with each other in the United States. People in Japan are more respectful and formal. While people in the United States are more open and forward.