This time I was in a hurry. Last week I was so busy so that I almost fogort the second interview. So it was a little late to look for interviewee. I sent e-mails to several classmates but I did not get any reply. So I asked Keita who is my neighbour living in Lawrence Hall whether he was willing to be my interviewee. He agreed with no hesitation.Keita is my friend from Japan. We are both freshman. We often play basketball together. He's a nice guy. We went to the activity room in the lawrence hall to have the interview. I brought the laptop and the cell phone used as recorder. Thanks for him again.
Interview report
The whole interview went very well. Since Keita and I are neighbours in lawrence hall, our conversation was just like a normal chat. We talked a lot about Japan . There is a gap between China and Japan due to the history. I think it's a nice thing to interview a Japanese. After the interview, I knew a lot about Japan and the interview corrected some of my misunderstandings about Japan. I am so interested in Japanese culture. I like Japanese food very much. I may go to Africa for travelling if I have chance. Keita is a nice person. He answered each questions patiently. We stopped the interview in about 20 minutes because it was too late that night. It's time to go to sleep. It was a pity.
Country report
Japan is an island nation in East Asia.
Japan has four major islands, they are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, also "Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
Japan is a major economic power in the world, after the second world war, Japan got very poor as a loser in the war. However, Japan's economic growth very fast from the 1960s to the 1980s has been called the Japanese post-war economic miracle. Japan developed fast because The Vietnam War and the Marshell plan. Also, Japan's auto-mobile industryl and electronic industry are very advanced. This is why Japan revive so quickily.
The climate Japan varies greatly from north to south. "Japan's geographical features divide it into six principal climatic zones: Hokkaidō, Sea of Japan, Central Highland, Seto Inland Sea, Pacific Ocean, and Ryūkyū Islands."
Japanese food is famous. The typical Japanese meal consists of a bowl of rice (gohan), a bowl of miso soup (miso shiru), pickled vegetables (tsukemono) and fish or meat. While rice is the staple food, several kinds of noodles (udon, soba and ramen) are cheap and very popular for light meals. As an island nation, the Japanese take great pride in their seafood. A wide variety of fish, squid, octopus, eel, and shellfish appear in all kinds of dishes from sushi to tempura.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine
Education in Japan is also good. Primary schools, secondary schools and universities were introduced in 1872 as a result of the Meiji Restoration. Since 1947, compulsory education in Japan comprises elementry and middle school, which together last for nine years (from age 6 to age 15).
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan
Transcript
Yi: Let’s get started.Thanks for being my interviewee. Where are you from, Keita?
Keita:Japan.
Yi: Which city?
Keita:Akita.
Yi: How to spell it?
Keita:A-k-i-t-a. It's in the north if Japan.
Yi: What kind of government is in charge of your home country?
Keita:Uhm.
Yi: Public?
Keita: Uhm...
Yi: If you don't know. We can just skip this question.
Keita:Oh. I am not sure. Skip it. I'm sorry.
Yi: That's Ok. Never mind. The next question is Can you describe a typical day for a child in your country?
Keita:Like school kids?
Yi: Yes.
Keita: Children in primary school go to school at 8,9 in the morning.
Yi: 9? It's a little late.
Keita: Then spend about 12 hours in the school.
Yi: 12 hours? How could that be? You go home at 8?
Keita:Not 8. It's about 4.
Yi: So you spent 8 hours in school every day?
Keita:Um..Yes, that's sorry. My bad. Sorry.
Yi: It's Ok. Then?
Keita:I used to play with friends after school to 6,7 p.m. I went home, had dinner and went to sleep.
Yi: Students in Japan do not have much homework?
Keita: No, they don't. They don't have much homework. But in high school, they do.
Yi: What religious holidays or other cultural events do you or others celebrate; can you explain your traditions for each?
Keita: Um...
Yi: What's the religion in Japan?
Keita: I am not sure. We don't have main religion. People may say Japanese are Buddhists.
Yi: Which holiday do Japanese usually celebrate?
Keita: We celebrate like... Um?
Yi: Tranditional holidays?
Keita:Yep. We have one called The Day of Sea but we don't do anything
Yi: In memory of what?
Keita: Nothing. It's a holiday but we don't serve anything.
Yi: There's no meaning of the holiday? That's strange.
Keita: There may be some meanings but I don't know.
Yi: What about the other holidays?
Keita: I don't know what it is called in English. It's the day that Japan became a country.
Yi: So is it the national day?
Keita:Yes, kind of.
Yi: Next one is Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?
Keita: Since I don't have religion, I don't have any daily rituals.
Yi:Oh, yes. I forgot it. And What are the typical greetings in your culture and what do they mean?
Keita: We just bow. We also say hello and say "*******" which means thank you for your hardworking.
Yi: How to say hello in Japanese?
Keita: Hello is "********"
Yi:What different modes of transportation are used in your country?
Keita:I think it's train.
Yi: In Japan, you can see train everywhere?
Keita:Yes. Especially in Tokyo.
Yi:Which country`s food do you like the most? Japanese food?
Keita: Yes, absolutly.
Yi: What's the second one?
Keita: Chinese food. It's really good.
Yi:What are the similarities and differences between it and your own culture`s food?
Keita: The difference between Chinese food and Japanese food is how spicy they are.
Yi: Ha. You don't get used to spicy food?
Keita: I really like spicy food.
Yi: Do you have sushi every day in Japan?
Keita:No. It's the special dinner.
Yi: So what do you have in daily life?
Keita: Like curry, Chinese food.
Yi:Like a bowl life rice and some dishes?
Keita:Yes.
Yi:Ok. How would you describe famous sports in your country? Baseball?
Keita: Yes, baseball is the most famous sport in Japan. Every night, you can watch baseball game on TV. Baseball has the most population of players.
Yi: What about the others? Soccer? Basketball?
Keita: Soccer is famous but basketball is not. Basketball is getting better and better.
Yi:It's your favourite sport,is it?
Keita: Exactly.
Yi: Are you the tallest in your school in Japan.
Keita: No.
Yi:Which position you play?
Keita: Center.
Yi: Cool. At what age do you start school?
Keita: 6.
Yi: Are you under a lot of stress in school?
Keita:I don't think so.
Yi: What could SCSU do to make your stay on campus better?
Keita: Make the garvey's food better.That's the most important.
Yi: You don't like garvey food?
Keita: Who likes it?
Yi: Your American friends do not like it, also?
Keita: They don't like too.
Yi: Do you make Japanese food by yourself here?
Keita: Sometimes.
Yi: Have you been to some Japanese resraurant here?
Keita: I have been to one in Minneapolis. It's a sushi buffet and it's really good.
Yi: Is it traditionell?
Keita: Yes. You can have as many as you can.
Yi: Sounds good.
Yi: That's it. Thanks so much for coming.
Keita: You are welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment