Follow the jump links to learn more about Japan:
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun Facts
Lifestyle and Family Living
A Japanese proverb says that the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. Japanese people do not call attention to themselves; they try to blend in and are notably polite. Teamwork, cooperation, industriousness, loyalty and consensus are core Japanese values.
Family is the foundation of Japanese society, bound by a strong sense of position, obligation and responsibility. Early on, Japanese children learn to forgo personal gain for the benefit of the group as a whole, and to value group harmony.
Seniority is respected, and Japanese children are taught to hold their elders in the highest regard. Parents tend to keep a close eye on their children’s behavior, and high school students are rarely allowed to go out after the evening meal.
Because the country’s major cities are among the most crowded in the world, living space is limited, regardless of family status or income. Even in tight quarters, though, Japanese homes manage to blend ancient customs with contemporary conveniences.
You will find that some families sleep on futons, sit on cushions and eat at low tables. It is also helpful to know that when you enter a Japanese house, you will leave your shoes at the doorway and will wear slippers provided by your host. Socks or bare feet only are allowed in the rooms with tatami floors (straw mats). There are even special slippers just for using the bathroom.
Japanese host families, like AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and are not paid. They open their homes to students like you in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives. Most AFS students are placed in small cities or rural areas.
Teen Life
School is probably the best place to make friends and meet people. Japanese teens devote themselves almost entirely to schoolwork and extracurricular clubs that fall into two general categories: sports (baseball, soccer, judo, kendo, track, tennis, swimming, softball, volleyball, rugby, etc.) and culture (English, broadcasting, calligraphy, science, mathematics, yearbook planning, etc.). Clubs meet nearly every day for about two hours, so it is best to join only one or two. Japanese teens also enjoy going to movies or shopping as a group on weekends.
Dress and Appearance
Japanese youth wear the latest American and European fashions. AFSers should bring casual clothes, jeans, T-shirts and other light, cool items for hot or humid summer wear. Students are encouraged to bring one or two nice outfits (dress shirts and ties for men, dresses for women) for special occasions.
Diet and Meals
The Japanese diet consists largely of rice, noodles, fresh vegetables, fruit, meat (mostly pork and chicken) and seafood. Meals are eaten with chopsticks. Rice and green tea are part of almost every meal. Nowadays, western style dishes are also served. Those who request special foods, prepare separate food for themselves or raid the refrigerator are frowned upon.
No lacto-ovo vegetarians or vegans will be accepted for programs in Japan. Although less strict vegetarians may be considered, acceptance to the program will depend on the availability of families willing to host students with dietary restrictions.
It is illegal for people under 20 years of age to drink or smoke in Japan.
Educational System
With an adult literacy rate exceeding 99%, Japanese society clearly places a high value on education. Students are expected to study hard, take homework seriously, and to get good grades in order to enter a prestigious university.
School is in session almost year round in either a two or three term cycle, separated by vacations. School is five (or six for some private schools) days a week.
Students often travel to school by bicycle, bus or train since they are not allowed to drive.
At the end of the academic day, all students, including you, will take part in souji, the cleaning of the school. After souji, school is dismissed, and most students go to club activities.
Most AFS placements are in public or private comprehensive schools. Some placements are made in technical schools which, in addition to academics, specialize in vocational training. AFS students are generally placed in the first or second year (11th grade).
During the first term, exchange students may have a chance to receive Japanese language training and take a modified academic program (e.g., English, physical education, home economics, music and art). Course work will increase in the second term as language skills improve.
Most students are required to wear uniforms. Most schools or AFS chapters will arrange for exchange students to obtain theirs from a uniform bank however this is not always possible and you may be required to purchase your own. Regulations may also determine the color of clothes or shoes or how uniforms are to be worn. Wearing accessories or makeup while at school is prohibited.
Participation in school-organized trips within Japan is optional. Such trips, which are at the expense of the student, may cost from US$600 (domestic travel) to US$1,600 (overseas travel).
Geography and Climate
Japan is an island nation located off the eastern seaboard of the Asian continent in the Northern Hemisphere. The Japanese archipelago is about the size of California or Germany.
Japan is composed of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as more than 6,000 smaller islands. The islands are very mountainous.
Volcanic and earthquake belts lie across Japan and its coastal waters, and the activities of these belts have combined to create mountains and hot springs.
Generally the climate is temperate with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Snowfall is especially heavy in the north and along the Japan Sea coast, but it is light in southern Japan and along the Pacific coast.
Typhoon season is August through October. Also, Japan is prone to earthquakes. The Japanese measure their earthquakes on a Shindo scale (1-7) as well as the Richter scale.
Population
The population numbers about 127 million; Tokyo is the capital and has a population of 12 million.
Language
Japanese is the language of Japan.
Government
Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. Emperor Akihito is the symbolic chief of state while the Prime Minister heads the government. There is a bicameral legislature—known as the Diet—which is composed of the House of Representatives (Shugi-In) and the House of Councilors (Sangi-In). The Prime Minister is a member of the Diet, and is elected by the Diet.
Religion
Most Japanese practice a combination of Buddhism and Shinto, but few attend religious services on a regular basis. Life cycle events such as the birth of a baby are often marked by visits to a Shinto shrine, while funerals are usually conducted by a Buddhist priest. With a few exceptions, most Japanese holidays are non-religious.
Spending Money
The yen is the local currency in Japan.
Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about $100-$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- The red dot on the Japanese flag represents the sun.
- In Japanese the word for “wrong” and “different” are the same.
- Japanese kitchens often do not have ovens.
- Japanese pizza might have mayonnaise, corn, seaweed or sesame seeds on it.
- Slurping while you eat symbolizes that the food is delicious.
- Rice and tea are served at almost every meal.
- Japanese cooks honor their retired knives with a burial ceremony.
- Two Japanese car brands were named after rice: Toyota and Honda
- The world’s oldest novel—The Tale of Genji—was written in Japan in the 11th century.
