Unit 14O-MO-TE-NA-SHI Japanese Culture
REVIEWPut the following Japanese into English.

1. 七夕は、恋人同士のおりひめとひこぼしの出会いを祝う祭りです。
2. お盆は、家族との再会のため、先祖伝来の土地に戻る時期です。
3. 七五三は、子供の成長を祝う祭りです。

4. 大晦日の真夜中が近くなると、家族が集まり、長寿につながるそばを食べます。

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

祭りMatsuriCONVERSATION 1

Key words:

・bumper harvest 豊作
・procession 行列
・float 山車

1. Listen to the conversation without looking at the text.
2. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the text.

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A: What is matsuri?
B: Matsuri means festivals. They are mostly connected to local Shinto Shrines
or Buddhist Temples. Most matsuri are related to the bumper harvest. Manyfestivals involve processions including floats and mikoshi (portable ShintoShrine).
A: Does Kyoto have any festivals?
B: Yes. The three festivals in Kyoto are Aoi Matsuri, held in May, Gion Matsuri
in July and Jidai Matsuri in October. In fact, Gion Matsuri is one of the most
famous festivals in Japan.
3. Read the conversation until you memorize it.
4. Role playYour teacher plays the role of A and you play the role of B.

お箸OhashiCONVERSATION 2

Key words:

・thumb 親指・index finger 人差し指・middle finger 中指・ring finger 薬指・little finger 小指・firmly しっかりと

1. Listen to the conversation without looking at the text.
2. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the text.

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A: How do you use chopsticks?
B: Well, I’ll show you, shall I? First, pick up a pair of chopsticks and hold it inyour writing hand like this with both ends even. Hold the upper chopstickabout one-third of the way from its top. It is held like a pencil, with the tips ofthumb, index and middle fingers. This one should move up and down to pickup your food.
A: OK. Then?
B: Allow the bottom chopstick to rest on your ring finger and place yourthumb onto it to give it added support. This one shouldn’t move. The thumbholds the chopsticks firmly and move the upper chopstick with your thumb,index and middle fingers.
A: And then?
B: All you do now is to place your chopsticks around the food and slowly
carry it towards your mouth. Just a word of advice, by the way. You should
never leave your chopsticks standing straight out of your rice.
3. Read the conversation until you memorize it.
4. Role playYour teacher plays the role of A and you play the role of B.

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CONVERSATION 3

Key word:・slurp 音を立てて飲食する

1. Listen to the conversation without looking at the text.
2. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the text.
A: Why do you make a noise when you are eating noodles?
B: It’s a Japanese custom. It is perfectly acceptable in Japan not only toslurp your soup and noodles but also to lift your bowls. The slurping soundindicates that you are enjoying it. But you don’t have to slurp if you don’t
want to. I know slurping your food is seen as bad manners in the West.
3. Read the conversation until you memorize it.
4. Role playYour teacher plays the role of A and you play the role of B.

芸者Geisha4

CONVERSATION 4

1. Listen to the conversation without looking at the text.
2. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the text.
A: What is geisha?
B: Geisha is a Japanese woman who is trained as a professional singer,dancer, and companion for men. Geisha are very respectable women. Theygo through intense training learning only the traditional Japanese arts, suchas tea ceremony, poetry, literature, and Japanese traditional dances.
3. Read the conversation until you memorize it.
4. Role playYour teacher plays the role of A and you play the role of B.

招き猫Maneki neko

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CONVERSATION 5

Key words:・figurine 小立像

・paw 猫などの手足
1. Listen to the conversation without looking at the text.
2. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the text.
A: What is maneki neko?
B: It means ‘beckoning cat’. It’s a Japanese figurine with its paw raisedwhich is believed to bring good luck. They say that the one with its right paw
raised invites money and the one with its left paw raised invites customers.
3. Read the conversation until you memorize it.
4. Role playYour teacher plays the role of A and you play the role of B.
PRACTICE SENTENCES

Put the following Japanese into English.

1. 多くのお祭りは、山車やみこしの登場する行列を伴います。

2. 日本では、スープやヌードルを音を立てて飲食することだけでなく、おわんを持ち上げて食べても許されます。

3. 芸者は、プロの歌い手、踊り手、男性のお相手として訓練された日本の女性です。

4. 招き猫は、幸運をもたらすとされる、手を上げた、日本の小立像です。

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