[7]トイレ：A Rest Room in Japan

What is a rest room for Japanese? It is a private space for relaxation. A rest room is completely separated from other rooms. Because of it, Japanese who are easy to stress in human relationship can relax in the room because they can be alone for a while.

Nowadays, many toilets in Japan are equipped with Japanese-style-bidets, called in Japan “washlet”, and have a function to warm a toilet seat, etc. In fact, 20 million washlets was sold as of June 2005. See the first graph in this cite.（I’m sorry for not finding English cite, but I think you can see what the first graph displays.）

I reckon one of the reasons that Japanese toilet developed is Japanese orientation toward purity. However, it would be also connected that Japanese try to make the room more comfortable. A rest room for Japanese is not just a rest room.

[6]防犯：Security

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

I lock the front door while I am away but I don’t lock it while I am at home except my sleep.
Is it natural for you? Probably it is natural for many Japanese unless one lives alone or in a city. Actually, many friends, grandparents, relatives and cousins also do the same thing, I have heard it.

Needless to say, the safety awareness varies by region but basically Japanese regard Japan as a safety country. By comparison with other countries, a crime rate in Japan surely is lower. However, I wonder if more people in Japan start to lock the front door all the day years or decades later …

[5]Blog Essay One

Watching and New Student Blog Watching

I write about above posting written by Professor. Steven Fedorowicz.

Before taking this class, I had hardly used a digital camera, so I was worrying about working it well. The greatest anxiety, however, is taking a picture in public as you feel. Is there the image right? Where is the privacy? If I am watched by people when I take pictures of the people, I think that I get funny looks from them or can be mistaken for a spy photo as a crime at worst. So, I am surprised at your photos, especially on the train.

In fact, however, some students who take this class also take photos in public space.
Judging from that, don’t people care about being photographed than I think? Can’t they merely complain about it because of Japanese shyness character? Actually, I would say nothing as well if I was taken a picture in public.

Now, one question occurs to me. I wonder if people in other countries but Japan care about being photographed. I’d like to know of it.