Preparations for the interview
How Did You Approach People?
The first time I met him is in the gym in our school. One of my friend asked me to play basketball with people whom from many different countries. Kita is one of them. During the basketball match, we were in the same team and we did the perfect teamwork and I thought he played basketball very well, so I thought we have the same hobby. After the basketball match, we chatted with each other about lots of things until night.
When, where, and how did you Conduct the Interview?
I did the interview with Kita on 2ed Nov. Before we started the interview, we went to play basketball together and had dinner. After the dinner, we went to the coffee shop in library and started my interview.
Country Report
I choose Japan for my interview because that Japan located nearby China and I usually heard something and watched movies, cartoons from Japan.
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".(1)
History
 |
| http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC |
A Paleolithic culture around 30,000 BC constitutes the first known habitation of the Japanese archipelago. This was followed from around 14,000 BC (the start of the Jōmon period) by a Mesolithic to Neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer culture, who include ancestors of both the contemporary Ainu people and Yamato people, haracterized by pit dwelling and rudimentary agriculture.
During the 16th century, traders and Jesuit missionaries from Portugal reached Japan for the first time, initiating direct commercial and cultural exchange between Japan and the West. The Empire of Japan invaded other parts of China in 1937, precipitating the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).
In 1947, Japan adopted a new constitution emphasizing liberal democratic practices. The Allied occupation ended with the Treaty of San Francisco in 1952 and Japan was granted membership in the United Nations in 1956. Japan later achieved rapid growth to become the second-largest economy in the world, until surpassed by China in 2010. This ended in the mid-1990s when Japan suffered a major recession.（2）
Geography
 |
Japan has a total of 6,852 islands extending along the Pacific coast of East Asia. The country, including all of the islands it controls, lies between latitudes 24°and 46°N, and longitudes 122° and 146°E. The main islands, from north to south, are Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū. The Ryūkyū Islands, including Okinawa, are a chain to the south of Kyūshū. Together they are often known as the Japanese Archipelago.（3）
Environment
In the period of rapid economic growth after World War II, environmental policies were downplayed by the government and industrial corporations; as a result, environmental pollution was widespread in the 1950s and 1960s. Responding to rising concern about the problem, the government introduced several environmental protection laws in 1970. The oil crisis in 1973 also encouraged the efficient use of energy due to Japan's lack of natural resources. Current environmental issues include urban air pollution (NOx, suspended particulate matter, and toxics), waste management, water eutrophication, nature conservation, climate change, chemical management and international co-operation for conservation.
Japan is one of the world's leaders in the development of new environment-friendly technologies, and is ranked 20th best in the world in the 2010 Environmental Performance Index. As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, and host of the 1997 conference which created it, Japan is under treaty obligation to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps to curb climate change.（4）
Religion
Japan enjoys full religious freedom based on Article 20 of its Constitution. Upper estimates suggest that 84–96 percent of the Japanese population subscribe to Buddhism or Shinto, including a large number of followers of a syncretism of both religions. However, these estimates are based on people affiliated with a temple, rather than the number of true believers. Other studies have suggested that only 30 percent of the population identify themselves as belonging to a religion. According to Edwin Reischauer and Marius Jansen, some 70–80% of the Japanese regularly tell pollsters they do not consider themselves believers in any religion.
Nevertheless, the level of participation remains high, especially during festivals and occasions such as the first shrine visit of the New Year. Taoism and Confucianism from China have also influenced Japanese beliefs and customs. Japanese streets are decorated on Tanabata, Obon and Christmas. Fewer than one percent of Japanese are Christian. Other minority religions include Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Judaism, and since the mid-19th century numerous new religious movements have emerged in Japan.（5）
Culture
Japanese culture has evolved greatly from its origins. Contemporary culture combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include crafts such as ceramics, textiles, lacquerware, swords and dolls; performances of bunraku, kabuki, noh, dance, and rakugo; and other practices, the tea ceremony, ikebana, martial arts, calligraphy, origami, onsen, Geisha and games. Japan has a developed system for the protection and promotion of both tangible and intangible Cultural Properties and National Treasures. Sixteen sites have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, twelve of which are of cultural significance.（6）
Interview report
This is my second interview, as a result, I have much more experience this time. Also, Kita is very easy-going, everyone can approach him easily. We spent about 40 minutes on this interview. Of course, we finished my 12 questions which I have already listed in the last blog. At the same time, I asked him some questions which I am really interested in, it`s about the cartoons in Japan. I think this interview was going well as I expected before. We talked arbitrary during the interview. I learned much from him.
Transcript
ZeYu Chen( Z )
Z: Hey Kita, did you enjoy your dinner?
K: Yeah, sure. I like the food in Fuji. It makes me recall my home.
Z: Oh, that`s very nice. So, can we start our interview?
K: Yes. Let`s start it.
K: My name is Kita. K-I-T-A and I can write my Japanese name for you. ( write down on my paper)
Z: Ahh, it looks strange for me. Could you tell me something about yourself? Such as your hometown, your hobbies, your major and so on.
K: I am from the east of Japan called Tokyo. It is the capital of Japan.
Z: Yeah, I know it. It is famous in China. I think most of Chinese know this beautiful city.
K: Yeah, I think so too. I am a senior the Tokyo university and I am a exchange student here. I like playing basketball and I am pg in my basketball team of my school. My major is International Business.
Z: Some of my friends also take this major. I think it`s popular right now.
K: Yeah, I think it is also an easier major for me.
Z: What do you usually do during free time?
K: I often play basketball with my friends in gym including you.
Z: Yes, I`d like to too. Actually, I don`t like to play basketball with some of my Chinese friends cause that I think they are too serious. For our daily relax and excise, I think we could just play happily and don`t get hurt.
K: I agree with you.
Z: And in your hometown, what do you usually except study?
K: Sometimes I go to some bar to see the basketball match and sometimes I go shopping with my girlfriend.
Z: Oh, you have a girlfriend in your hometown? Long-distance love is a tough problem I think.
K: Yes, sometimes we have some problems.
Z: I hope you can deal with these problems well.
K: Thanks.
K: Because St. Cloud State University has a good environment, I saw many pictures on the Internet before I arrived here and one of my friend study here. He recommend me to chose this university.
Z: What courses do you take this semester?
K: I take Econ205, COB and Math196. I also take some ESL classes. I have 16 credits this semester.
Z: So, you are the exchange student right? Will you go back to the university of Tokyo next year?
K: Yes, the plan of exchange student in Japan is usually for one year.
K: Actually, I don`t know it right now. Maybe I will try to find a job during my last semester in the university.
K:Haha, thanks. I think I will do the plan when I finish this exchange year.
Z: Is this the first time you go to a foreign country? How do you think about this city?
K: Yeah, this is my first time to leave my hometown. I felt worry about that when I left Japan because of the language problem. But when I arrived here, I find everything seemed good. I did not need to worry about anything expect the food. I think everything here is good except the food. That`s why I often go to Fuji even though it is expensive.
Z: Can you tell me about activities that young people like to do in your country?
K: In my hometown, most boys like doing some sports during free time, such as soccer ball. Also, they like watching comic books or some cartoons. Such as "One piece", "Bleach".
Z: Oh yeah! I like them too! My next question is about the cartoon in Japan.
K: Really? What`s your favourite cartoon?
Z: My favourite one is "One piece". It`s very popular all over the world. Can you tell me how did the cartoon developed in Japan? I saw the cartoon from Japan when I was very young and I almost saw 20 or more cartoons from Japan until now.
K: Actually, I don`t know it very clearly. I just can tell you vaguely.
Z: That`s OK. I don`t want to be a pro in Japanese cartoon.
K: Haha, of course. Japan is a comic big country. Japanese comics industry began to develop from the 12th century. Heian period "Animals and Birds opera painting is considered to be Japan's oldest comic. In 1862, the comic magazine "Japan punch" in Yokohama foreigners residency issue. 1877's show that the inaugural issue of the comic magazine "round and round tidbit" of the colonial era. World War II because the Japanese war, plus due Intelligence Agency regulations and paper, Japanese comics industry recession. After World War II, the Japanese manga industry resumed again angry. Monthly girls comic magazine "Nakayoshi" founded in 1954. In 1959, the first weekly comic magazine "Weekly Shonen Sunday and Weekly Shonen Magazine" was founded. Weekly Shonen Jump "founded in 1968. The early postwar period affected the history of modern Japanese comics representative works of Osamu Tezuka's "Astro Boy". After the 1950s, more and more Japanese cartoonist inspired by Osamu Tezuka works. In the 1960s,, Ishimori Shotaro Akatsuka Fujio Fujiko Fujio works popular. With the rapid development of television, popular comic big screen, the Japanese began animation era. 1990s, the type of comics to further expand, the rapid growth in the number of comics magazines, network cartoons culture came into being.
Z: Hmm, for me. "Slam Dunk","Dragon Ball" are the first cartoon I approach from Japan.
K: Yeah, I also like them very much.
Z: Thank you for spending so much time tell me the history of Japanese cartoon. I am really interested in it.
K: You are welcome. If you like, I have some comic books from my hometown. I can give those to you for gifts.
Z: Oh really? Thanks! Don`t wait, we move to get it now.
K: Are you serious?
K: In Japan, New Year`s Day is the most important. We always have a long holiday during it.
Z: How did you celebrate the New Year?
K: I think it is same as China. Our family always meet with each other and have a dinner together.
Z: Yeah, in China, we also do the same thing during New year. But it`s Chinese New Year. We seldom celebrate on 1st January. What do you usually eat for your festival?
Z: Yeah, I also like the Japanese food. Alright, is there anything your want to add before we finish our interview?
K: No.
Z: Do you have some questions for me?
K: No.
Z: OK, thanks for your time and I think you are tired right now.
K: Yeah, we played basketball for a whole afternoon.. Both of us need rest now.
Z: Yes, I am going to sort out the note of this interview and then take a rest.
K: So, I will go back to my dorm now. See you later.
Z: See you.
Reference:
（2）"Tokyo says it will bring troops home from Iraq". International Herald Tribune. 20 June 2006. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/20/news/japan.php. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
（3）"Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications". UN Statistics Division. 1 April 2010. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
（4）"Japan". US Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4142.htm. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
（5）"World Population Prospects". UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070321013235/http://esa.un.org/unpp/. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
（6）"Culture and Daily Life". Embassy of Japan in the UK. Archived from the original on 17 March 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070317192109/http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/facts/culture_dailylife.html#sports. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
No comments:
Post a Comment