[English／日本語] In this issue, I would like to introduce you to some of the things that you should not do in Japan. There are things that you may have done without knowing it, but that even foreigners are not allowed to do. How many of Japan's unique cultures do you know? Gift Giving Etiquette There are two numbers that are frowned upon in Japan: 4 and 9. 4 is pronounced "shi" and 9 is pronounced "ku" in Japanese. "Shi" means "death" and "9" means "suffering", so anything with "ku" and "shi" in it is frowned upon in many situations. For example, "comb" is not allowed to be sent as a gift because it has a bad meaning. In addition to this, there are a few other gifts that should not be sent. For example, a plant in a pot should not be sent to a person in the hospital. A plant in a pot has roots. This is because it can be taken to mean that the plant will have roots in the hospital, meaning that the illness will last longer. If you want to give flowers to someone who is in the hospital, use cut flowers instead of potted plants. However, even cut flowers such as chrysanthemums, which are used for funerals, are considered rude, so be careful. Also, do not send a handkerchief as a wedding gift. Why is this? Because handkerchiefs are associated with tears. Other items that can be broken, such as china and mirrors, are also considered bad luck. Similarly, for housewarming gifts, lighters and ashtrays should not be sent because they remind people of fire. These are just a few examples. If you are going to give a gift to a Japanese person, you need to find out beforehand if it would be a rude gift. Dining Manners Your country also has various manners for eating. I have heard manners such as never using your left hand when eating curry from Nepalese students at our school. So, what kind of manners do we have in Japan for eating? In Japan, we use chopsticks when we eat. Chopsticks are difficult to use, but their manners are also complicated. For example, the worst thing you can do is to use two chopsticks to hold your food. The reason why this is not allowed is because it is the same act as placing the bones of a deceased person in an urn at a Buddhist funeral. (*Not talking about chopsticks, but putting the right collar of the kimono on top of the left collar is the same as wearing the kimono of the deceased, so you have to be careful. ）There are many other manners of chopsticks that should not be practiced, such as "stabbing chopsticks" and "yose-chopsticks". In addition to chopsticks, it is also bad manners to eat rice without holding the bowl, or to put your elbows on the table. However, if you think about it too much, it will be difficult to eat a good meal. I recommend that you learn at least the minimum manners for eating, and then gradually get used to them. Superstitions How many superstitions do you know about in Japan? The first one is the "north pillow". The first one is "north pillow", which means that you should not sleep with your pillow in the north, because it is related to Buddhism and there is a theory that putting your pillow in the north means death. Second, don't cut your nails at night. There is a superstition that if you cut your nails at night, you will die before your parents do. One reason is that nails are the place where a person's "soul" is located, so they must be taken care of. Another reason is that in the days when there was little light, cutting nails at night would cause injury. The third is "don't whistle at night." In Japan, there is a saying that whistling attracts spiritual things. This spirituality includes not only good things, but also bad things, so there is a theory that it is dangerous to whistle at night, when spirituality is more active. The three I've mentioned so far are all things you shouldn't do, but I'll end with a superstition that has a good meaning. The last superstition that has a good meaning is "If a pillar of tea stands, good luck will come. A pillar of tea means that the stems of the tea in the teacup stand up like a pillar when the tea is made. For Japanese people, a "pillar" has a powerful impression as something that supports a house. (A recent popular manga often features a "pillar [Hahira]”) For this reason, the tea pillar is known as a good omen. Incidentally, I have heard from Mongolian students that there is a superstition that if a pillar of tea stands, relatives will come to your house. In different countries, superstitions have completely different meanings, don't they? I hope you now have a better understanding of manners. In the next article, I will introduce manners at leisure facilities. 今回は「日本でしてはいけないこと」を紹介します。知らずにしてしまったことでも、外国人だからと許されないようなことがあります。日本の独特な文化をあなたはいくつ知っていますか？ 贈り物のマナー 日本では嫌われている数字があります。４と9です。４は日本語で「し」9は「く」と発音します。「し」は「死（死ぬ）」、「9」は「苦（苦しむ）」を意味する言葉のため、色々な場面でこの「く」と「し」が言葉の中にはいっている物は嫌われています。例えば、贈り物で「櫛（くし）」は悪い意味になってしまうので、送ってはいけないことになっています。これ以外にも送ってはいけないプレゼントがいくつかあります。例えば、入院中の人に鉢に入った植物は送ってはいけないことになっています。鉢に入った植物は根があります。これは病院に根をはる意味、つまり病気が長引くという意味にとらえられてしまうからです。入院中の人に花をプレゼントしたい人は鉢植えではなく切り花にしましょう。ただ、切り花でもお葬式に使う「菊」などは失礼になるので気を付けましょう。また、結婚の祝いの場合は、ハンカチを送ってはいけません。これはなぜでしょうか。ハンカチは涙を連想させるものだからです。その他にも陶器や鏡のような割れるものも縁起が悪いこととされています。同じようなもので、新築祝いの場合はライターや灰皿は火事を連想させるので送ってはいけません。これらの例はほんの一部です。もし、日本人に何かプレゼントをする場合は、事前に失礼なプレゼントにならないか調べておく必要があります。 食事のマナー みなさんの国もいろいろな食事のマナーがありますよね。本校にいるネパールの学生からは、カレーを食べるときに左手は絶対に使ってはいないなどのマナーを聞いたことがあります。では、日本ではどのような食事のマナーがあるでしょうか。日本では食事の際に箸を使います。箸は使い方が難しいですが、そのマナーも複雑です。例えば、一番してはいけないのは、1つの食べ物を2人の箸で持つこと「拾い箸」です。これがなぜいけないかというと、仏式の葬儀で亡くなった方の骨を骨壺におさめるときと同じ行為だからです。（※箸の話ではありませんが、着物の襟を右が前にすることも、亡くなった人が着る着物と同じになってしまうので、気を付けなければいけません。）箸のマナーはこれ以外にも食べ物を刺す「刺し箸」、お皿を寄せる「寄せ箸」などやってはいけない行為が多くあります。また、箸以外にも茶碗を持たずにご飯を食べることや、テーブルにひじをつくことなどもマナー違反です。しかし、あまり考えすぎるとおいしいご飯が食べにくくなってしまいますよね。食事のマナーは最低限ものだけ覚えて、あとは少しずつ慣れていくことをおすすめします。 迷信 みなさんは日本の迷信をいくつ知っていますか？これからそのいくつかを紹介をします。1つ目は「北枕」です。枕を北に置いて寝てはいけないということで、これは仏教が関係しており、北に枕をおくことが「死」を意味するからという説があります。2つ目は「夜に爪を切らない」ということです。夜に爪を切ると親よりも早く死んでしまうという迷信があります。これは所説ありますが、爪はその人の「魂」がある場所なので大切にしなければいけないという教えや、明りが少なかった時代に、夜爪を切ると怪我をするからという理由などがあります。3つ目は「夜に口笛を吹いてはいけない」です。日本では口笛を吹くと霊的なものを呼び寄せてしまうという言い伝えがあります。この霊的なものはいいものだけではなく、悪いものも含まれるので、霊的なものが活発になる夜は口笛を吹くと危険だという説があります。ここまでに紹介した3つはしてはいけないことばかりでしたが、最後に良い意味のある迷信を紹介します。それは「茶柱が立つと幸運が訪れる」です。茶柱というのは、お茶を入れたときに湯呑に入ったお茶の茎が柱のように立っていることをいいます。日本人にとって「柱」というものは家などを支えるものとして、力強い印象があります。（最近人気のある漫画にもよく「柱（はしら）」が出てきますね。）そのため、茶柱は縁起のいいものとして知られています。ちなみにモンゴルの学生からは「茶柱が立つと親戚が家に来る」という迷信があるのを聞いたことがあります。国が違えば迷信の意味もまったく違いますね。 マナーについて理解していただけましたか？次回はレジャー施設でのマナーについてご紹介します。

[English／日本語] Continuing from last week, I would like to introduce the rules of Japanese companies. (1) Is everyone wearing the same clothes? Job hunting When international students are looking for a job, the first thing they do is to buy a recruiting suit. This is because the suits that foreign students bring from their home countries are all shiny and cannot be used for job hunting. When looking for a job in Japan, a black suit with a white shirt is the standard. In addition to this, students who dye their hair should make it the same color as their natural hair, and students with beards should shave their beards. Accessories should be removed and shoes should be low heeled. Women should wear light makeup and wear their hair in a bun. If you do all of these things, all job hunters will look like the same person. Job hunters use the same appearance to show off their individuality. Some students from foreign countries think that their appearance is also their personality and refuse to shave their beards. Depending on the type of business, you may not have to wear a recruiting suit, but most companies will first look at your appearance to see if you can follow Japanese rules. You should polish your Japanese language skills so that you can appeal your personality in your speech. (2)Japanese companies are still old-fashioned. For a long time, Japanese people have had a negative image of working too much, working too much overtime, increasing salary with age, male dominated society, and difficulty in taking vacations. In modern times, this is gradually improving, but there are still many companies that have this tendency. For example, let's say you have plans to go on a trip on your day off. You tell the people at work about it. Do you know what you should do the next time you go to the office? Usually, Japanese people buy as many souvenirs as the number of employees in the company (the number of employees in the department). Also, when you give out souvenirs, you give them out to the people with the highest positions first. Furthermore, if the trip was not on a holiday, but on a paid holiday, you would say to the other employees, "I apologize for the inconvenience." It is very difficult to understand the unique culture within a company from the beginning. First of all, you should look at the Japanese people around you and observe what they are doing. Also, many Japanese companies have a system where senior employees teach newcomers their jobs when they join the company. As a newcomer, you may want to ask your senior employees a lot of questions. (3) On and off I once heard this story from an international student. "I was invited to a drinking party at my part-time job. I don't drink alcohol, so I refused, but they kept inviting me, so I went. I was able to have a good time at the party. Some of us became good friends. The next day at my part-time job, I was talked to in a fun way as I had been at the drinking party, but I was given a cold attitude. Did I do something wrong?" Why do you think this happened to her? Japanese people don't chat much during work, but after work, they sometimes communicate over drinks. This is called "Nominication". It is a word coined from the Japanese words "のむ（drink）" and "communication. At drinking parties, people drink happily regardless of age or position. However, this is only for drinking parties. Also, when we meet at work, we switch to work mode. It is considered bad to go to the office in the same atmosphere of a drinking party. Try to think of it as a clear distinction between on and off, not a sudden coldness. This is only a small part of what I have covered in this blog. The unique culture of the company is something that even Japanese people have to get used to. Let's learn them little by little. Don't forget to keep a "memo" in your pocket when you learn. This is also a part of Japanese culture. 先週から引き続き、日本の会社のルールについて紹介します。 ①みんな同じ服？就職活動 留学生が就職活動をするときは、まずはリクルートスーツを買うことから始めます。留学生が国から持って来たスーツは光沢のあるものばかりで、就職活動に使えないからです。日本で就職をするときは白いシャツに黒いスーツが基本になっています。また、このこと以外にも、髪を染めている学生は地毛と同じ色にしたり、ひげがある学生はひげをそらせたりします。アクセサリーは外し、靴もヒールが低いものにします。女性はメイクも薄くして、まとめ髪にします。これらすべてを整えると、就活生はすべて同じ人に見えてしまいます。就活生は同じような外見で自分の個性をアピールします。留学生からは見た目も自分の個性だと考え、ひげをそることを拒んだりする学生もいます。業種によってはリクルートスーツを着なくてもいい場合がありますが、ほとんどの会社はまずは外見で日本のルールについてこられるか見定めることもあります。自分の個性はスピーチでアピールできるように、日本語力を磨きましょう。 ②まだまだ古い日本の会社 昔から日本人は「働きすぎる」「残業が多い」「年齢とともに給料があがる」「男性社会」「休暇が取りづらい」などマイナスのイメージがあります。現代では少しずつ改善はされていますが、まだこの傾向がある会社も多いです。例えば、あなたが休日に旅行に行く予定があったとします。そのことを会社の人に話しました。次に会社に行く時には何をすればいいかわかりますか。普通、日本人なら会社の社員の数（部署の社員の数）だけお土産を買ってきます。また、お土産を配るときは、役職順から配ります。さらに旅行へ行ったのが休日ではなく、有給を使った場合は「ご迷惑をおかけしました」と一言添えてお土産を配ります。会社の中にある独特な文化を最初から理解するのはとても難しいです。まずは、まわりの日本人を見て、何をしているのか観察してみてくださいね。また、日本の会社は入社すると先輩社員が新人に仕事を教えるシステムになっていることが多いです。新人のうちは先輩社員に色々聞いてみてもいいかもしれません。 ③オンとオフ 留学生からこんな話を聞いたことがあります。「アルバイトで飲み会に誘われました。私はお酒が飲めないので、断っていましたが、何度も誘われるので行きました。飲み会では楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。仲が良くなった人もいます。次の日、アルバイトで飲み会のときのように楽しく話しかけられたら、冷たい態度をとられました。私は何か悪いことをしたのでしょうか。」みなさんはどうしてこのようなことがあったと思いますか。日本人は仕事中に雑談をあまりしませんが仕事が終わったあとに、お酒を飲みながらコミュニケーションをとることがあります。これを「ノミニケーション」と言います。日本語の「飲む」と「コミュニケーション」を合わせた造語です。飲み会では年齢も役職も関係なく楽しく飲みます。ただ、これは飲み会だけの話です。また、会社で会うときは仕事モードに切り替わります。飲み会の雰囲気のまま会社に行くことはよくないこととされています。急に冷たくなったわけではなく、オンとオフがはっきり分けられていると割り切って考えるようにしましょう。 今回ブログに載せたものはほんの一部でしかありません。会社の中にある独特な文化は日本人でもなれないとわからないことばかりです。少しずつ覚えていきましょう。覚える際にはポケットに「メモ」をお忘れなく。これも日本の文化です。

[English]. Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan - Part-time Jobs About 80% of international students have part-time jobs in Japan. In this article, we will introduce some of the culture shocks that international students face when they start working part-time. How much part-time work is possible for international students? To begin with, the "College Student" status of residence does not allow for part-time work. Therefore, most international students apply for a "Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted" at the airport on the day they arrive in Japan. Even if you are granted permission, there are various rules regarding part-time work for international students. International students are only allowed to work 28 hours a week. However, during long vacations such as summer vacation, you can work 40 hours a week with a certificate from your school. There are also some jobs that you are not allowed to work, such as nightclubs and pachinko. If you violate these rules, you will not be able to live as a foreign student, so if you work overtime, please make sure that you have not exceeded the number of hours. Also, some students take part-time jobs with high hourly wages late at night and fall asleep in class. Study is the most important thing for international students. Don't get an unreasonable part-time job! Most international students work in restaurants, factories, or convenience stores. Recently, sorting packages for online shopping at a warehouse is a popular job. If you want to find a job in Japan, experience in the hospitality industry can be a career. When choosing a part-time job, be sure to think about and consider many things. What kind of people are in demand? Japanese companies are looking for people who are cooperative and polite. Compared to other countries, Japan has a national character that values teamwork, and it is the same for part-time jobs. Listen to your boss's instructions and work together with your colleagues to get the job done. There are cases where international students are scolded for working alone without consulting anyone. Do you know that there is a word used at work called "ho-ren-sou (spinach)"? "Ho" means "report," "ren" means "contact," and "so" means "consultation. Let's always keep these three words in mind when we work. Also, In Japan, there is a saying, "The customer is God," which means that you should treat your customers as if they are God and be polite and courteous to them. If you can master customer service, you will have a big advantage when you find a job in Japan. You don't need to be good at Japanese to convey your feelings. Unique greetings at part-time jobs I was once asked by an international student, "Do Japanese people say 'Ohayo gozaimasu' even at night? I was once asked by an international student. In restaurants, "Ohayo gozaimasu" is often used as a greeting to start work. The greeting is the same even if the workday starts at 6:00 p.m., for example. This unique culture makes even Japanese people feel uncomfortable when they first start working part-time. There is no clear reason as to why people greet each other in such a way. Be careful, this is a greeting only between store workers and not used for customer Be strict with time! The most common problems that foreign students have at their part-time jobs are related to tardiness and absenteeism. If you are going to be late, be sure to call before the designated time. The same goes for taking time off from your part-time job. Also, if you are at work and it is prayer time, you are not allowed to give priority to prayer. If you have to pray, please try not to work during that time. Also, if you are going to quit your part-time job, please consult with your manager one month in advance. It is not a good idea to quit suddenly. If you quit your part-time job abruptly, people from the same country or the same school as you may not be able to work there anymore. Please be careful. There are students who suddenly become fluent in Japanese when they start working part-time. I have also received reports that they have made Japanese friends and are enjoying their study abroad experience. Of course, the most important thing for international students is to study, but part-time jobs allow you to learn things that you cannot learn at school. Please manage your part-time job carefully and enjoy your life as an international student. At our school, we can help you find a part-time job. What surprised international students when they came to Japan - Part-time job - About 80% of international students studying abroad are part-time students in Japan. This time, I will introduce the culture shock that international students face when they start part-time jobs. How long can an international student work part-time? In the first place, the status of residence of "student" is not allowed to work part-time. Therefore, most international students apply for a "permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence" at the airport on the day they enter japan. Even if permission is granted, there are various rules for part-time jobs for international students. International students must work only 28 hours a week. However, if you are on a long holiday such as summer vacation, you can get a certificate from the school and work 40 hours a week. In addition, there are jobs that should not be worked, such as nightclubs and pachinko. If you violate these, you will not be able to live a study abroad life, so if you work overtime, make sure that the number of hours has not been crossed. In addition, there are people who doz off in class by working part-time at midnight with high hourly wages. Studying is the most important thing for international students. Don't do unreasonable part-time work! Most international students work in restaurants, factories, convenience stores, etc. Recently, the job of sorting luggage for online shopping in warehouses is popular. If you want to work in Japan, your experience in hospitality may be your career. When working part-time, try to think and choose while paying attention to various things. What kind of human resources are required? Japanese companies need collaborative and courteous human resources. Japan has a national nature that values teamwork compared to other countries, and it is the same for part-time jobs. Listen to your boss's instructions and work with your colleagues. Some international students are scolded for working by them without consulting anyone. Do you know that there is a word "spinach" in the word used at work? "Ho" is "report", "ren" is "contact", "so" is "consultation". Always be aware of these three words. Also, in Japan, there is a word "Customers are God." It means that you have to think of your customers as God and serve them politely and politely. Mastering customer service is very advantageous when you get a job in Japan. Even if you are not good at Japanese, you can still feel it. I will serve you with all my heart. Unique greetings for part-time workers International students once asked me if Japanese people say good morning even at night. In restaurants, "Good morning" is often used in greetings to start work. For example, if work starts at 18:00, the greeting is the same. This multicultural culture is strange even for Japanese people when they start part-time work. There is no clear reason why you would say such a greeting. This is a conversation between clerks, and customers do not use it, so be careful. Be time! The problems that international students often have at part-time jobs are often related to "lateness" and "absenteeism". If you are likely to be late, be sure to contact us before it is a definite time. This is the same when you take a break from your part-time job. Also, if it's time to pray while you're at work, you're not allowed to prioritize prayer. If you have a prayer, please devise such as not entering a part-time job at that time. In addition, if you want to quit your part-time job, consult with the manager one month in advance. It's not good to quit suddenly. People from the same country or school as you may not be able to work part-time there. Be careful. There are students who suddenly become good at Japanese when they start working part-time. I have also received reports that I have made Japanese friends and enjoyed studying abroad. Of course, the most important thing for international students is study, but it is part-time jobs that you can learn things that you cannot learn at school. Manage yourself and enjoy your study abroad life. * At our school, you can consult with us when looking for a part-time job.

[English／日本語] Continuing from the previous article, I would like to introduce the public transportation system in Japan. Are trains and buses quiet in Japan? I often hear from international students that they are surprised at how quiet buses are in Japan. In Japan, it is against etiquette to talk loudly or make phone calls on the train or bus. Therefore, when you see people on the train, most of them are operating their phones or reading books. Also, you may see women dozing off because it is not only quiet but also safe. However, there is one sight that surprises foreigners, even among Japanese people who are said to have good manners. That is, there are women who wear makeup on the train. I've heard many people say that they stared at the dexterity of these women as they applied their makeup on the train. It would be interesting to look around and see what they are doing when you get on the train or bus. The hellish commuter rush Compared to people in other countries, the Japanese are a nation of people who keep their distance from each other. However, on the train during commuting, you will see scenes that make this hard to believe. In Tokyo, from about 7:30 to 9:00 in the morning, the train occupancy rate is about 180%. The boarding rate is the ratio of the number of people actually on board to the capacity. When the ratio is 100%, all the seats are occupied; when it is 180%, the train is so crowded that people standing in the train have a hard time just keeping both feet on the ground. In this crowded train, fights often break out. Everyone is irritated and it is a dangerous train. I have heard that some foreign tourists ride the train on purpose to experience this commuter rush. This is not something that I would ever recommend doing, so please do not do this. Do you ride the bus from the front? Do you ride from the back? Did you know that the way to get on a train is the same for all trains, but the way to get on a bus is different depending on the bus? Basically, buses have a front door and a back door. Some ride from the front, while others ride from the back. Also, some buses have a flat rate and you pay at the beginning, while others have different rates based on the number of bus stops you pass. The system differs from bus to bus, so when you get on a bus, ask the bus driver how to get on, or watch other people before you get on the bus. By the way, when you want to get off, listen to the announcement saying the name of the bus stop and press the button. This is the same for all buses, so don't worry. Forgotten items will be returned. What should you do if you have forgotten your luggage on the train? If you notice that you forget something right away, tell the station staff right away the train you were on and where you were sitting. If you are lucky, you may be able to get it from a station staff member at another station. If you notice it after a while, go to the Lost and Found Center. Lost-and-found centers are located at major stations, as well as the last and first stations. Tell the station staff what you lost and when you lost it there. Lost and found items taken to the Lost and Found Center may be given to the police station after a certain period of time. If you have forgotten something on the train, you can almost always find it if you take care of it as soon as possible. I hope you were able to learn about trains and buses in Japan. Our school has a dormitory on the upper floor of the building. Since you don't have to take the commuter train and you don't have to pay for the train, you can concentrate on your studies from morning. Please come and visit the dormitory. 今回も前回に引き続き、日本の公共交通機関について紹介します。 日本の電車やバスは静か？ 留学生から日本のバスがとても静かで驚いたという話をよく聞きます。日本では電車やバスの中では大きな声で話しをしたり電話をかけたりすることはマナー違反になります。そのため、電車に乗っている人を見ると、ほとんどの人がスマホを操作したり、本を読んだりしています。また、静かなだけではなく、治安もよいので居眠りをしている女性を見ることもあります。しかし、マナーが良いと言われている日本人でも、外国人を驚かせてしまう光景があります。それは、電車の中で化粧をしている女性がいるということです。揺れる車内でも上手に化粧をする女性を見て、その器用さついじっと見てしまったという話しもよく聞きます。ぜひ、電車やバスに乗ったら周りを見渡して、何をしているのか観察してみると面白いかもしれませんね。 地獄のような通勤ラッシュ 日本人は他の国の人と比べて、人と人との距離をとる国です。しかし、通勤時の電車ではそのことが信じられない光景を見ることができます。東京では朝の7時半くらいから9時くらいの電車は、乗車率が180％くらいになります。乗車率とは、定員に対して実際に乗車している人数の割合を表すことです。乗車率が100%の場合、座席が全て埋まっている状態を指します。180％の場合、電車内に立っている人たちは両足が地面についているだけでも大変なほど混雑しています。この混雑した電車では、しばしば喧嘩が起きることもあります。みんながイラついていて危険な電車です。外国人観光客の中にはこの通勤ラッシュを経験してみたいと、わざと乗る人もいると聞いたことがあります。このようなことは決しておすすめできるようなことではないので、絶対にしないでください。 バスは前から乗る？後ろから乗る？ 電車の乗り方はすべての電車で同じですが、バスの乗り方はバスのよって違うことはご存知ですか。バスには基本的に前の扉と後ろの扉があります。前から乗るタイプもあれば、後ろから乗るタイプもあります。また、一律の料金があり、最初にお金を払うバスもあれば、通り過ぎたバス停の数で料金が異なるバスもあります。バスによってシステムが違うので、バスに乗るときはバスの運転手に乗り方を聞くか、他の人の様子を見てバスに乗りましょう。ちなみに、降りたいときは、バス停の名前を言っているアナウンスを聞いてボタンを押します。これはすべてのバスで同じなので安心してくださいね。 忘れ物が戻ってくる 電車内に、荷物を忘れてしまった場合はどうしたらよいでしょうか。忘れ物にすぐ気がついた場合は、自分が乗っていた電車と座っていた場所をすぐに駅員に伝えましょう。運がよければ、他の駅の駅員によって、もらうことができます。時間がたって気がついた人は、電車の忘れ物センターまで行きましょう。忘れ物センターは大きな駅や終点・始発の駅などにあります。そこで、いつ、何を落としたか駅員に伝えてください。忘れ物センターへ運ばれた忘れ物は、一定期間をすぎると警察署に渡されることがあります。電車で忘れ物をしてしまった場合は早めに対処すれば、ほとんどの場合見つけることができますよ。 日本の電車やバスについて学ぶことができましたか。本校は、校舎の上の階に寮があります。通勤電車に乗らず、電車代もかからないので、朝から勉強に集中して取り組むことができます。ぜひ、寮の見学も来てくださいね。

[English／日本語] There are many foreign tourists who come to Japan and take the train from the airport. However, Japanese trains have unique rules and systems that can be very complicated for those who are not used to them. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the Japanese train system. Complicated and difficult to understand! Subway route map Have you ever seen a train route map in Tokyo? (See the picture.) It looks like a maze and has a very complicated shape. I've heard that foreign tourists panic when they see this map. Especially the subway is more complicated. However, if you learn the colors of the subway symbols, it may seem a little easier. The Tokyo subway system is color-coded. If you get lost in a station, you can easily reach your destination by walking towards the colored markings. Please be aware of this and take a look. Being late is strictly prohibited One of the most common surprises I hear from international students when they get on the train is that the train arrives on time. If you are even one minute late, you may see a "delay" notice on the electronic bulletin board. Also, when you board a delayed train, you will hear the conductor announce, "We apologize for the delay in the train. " When student heard this announcement, she once asked me why I was apologizing when the train was only delayed for one minute. If there is a delay, you will be notified immediately on the Internet. It might be a good idea to check before you get on the train. Don't make the mistake of riding in the women-only car During the morning commute, the rear car of the train is sometimes reserved for women. The term "women-only car" does not mean that only women can ride in it. Boys of elementary school age or younger, disabled people and their caregivers are also allowed to ride. I have heard of a man who made a last-minute rush to get on a train just as it was about to depart, and was embarrassed when he mistakenly got on the women-only car. When you get on a train, make sure you have enough time to spare. Different melodies at each station When you get on or off the train, you will hear music. Did you know that the music is different for each station? For example, Ueno Station, which is famous for its cherry blossoms, plays the melody of the song "Sakura," while Takadanobaba Station plays the theme song from the anime "Astro Boy" by the famous cartoonist Osamu Tezuka. Incidentally, Hachioji Station, where our school is located, plays a children's song called "Yuuyake Koyake". Please listen to it when you get on the train. There are many other things that international students are surprised to hear on the train. I will continue to introduce them in the next article. 日本に来て、空港から電車に乗る人は多いです。しかし、日本の電車は独特なルールやシステムがあり、慣れていない人にとってはとても複雑です。今回はそんな日本の電車について紹介します。 複雑難解！地下鉄路線図 東京の電車の路線図を見たことがありますか？（写真参照）まるで迷路のようになっていて、とても複雑な形をしています。この路線図を見た外国人観光客は最初にパニックになってしまうと聞いたことがあります。特に地下鉄はより複雑です。しかし、地下鉄のマークの色をおぼえれば少し簡単に感じるかもしれません。東京の地下鉄にはそれぞれ色分けがされています。駅の中で迷ってしまったときは、その色の目印に向かって歩けば、目的地にたどり着きやすくなっています。ぜひ、意識して見てくださいね。 遅刻は厳禁 留学生が電車に乗って驚いたことで一番よく聞く話は、電車が時間通りに来ることです。もし、1分でも遅れてしまった場合は、電光掲示板に「遅延」のお知らせが表示されることもあります。また、遅延の電車に乗ると「電車が遅れてしまって申し訳ございません。」という車掌のアナウンスが流れます。このアナウンスを聞いて「たった1分しか遅れていないのになぜ謝罪するの？」と学生から聞かれたことがあります。インターネットでは随時遅延の情報が流れています。電車に乗る前はチェックしてみるといいかもしれません。 間違えて乗らないで 女性専用車 朝の通勤時に電車の後部車両が女性専用車になっていることがあります。「女性専用車」と言っても、女性だけしか乗れないというわけではなく、小学生以下の男児や体の不自由な方やその介護者も乗れるようになっています。電車が出発するときにぎりぎりで駆け込み乗車をした男性が間違えて女性専用車に乗ってしまい、恥ずかしい思いをしたという話を聞いたことがあります。電車に乗るときは時間の余裕をもって乗りましょう。 駅ごとに違うメロディー 電車を降りるとき乗るときに音楽が流れます。その音楽は駅ごとに違うのはご存知ですか？例えば桜で有名な上野駅は「さくら」という歌のメロディー、高田馬場駅は有名な漫画家である手塚治虫のアニメ「鉄腕アトム」の主題歌が流れます。ちなみに、本校がある八王子は「ゆうやけこやけ」という童謡が流れます。電車に乗った時はぜひ聞いてみてくださいね。 留学生が電車に乗って驚くことはこの他にもたくさんあります。また次回も引き続き紹介します。

[English／日本語] The Tokyo Olympics is over and the Paralympics will soon begin. At the closing ceremony of the Olympics, it was impressive to see the athletes from different countries communicating with each other. In this article, I would like to introduce the unique way Japanese people communicate. Japanese people who don't ”hug ” but suddenly touch their bodies: a tap on the shoulder I often hear from international students that they were surprised by a sudden tap on the shoulder by a Japanese person. Japanese people don't hug, and they tend to be more distant from others than other countries. However, we often tap people on the shoulder when we talk to them. When talking to people, however, we often tap them on the shoulder, or pat small children on the head to express our feelings of "cute" or "good". This act can also be done to a lover. In some countries, it is absolutely forbidden to pat a child's head. Nodding your head is an expression of affection for Japanese people. If you feel uncomfortable about it, make sure to let the person know about it. Aizuchi At Japanese language schools, we often give guidance to students who don't make a lot of aizuchi during class. Do you know what an aizuchi is? Aizuchi is a method of communication in which you shake your head to indicate that you are listening to what someone is saying, and that you are listening carefully. This is why Japanese people tend to use a lot of aizuchi in their conversations. In some countries, people bend their heads to the side to say "yes" when making an aizuchi. However, this action means "I don't understand" to Japanese people. Learning Japanese grammar and kanji is very important, but if you don't learn communication like aizuchi together, it can lead to misunderstandings, so be careful. What is the meaning of a tongue lashing? Tongue-lashing are a problem that occurs as often in the classroom as aizuchi. In Japan, tongue lashing is used to express sarcasm or frustration with others. Tongue-lashing that can be heard by others are considered bad manners and can cause problems even among Japanese people. Depending on the country of the foreign student, tongue lashing may have no particular meaning, or it may be directed only at oneself. eachers at Japanese language schools are used to this kind of situation, so they give light warnings to their students, but if you use your tongue at your part-time job, you may be fired. When you come to Japan, be careful not to use tongue lashing. While studying abroad, your small gestures can often lead to misunderstandings. If you are misunderstood, polish your Japanese skills so that you can explain yourself properly. At our school, we teach not only Japanese language but also manners in our classes. We will support you so that you can live your life as an international student with peace of mind, so please consider enrolling in our school. 東京オリンピックが終わり、もうすぐパラリンピックが始まります。オリンピックの閉会式では各国の選手たちが国をこえてコミュニケーションをとっている姿が印象的でした。今回は日本人の独特なコミュニケーションの取り方についてご紹介します。 ハグはしないのに突然体を触る日本人 肩をたたくという行為 日本人に突然肩をたたかれてびっくりしたという話を留学生からよく聞きます。日本人はハグはしませんし、他の国と比べても他人との距離を遠くとる国民性があります。しかし、人に話しかけるときに肩をたたくことがよくあります。また、小さい子どもに対して、「かわいい」「いい子」という気持ちを伝えるために頭をなでることもあります。またこの行為は恋人にすることもあります。学生の国によっては、子供の頭をなでることは絶対にしてはいけないことがあります。頭をなでるのは日本人にとっては愛情表現の一つです。もし、嫌な気持ちになってしまう場合は、きちんと相手にそのことを伝えましょう。 あいづち 日本語学校では、授業中にあいづちを打たない学生に対して指導することが多いです。あいづちは何か知っていますか？あいづちとは人の話を聞いているときに、首を縦に振って、「あなたの話をよく聞いています」ということを表すコミュニケーションの方法です。それだけ日本人は会話へのあいづちを多く打ちます。国によってはあいづちを打つときに「yes」という意味で首を横に曲げることがあります。しかし、この行為は日本人にとって「わかりません」という意味になってしまいます。日本語の文法や漢字を学ぶことはとても大事ですが、あいづちのようなコミュニケーションも一緒に学ばないと誤解を生むことがあるので注意しましょう。 舌打ちの意味は？ あいづちと同じくらい教室でしばしば起こる問題として「舌打ち」があります。日本では、相手への嫌味や不満を表すときに舌打ちをします。人に聞こえる舌打ちはマナー違反とされ、日本人同士でもトラブルの原因となります。留学生の国によっては舌打ちは特に意味のないものであったり、自分に向けてのみされるものであったりします。日本語学校の教師はこのような状況になれているので、学生に軽く注意をしますが、舌打ちをアルバイト先でしてしまうと、首になりかねません。日本に来たら舌打ちはしないように気を付けましょう。 留学中はあなたの小さなしぐさが誤解を生んでしまうことがよくあります。もし、誤解されてしまったら、きちんと説明できるように、日本語力も磨きましょう。本校では日本語の勉強だけではなく、マナーについても授業中に指導しています。留学生活を安心して送れるようにサポートしていますので、ぜひ入学を検討してみてくださいね。

[English／日本語] Things that Surprised Foreign Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (2) This time, I would like to introduce you to some of the "stores" in the city. Bookstores are full of manga, contents that even adults can enjoy What kind of books are available in bookstores in your country? When a foreigner enters a Japanese bookstore, he or she is surprised to see how many manga are available. Manga is one of Japan's most famous subcultures in the world, and I often hear that people are surprised to find that even adults read manga. The famous Doraemon and Dragon Ball are works for children, but there are also many works for adults. For example, there are stories about businessmen succeeding in their jobs or lawyers playing an active role in court. There are also children who study by reading historical and scientific cartoons. Students at the University of Tokyo, which is famous for its high academic achievement, are also encouraged to study manga. It may be a little difficult for those who have just started studying Japanese, but please pick up a manga. You may find your world expanding. Shocking ticket prices! Movie theaters I often hear stories of international students who wanted to go see a movie, went to the movie theater, and then gave up on seeing it. Why is that? It's because the ticket price is too high. In most student countries, it costs less than 1000 yen to see a movie. In Japan, however, an adult ticket costs as much as 1,800 yen to see a movie. That's why people give up watching movies. It varies a little from theater to theater, but if you choose a day when women are cheap or a service day, you can see a movie for about 1,000 yen. Check out the cheap days before you go. Seven Wonders of the Restaurant The salt piled up like Mt. Fuji at the entrance of a restaurant...the flying forks and fake food in the showcase...the small towels served when you sit down...the food that comes to you even though you didn't ask for it... To a foreigner, there are many strange things about Japanese restaurants. ・The salt piled up like Mt. Fuji at the entrance is to pray for business prosperity. ・The flying forks and fake food in the showcase are called "food samples". These are models of food made of wax or synthetic resin. They are very popular among foreign tourists, and many people buy small key chains and other items as souvenirs. ・A small towel is called an "oshibori". A small towel called "oshibori" is used to wipe your hands before eating. ・A dish that you didn't order but which is already ordered... This dish is called "otoshi" and is brought to your table when you enter a restaurant that serves alcohol, such as an izakaya (Japanese style pub), even if you didn't order it. The price is about 300 to 500 yen. Have you learned a little about Japanese restaurants? Our school's library has not only a wide variety of books for reading, but also a wide variety of manga, which can be checked out. Let's use manga to understand Japanese culture and go out on the town! 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～お店編②～ 今回も街の中にある「お店」についてご紹介します。 書店が漫画だらけ 大人も楽しめるコンテンツ みなさんの国の書店にはどんな本が置いてありますか？外国人が日本の書店に入り、驚くのはその漫画の多さです。漫画は日本のサブカルチャーとして世界でも有名ですが、大人まで漫画読んでいることにびっくりしたという話はよく聞きます。有名なドラえもんやドラゴンボールなどは子ども向けの作品ではありますが、大人向けの作品も多くあります。例えば、サラリーマンが仕事で成功する話や弁護士が裁判で活躍する話などです。また、歴史漫画や科学漫画を読んで勉強する子どももいます。学力が高いことで有名な東京大学の学生も漫画での勉強をすすめています。日本語を勉強したばかりの人には少し難しいかもしれませんが、ぜひ手にとってみてください。あなたの世界が広がるかもしれません。 チケット代にびっくり！映画館 映画を見に行きたいと言った留学生が映画館まで行って、見るのを諦めたという話をよく聞きます。なぜでしょうか。それはチケットの値段が高いからです。ほとんどの学生の国では映画を見るのに1000円もかかりません。しかし、日本で映画を見るとき、大人の料金は1800円もかかります。それで映画を見るのを諦めてしまうのです。映画館によって少し異なりますが、女性が安い日やサービスデーなどを選べば1000円くらいで見られる日もあります。安い日をチェックしてから行ってみましょう。 レストランの七不思議 レストランの入り口に富士山のように盛られた塩…ショーケースの空飛ぶフォークと偽物の料理…席に座ると出される小さなタオル…頼んでいないのに運ばれてくる料理…。外国人にとって日本のレストランには奇妙なことがたくさんあります。 ・入り口に富士山のように盛られた塩→商売繁盛を祈るもの。 ・ショーケースの空飛ぶフォークと偽物の料理→「食品サンプル」と呼ばれるもの。蝋や合成樹脂で作られた料理の模型。外国人観光客にとても人気があり、小さいキーホルダーなどはお土産で買う人も多い。 ・小さなタオル→「おしぼり」と呼ばれるもの。食べる前に手を拭くときに使われる。 ・頼んでいないのに注文されている料理…「お通し」と呼ばれる料理で、主に居酒屋などお酒を出す店では、お店に入ると注文をしていなくてもテーブルに運ばれてくる。値段は300円～500円くらい。 みなさん日本の店について少しわかりましたか？本校の図書館には多読の本だけではなく、漫画も豊富にそろっており、貸し出しも行っております。漫画で日本文化を理解し、街に繰り出してみましょう！

[English／日本語] Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (1) For two consecutive weeks, I have been telling you about the city, but this time I would like to introduce you to the "stores" in the city. All stores in Japan are famous for their courteous service, and the customers themselves are known to form beautiful lines when waiting in line at the cash register. Here I would like to share with you what kind of problems international students encounter when they come to Japan for the first time and shop, based on the stories of our students. Convenience stores are a bit expensive but convenient. Is this juice? Or is it alcohol? There are about 7,800 convenience stores in Tokyo. In other words, the city is full of convenience stores. Most of them open 24 hours a day, so international students often say things like, "It's convenient because they are open even when I come home from my part-time job late at night.” and "I don't feel scared when I walk alone late at night because the stores are well-lit. ” Also, when international students enter a convenience store for the first time, they are surprised at the large number of products. I often hear that they are impressed by the variety of drinks. However, there are many stories of people who bought what they thought was a beautifully packaged juice, only to find out that it was alcohol. Because of this kind of trouble, the Chinese character for "liquor" is not usually taught at the beginner level, but at our school, it is taught immediately after entering the country. Please be careful, everyone. Do you buy too much? 100-yen stores Did you know that there are stores where all items are sold for 100 yen (excluding tax)? Although not as common as convenience stores, there are nearly 800 of these 100-yen stores in Tokyo. These 100-yen stores, commonly known as "100-yen stores," offer daily necessities (dishes, cleaning supplies, etc.) and even food. Therefore, when students start living in Japan and need daily necessities, they go to these 100-yen stores to buy them. Not only are they inexpensive, but they also come in a variety of designs, and once they have been to a 100 yen store, many of them end up going back again and again to buy things they don't need. I often hear stories of students, especially those who have just arrived in Japan, who have spent a lot of money at 100 yen stores. This is the time when you need money until you start your part-time job. Be careful when shopping. A room full of stuffed animals! Be careful not to get too carried away at the game center. Just like 100-yen stores, game arcades are a place where people tend to spend a lot of money. Some study abroad students get addicted to "crane games" and spend a lot of money on them. And before they know it, their room is covered with stuffed animals from the crane game. Because of this, students often throw away their stuffed animals as trash when they move out, crying because they have too much luggage. Students often feel lonely when studying abroad, and many of them find comfort in their stuffed animals. Try not to have too many stuffed animals, and enjoy them! Did you get to know about Japanese stores? We will continue to introduce stores in the next article. By the way, our school has a convenience store and a 100 yen store just a few meters away from the school (student dormitory). Even if you have just arrived in Japan, you can get everything you need quickly. You can learn how to shop with your teacher at first, so you can start your new life with peace of mind. 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～お店編①～ 2週連続で街の様子についてお伝えしてきましたが、今回はその街の中にある「お店」についてご紹介します。日本のお店はどこも接客が丁寧で、お客さん自身もレジで並ぶときにきれいな行列を作ることで有名です。ここでは留学生が初めて日本に来て買い物をするときにどんなトラブルを起こしてしまうか、本校の学生の話を元にみなさんにお伝えします。 少し高いけれど便利なコンビニ これはジュース？お酒？ 東京にはコンビニが7800件ほどあります。つまり街の中はコンビニだらけ。ほとんどのコンビニが24時間営業なため、留学生からは、「深夜にアルバイトから帰ってきても開いているので、便利です。」や「夜一人で歩いていても明るいので怖くないです。」という話をよく聞きます。また、留学生が初めてコンビニに入ったときに商品の多さにとても驚くそうです。その中でも飲み物の多さに感動したという話をよく聞きます。しかし、きれいなパッケージのジュースだと思い買って帰ったら、お酒だったという話はとても多いです。このようなトラブルが多いため、普通「酒」という漢字は初級では学びませんが、本校では入国してすぐ教えるようにしています。みなさんも気をつけてくださいね。 ついつい買いすぎてしまう？ 100円均一のお店 すべての商品が100円（＋消費税）で買えるお店があるのをご存知ですか。コンビニほどではありませんが、この100円均一のお店も東京に800件近くあります。この100円均一のお店、通称「100円ショップ」は生活に必要なもの（食器や掃除用具など）や食品もあります。そのため、日本に住み始めて生活用品が必要になったとき、学生たちはこの100円ショップに買いに行きます。安いだけではなく、デザインも様々で一度100円ショップに行ってしまうと、何度も通って必要のないものまで買ってしまう人も多くいます。特に入国したての学生が100円ショップでお金を散財してしまった話をよく聞きます。アルバイトが始まるまではお金が必要なときです。買い物は慎重にしましょうね。 気がついたらぬいぐるみだらけの部屋に！ゲームセンターはまりすぎに注意。 100円ショップと同じように、ついついお金を使ってしまう「ゲームセンター」。その中でも「クレーンゲーム」にはまりすぎて、お金をたくさん使ってしまう留学生がいます。さらに、気がつくと部屋中がクレーンゲームのぬいぐるみだらけに。そのせいで学生たちは引っ越しの時に、荷物が多すぎて泣く泣くゴミとしてぬいぐるみを捨てることがよくあります。留学生活は孤独を感じることが多く、ぬいぐるみに癒されている学生も少なくありません。ぬいぐるみは増やしすぎないように楽しみましょうね。 日本のお店について知ることができましたか？次回も引き続きお店について紹介していく予定です。ちなみに、本校は学校（学生寮）から数メートルのところにコンビニと100円ショップがあります。入国したばかりでもすぐ必要なものが揃えることができます。買い物の仕方は最初は先生とすることができるので安心して新生活がスタートできますよ。

[English／日本語] What international students were surprised to learn when they first came to Japan. The City (2) Continuing from the previous article, I would like to introduce the "city" this time as well. Free pocket tissues? In Japan, pocket tissues are distributed in front of train stations every day. It is said that many foreigners are surprised when they see this scene. The reason why they are so surprised is because these pocket tissues are all free. If you look closely at the pocket tissues you receive, you will see advertisements for companies. Thanks to this advertisement, you can get them for free. Sometimes, they give out small snacks or cosmetic samples. Pocket tissues are handy to keep in your bag, so be brave and accept them. Feeling like a king? Many foreign tourists are impressed by the automatic opening of the doors when they get into a cab. Also, Japanese cab drivers are famous for their excellent customer service. However, cabs are more expensive than in other countries, so consult with your wallet before using a cab. Do you ride your bicycle on the sidewalk? On the roadway? Roads in Japan are known to be narrow. Light cars, which are easy to drive on such narrow roads, look like toy cars to foreigners. In addition, bicycles are sometimes ridden on both the roadway and sidewalk, making it difficult for them to understand the rules for bicycles. International students often get stopped by the police and pay fines because they do not understand the bicycle rules. As a general rule, bicycles are to be ridden on the road. (There are some exceptions where bicycles can be ridden on the sidewalk. Be sure to check the traffic rules carefully before you ride. Have you learned about Japanese cities? At our school, we hold a traffic rules seminar every six months. In order to live safely in Japan, let's make sure to learn the traffic rules. 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～街の様子編②～ 今回も前回に引き続き街の様子について紹介します。 ティッシュが無料！？ 日本では駅前で日常的にポケットティッシュが配られています。この光景を見て驚く外国人は多いそうです。なぜ驚くかというとこのポケットティッシュはすべて無料だからです。もらったポケットティッシュをよく見ると、会社の広告がついています。この広告のおかげで無料でもらうことができます。時々、小さなお菓子や化粧品のサンプルなども配られていることがあります。ポケットティッシュはかばんに入れておくと役に立つことがあるので、ぜひ勇気を出して受け取ってみてくださいね。 まるで王様気分？ タクシーを乗るときに自動にドアが開いて感動する外国人観光客が多くいます。また、日本のタクシー運転手は接客が素晴らしいことでも有名です。ただ、他の国と比べるとタクシーの料金は高めになっているので、移動でタクシーを使う際にはお財布と相談してからにしましょう。 自転車は歩道？車道？ 日本の道はとにかく狭いことで有名です。その狭い道でも運転しやすい「軽自動」は外国人から見るとおもちゃの車見えると言われています。また、自転車が車道と歩道のどちらにも走っていることがあり、自転車のルールがわかりにくいことがあります。留学生は自転車のルールがわからず、警察にとめられ罰金を払うことが多いです。ちなみに、自転車は車道を走ることが原則とされています。（例外として歩道が認められる場合もあります。）交通ルールをよく確かめてから運転するようにしましょう。 いかがでしたか。本校では、半年に1回交通ルールに関する講習を行っています。日本で安全に暮らすために、ルールをしっかりと学びましょう。

[English／日本語] Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: The City (1) I wrote in my previous blog that there is no trash on the streets in Japan, but there are many other things that are unique to Japan. This time, I would like to introduce some of them. A city full of vending machines Japan is famous for its large number of vending machines. Not only in number, but also in variety. For example, there are vending machines at train stations that sell books, bananas, and other items. I have also heard many stories of people being surprised when a vending machine says "Hello" to them as they walk by. These days, some vending machines have digital images to help you choose a drink, and some even allow you to sign up for a subscription. It is a little more expensive than buying at a store, but it is very convenient, so try to use it. How to ride an escalator Of course, you have escalators in your country, but in Japan, there is an unspoken rule about escalators. In Tokyo, ride on the left side of the escalator, and in Osaka, ride on the right side. This is not an official rule or manner, but for some reason it is the way it is. Of course, there are manners. For example, you may see people walking up the escalator, but this is very bad manners and dangerous, so don't do it! WiFi spots are scarce! Compared to a few years ago, the number of free WiFi spots has been increasing, but compared to other developed countries, there are still very few WiFi spots in Japan. Of course you can use it in convenience stores and fast food restaurants, but be aware that it is often not available in small stores. It is recommended that you check out WiFi spots ahead of time when sightseeing. You too can become a collector. Manholes are art. In many parts of Japan, there are manholes that are designed in the image of the local area. Manhole designs have become so popular that some towns have made them into "manhole cards" and handed them out. Recently, manholes with various anime characters, including Pokemon, have appeared, and some places have become famous as tourist spots. When you are sightseeing in Japan, you are likely to look at the stores and scenery, but please take a look down there as well. （The photo is a manhole in Hachioji. Please come and see it.） What do you think? I plan to tell you more about the city in my next article. Look forward to it! 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～街の様子編①～ 日本の街にゴミが落ちていないのは前回のブログで書きましたが、他にも日本ならでは様子が街の中には多くあります。今回はそのうちのいくつかを紹介します。 自動販売機だらけの街 日本は自動販売機がとても多いことで有名です。多いのは数だけではなく、種類も。例えば、本やバナナなどを売っている自動販売機が駅に設置されていたりします。また、歩いていると「こんにちは」と自動販売機に話しかけられてびっくりしたという話もよく聞きます。最近ではデジタル映像で飲み物を選ぶものや、サブスクの契約ができるものもあります。お店で買うよりも少し高くはありますが、とても便利なので利用してみてくださいね。 エスカレーター 暗黙のルール みなさんの国にはもちろんエスカレーターがあると思いますが、日本にはエスカレーターの暗黙のルールがあります。それは、東京では乗るときに左側に、大阪で乗るときに右側にのることです。これは正式なルールやマナーではありませんが、なぜかこのようになっています。もちろんマナーはあります。例えば、みんながたっていないほうを歩いてのぼっていく人達を見ることがあると思いますが、これはとてもマナーが悪く危険なのでやめましょうね。 WiFiスポットが少ない！ 数年前と比べると無料のWiFiスポットは増えてきていますが、他の先進国と比べると日本のWiFiスポットはまだまだ少ないという問題があります。コンビニやファストフード店ではもちろん使えますが、小さな店などは使えないことが多いので気を付けましょう。観光をするときには先にWiFiスポットを調べておくことをおすすめします。 あなたもコレクターになる マンホールはアートだ 日本各地ではその土地をイメージしたデザインになっているマンホールがあります。マンホールのデザインはとても人気があり、街ではそれを「マンホールカード」というカードにして配っていることもあります。最近ではポケモンをはじめとする、いろいろなアニメのキャラクターが描かれているマンホールも登場し、観光スポットとしても有名になっている場所もあります。日本での観光中、お店や景色を見ることが多いと思いますが、ぜひ下も見てみてくださいね。（※写真は八王子のマンホールです。ぜひ見に来てくださいね！） いかがでしたか？次回も街の様子についてお伝えする予定です。お楽しみに！

[English／日本語] Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Trash Japanese cities are famous around the world for their cleanliness and lack of litter on the streets. Why is that? In Japan, there are many rules regarding garbage. In addition, foreign students often get into trouble with residents because of this. In this article, I will introduce the rules regarding garbage. No trash cans! Japanese who take their trash home One of the most annoying things for foreign tourists when they come to Japan is that there are no trash cans. Where should you throw away the tissue you blew your nose with, or the candy wrapper you put in your mouth when you got hungry? When Japanese people have small trash, they put it in a pocket in their bag and throw it away when they get home. Also, many people with small children carry plastic bags for garbage in their bags. Some shopping malls and convenience stores have trash cans that anyone can throw away. When sightseeing, it might be a good idea to check the places where garbage can be thrown away with you. How many kinds of garbage should I separate? How to separate garbage When you first start living in Japan, one of the first things that confuses you is how to separate garbage. Let's take a look at the garbage separation in Hachioji City, Tokyo. Combustible trash, non-combustible trash, toxic trash, plastic containers and wrapping, magazines, paper packs, newspapers, cardboard, empty bottles, empty cans, plastic bottles, used cloth, oversize trash.... International students who have just arrived in Japan are surprised by the many types of garbage separation. Also, there are rules for each type of garbage. For example, PET bottles should not be thrown away as they are. The cap and label must be disposed of as plastic waste, while the bottle must be washed and crushed to become plastic bottle garbage. Furthermore, garbage should not be thrown away every day, but on the designated day of the week at the designated place. Depending on where you live, you may also have a set time to throw it away. And the rules change depending on the local government. For example, in Hachioji City, you have to buy the designated garbage bags at the supermarket. What do you think? There are so many rules for garbage disposal, aren't there? In fact, garbage separation is so complicated that even Japanese people make mistakes. Many foreign students who don't understand the rules of trash separation and throw away their trash randomly get into fights with other residents and have to move out. To prevent this from happening, first get a garbage calendar from the city hall and dispose of your garbage according to it. If you are not sure, you can ask a Japanese person. I'm sure he or she will be kind enough to help international students who are making an effort to sort out their garbage. Were you able to learn about the rules of garbage? By the way, our school requires us to live in the school dormitory for six months. And during that time, the school will teach you about garbage. If you don't know how to throw away or separate garbage, you can ask the teacher in charge by e-mail. By learning about garbage for six months, you will be able to stay trouble-free even after you graduate from school. If you are able to separate garbage naturally, you will be able to live well as an international student. 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～ゴミ編～ 日本の街はきれいなことと、道にゴミが落ちていないことで世界でも有名です。それはなぜでしょうか。日本にはゴミに関するルールが多くあります。また、それが原因で留学生は頻繁に住民トラブルを起こします。今回はゴミに関するルールについて紹介します。 ゴミ箱がない！ゴミを持ち帰る日本人 外国人旅行客が日本に来て困ることは「ゴミ箱がない」ということです。鼻をかんだティッシュ、小腹がすいて口に入れた飴の包み紙などどこに捨てればいいでしょう。日本人は小さなゴミが出た場合、鞄の中のポケットに入れて家に帰って捨てます。また、小さな子供がいる人の場合、鞄の中にゴミ用のビニール袋を入れている人も多くいます。ショッピングモールやコンビニでは誰でも捨てられるゴミ箱を置いていることもあります。観光をするときはゴミが捨てられる場所を一緒にチェックしておくといいかもしれませんね。 何種類に分ければいいの？ゴミの分別方法 日本に住み始めて最初に混乱するのはゴミの分別です。東京都八王子市の分別を見てみましょう。可燃ごみ・不燃ごみ・有害ごみ・容器包装プラスチック・雑誌・紙パック・新聞・段ボール・空きビン・空き缶・ペットボトル・古布・粗大ごみ…。日本に来たばかりの留学生たちは分別の種類の多さにびっくりしてしまいます。また、各分別にもルールがあります。例えば、ペットボトルもそのまま捨ててはいけません。キャップとラベルはプラスチックごみ、ボトルは中を洗ってつぶしてペットボトルゴミになります。さらに、ゴミは毎日捨ててはいけません、決められた曜日に決められた場所に捨てます。また、住む場所によっては捨てる時間も決められていることがあります。そして自治体によってそのルールが変わります。例えば八王子市は指定されたゴミ袋をスーパーで買わなければなりません。どうですか？ゴミ捨てのルールが多すぎますよね。実はゴミの分別は日本人でも間違えてしまうくらい複雑なのです。ゴミの分別のルールがわからず、適当に捨ててしまった留学生が他の住民と喧嘩になり、引っ越しをしなければならなくなることは多くあります。そうならないために、まず市役所でゴミのカレンダーをもらい、それに従ってゴミを捨てましょう。そしてわからなくなったら日本人に聞いてもいいです。ゴミを分別しようと努力をしている留学生には丁寧に教えてくれると思いますよ。 ゴミのルールについて知ることはできましたか？ちなみに、本校は半年間、学校の寮に住まなければなりません。そして、その間に学校でゴミの指導を行います。ゴミ捨て方や分別方法がわからない場合は担当の教師にメールで質問することができます。半年間しっかりとゴミについて学ぶことで学校を卒業したあとでもトラブルなく過ごすことができます。ゴミの分別が自然にできるようになると留学生活もうまくいくようになりますよ。

[English／日本語] Things that Surprised International Students When They First Came to Japan: Public Safety Japan is known as one of the safest countries in the world. Even if you drop your wallet, you can often get it back,Of course, it depends on the location, but it is safe to walk alone at night. In addition, there is a unique culture born from this safety, which often causes problems for international students. In this article, I would like to introduce some of them. Handkerchiefs on the table Japanese people who secure their seats with luggage In Japan, when you go to a food court, you may find a handkerchief on the table, or sometimes a bag. And no one sits at the table. Even when the place is crowded, no one sits at the table. Why is this? Japanese people sometimes put down their belongings when they reserve a seat for themselves. I once heard a student say, "I was surprised to see people leave their bags with valuables in them.” Handkerchiefs, for example, may not be noticed that they are placed there, so if you sit down by mistake, you may get into trouble. Make sure you check before you sit down. Children walking alone to school: Be careful to talk to them A student wrote an essay about how she was surprised to see a small child walking alone with a big bag on his back. Many elementary school children in Japan walk to school alone. Some of them are as young as six years old and ride the train to school by themselves. Some of the international students like children and will ask a child who is walking alone, "Are you okay by yourself?"or "You are so cute!“ However, if you do this, you may be reported to the police, so if you see a child walking alone, just watch him or her gently. Can I have these vegetables?：Unattended Vegetable Sales In the fields of Japan, there are sometimes small huts where no one is around and vegetables are sold. When you want to pay, you put money in a box inside the hut. The international students who saw the hut for the first time were impressed by the fact that the money box was placed outside. Many students use the unmanned market because they can get fresh vegetables at a lower price than at the supermarket. In addition, some students mistakenly take vegetables that are thrown away in the fields or nuts from trees in the park, thinking that they are allowed to take them, and end up being caught by the police. All plants grown outside have their owners, so please do not take them. Twice in one day!：International Students and Police check Japanese police officer often stops and asks questions to people he or she thinks are suspicious on the street. Thanks to these questions, crimes can often be prevented. International students are often questioned , especially male students, sometimes twice a day. During the questioning, you will be asked if you are carrying your residence card, which school you go to, and so on. Even if you are going to the local convenience store, be sure to take your residence card with you when you go out. What did you think? Even in Japan, which is considered to be a safe country, there is of course the danger of being involved in crime. Please do not feel overly secure, and be careful while you are studying abroad. By the way, when you enter our school, we try to get to know you by going to the police station in your neighborhood, participating in local events and volunteering, etc. Building a good relationship with your neighbors is necessary for a smooth life as an international student. When you come to Japan, be sure to greet the people you see every day with a cheerful greeting. 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～治安編～ 日本は世界の中でも治安のいい国として知られています。財布を落としても戻ってくることが多く、もちろん場所にもよりますが、夜一人で歩いても安全です。また、この治安の良さから生まれた独特な文化があり、留学生がしばしば困ってしまうことがあります。今回はいくつかを紹介します。 テーブルの上にハンカチ：荷物で席を確保する日本人 日本ではフードコートに行くとテーブルの上にハンカチが置いてあったり、時にはバッグが置いてあったりします。そして、そのテーブルには誰も座っていません。人が込んでいても、お客さんは誰もその席に座ろうとしません。なぜでしょうか。 日本人は自分の席を確保するときに自分の荷物を置くことがあります。学生からは「貴重品が入ったバッグをそのまま置く人を見てびっくりした」という話を聞いたことがあります。ハンカチなどは置いてあることに気が付かないことがあるので、間違えて座ってしまった場合にトラブルになるかもしれません。確認してから座るようにしましょう。 一人で通学する子ども：声かけ注意！ 以前、小さな子供が大きな荷物を背負って一人で歩いている様子を見てびっくりしたという作文を書いた学生がいました。日本の小学生は1人で通学する子が多くいます。中には6歳くらいの子が一人で電車に乗って通学する場合もあります。留学生の中には子どもが好きで、1人で歩いている子に「一人で大丈夫？」「かわいいね」など善意で声をかける人がいますが、警察に通報されてしまうこともあるので、1人で歩いている子がいてもそっと見守るだけにしましょうね。 この野菜はもらっていいの？：野菜の無人販売 日本の畑には時々誰もいない小さな小屋があり、そこに野菜が売られていることがあります。お金を払うときは、小屋の中にある箱にお金を入れます。その小屋を初めて見た留学生は、お金の箱が外に置いてあることに感動していました。無人販売所はスーパーで買うよりも安くて新鮮な野菜が手に入るので利用している学生も多くいます。 また、学生の中には畑に捨てられている野菜や、公園になっている木の実をもらっていいものと勘違いしてとってしまい、警察に捕まってしまう場合があります。外で育てられている植物などはすべて持ち主がいるので、とらないでくださいね。 1日に2回も！留学生と職務質問 職務質問とは、警察官が路上で怪しいと思った人を呼び止めて質問をすることです。この職務質問のおかげで犯罪を未然に防げることが多くあります。留学生は職務質問を受けることが多く、特に男子学生場合、1日に2回も受けることも。職務質問では在留カードを携帯しているか、学校はどこの学校かなどを聞かれます。近所のコンビニに行く時でも在留カードを持って出かけるようにしましょう。 いかがでしたか？治安がいいとされている日本でも、もちろん犯罪に巻き込まれてしまう危険もあります。安心しすぎないように、気を付けながら留学生活を送ってくださいね。ちなみに、本校では入学すると近所の交番に挨拶にいったり、地域の行事やボランティアに参加したりして、街の人たちから顔をおぼえてもらうようにしています。近所とのいい関係を築くことは留学生活を円滑に営むために必要なことです。日本に来たら毎日顔を合わせる人には元気なあいさつをしましょうね。

[English／日本語] Things that Surprised Foreign Students When They First Arrived in Japan - Toilets Have you ever heard the story that the first thing that surprises foreigners when they arrive at a Japanese airport is the toilet? It is said that many people are confused when they first encounter a toilet lid that opens automatically or a warm toilet seat. In this article, I would like to introduce some stories about toilets. Which button should I press? How to use a high-function toilet. The most common question I get from international students is how to use a high-function toilet. There are so many buttons on a high-function toilet, and they don't know which button to press, so they get stuck in the toilet. It's especially hard to find the most important button, the water flush button. Some toilets have easy-to-understand buttons that say "流す FLASH" in English, while others have only the Chinese characters for "大" and "小" written on them. The "大" button is for flushing more water, and the "小" button is for flushing less. There is also a button for people who are sick to call the clerk. In women's restrooms, there is even a button to mute the sound in the toilet. Before locking the door, make sure you know where the "flush" button is, and if you are not sure, ask a Japanese person nearby. Where do you throw away toilet paper? Let's keep good manners. The most common problem at Japanese language schools is how to dispose of used toilet paper. Many students do not know that it is okay to flush toilet paper down the toilet in Japan. In some countries, you can throw it in a trash can inside or outside the toilet. If you do this in Japan, it will be a breach of etiquette. Please be careful. Also, the use of toilets differs depending on the religion. In our school, we once had a quarrel between a student who used water and a student who used paper in the bathroom because they became roommates. If you are planning to live with students of other religions, please talk to them carefully. Where do you wipe your hands? Japanese with a handkerchief In your country, what do you use to wipe your hands after washing them in the bathroom? In Japan, there are many stores that do not have towels or paper to wipe your hands. This is because Japanese people usually carry a handkerchief with them. In Japan, from the time you are a small child, it is a rule to bring a tissue and a handkerchief to school. For this reason, department stores sell handkerchiefs of various designs, and even 100 yen stores sell them, so why not carry them with you? Have you changed your common sense about toilets? Most toilets in Japan are free of charge, so please feel free to use them. Incidentally, our school has created posters in various languages with students on how to use the restroom. In addition, you can consult with us about roommates before and after you move into the dormitory. Hopefully we'll have more restrooms that are easy to use for people from all countries! 留学生が日本に来て驚いたこと ～トイレ編～ 日本の空港に到着して外国人が最初に驚くのがトイレだという話を聞いたことはありませんか。自動で開くトイレの蓋、あたたかい便座に初めて出会い、とまどってしまう人も多いそうです。今回はトイレにまつわる話について紹介します。 どのボタンを押せばいいの？高機能トイレの使い方。 留学生から一番多く聞かれるのは高機能トイレの使い方についてです。高機能トイレはとにかくボタンが多く、どのボタンを押せばいいかわからないのでトイレの中で困ってしまうそうです。特に一番大切な水を流すボタンを見つけられないのは大変ですよね。トイレによっては「流す FLASH」と英語表記がしてあるわかりやすいボタンもあれば、「大」「小」という漢字だけ書いてあるところもあります。ちなみに「大」は多く水を流したい場合、「小」は少なく流したい場合に押します。具合が悪くなった人が店員を呼び出すボタンがあるトイレも時々みることがあります。また、女子トイレにはトイレで用をたしている音を消すためのボタンまであります。鍵をしめる前にまずは「流す」ボタンを確かめて、わからない場合は近くの日本人に聞きましょう。 トイレットペーパーを捨てる場所はどこ？マナーを守ろう。 日本語学校で一番トラブルになることは使用済みトイレットペーパーの捨て方です。日本のトイレでトイレットペーパーを水に流してもいいことを知らない学生が多くいます。国によっては、トイレの中や外においてあるゴミ箱に捨てるところもありますよね。日本でこれをしてしまうと、マナー違反になってしまいます。気をつけてくださいね。また、トイレの使い方は宗教によって異なります。本校でも以前、トイレで水を使う学生と紙を使う学生がルームメイトになり、喧嘩をしてしまったことがあります。他の宗教の学生と住む予定の人はよく話しておきましょう。 どこで手をふくの？ハンカチを持つ日本人 みなさんの国ではトイレで手を洗ったあとは何で手をふきますか？日本では手をふくためのタオルや紙がないお店がとても多いです。それは日本人が普段からハンカチを持ち歩いているからです。日本では小さな子どものときから学校の持ち物として「ティッシュ」と「ハンカチ」を持って行くのが決まりになっています。そのため、デパートではいろいろなデザインのハンカチが売っています。100円均一のお店でも売っているので、ぜひ持ち歩いてみてくださいね。 あなたのトイレの常識がかわりましたか？日本のトイレはほとんどが無料なので安心して使ってくださいね。ちなみに、本校では、トイレの使い方について各国語のポスターを学生たちと作成し、掲示してあります。また、入寮前や入寮後にもルームメイトについての相談にものることができます。どんな国の人でも使いやすいトイレが増えるといいいですね！