CHAPTER 1SEEKING GOOD AMERICAN IDEAS学ぶべきアメリカ人の知恵

Unit 1The GPA System: study hard or leave

成績が下がると退学させられるアメリカの大学生

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 1 1 You might have heard that it is relatively easy to get admitted to U.S. colleges but hard to graduate,

whereas the situation is quite the opposite in Japan. Yet, this stereotype has been modified in recent years.

The declining Japanese birthrate has resulted in many private colleges failing to meet their admissions quota.

This shortage of applicants has caused some schools to admit almost anyone. Now, many Japanese colleges

have become both easy to enter and to graduate, lowering the quality of college education here. Therefore,

we definitely need to alter this predicament.

In contrast to the relative ease of admission, U.S. colleges successfully drive their students to study hard

enough to maintain good grades until they graduate with their strict application of the GPA, or the Grade

Point Average system. Under this system, if a student’s GPA drops below a certain point, usually 2.0, and

stays unchanged for three consecutive semesters, he/she will be automatically expelled from college.

Recently, the GPA system has been introduced at more and more Japanese colleges, but it is not powerful

enough to kick out bad students simply because of their low GPA. They can still graduate once they get a

sufficient number of course credits, commonly 122. he system is currently limited to selecting candidates for

studying abroad as exchange students, and for scholarships and tuition waivers. It is also sometimes used to

allocate students to certain departments or courses in their 3rd year. Thus the system is no way functioning as

a motivational factor for the majority of college learners to study hard beyond simply gaining the minimum

number of credits required for graduation.

The full application of GPA in Japanese colleges just as in U.S. colleges is one of the few recourses left for

Japanese colleges to raise and maintain the quality of their students’ academic skills and motivation. It will

create an atmosphere where students have just one choice: study or leave. To aid this, it is also essential that

Japanese companies change their way of evaluating job seekers and consider the GPA as most U.S.

companies do in hiring potential employees. Do you agree?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 11 I’ve always been frustrated by Japanese students telling me that American universities are easier to enter

and difficult to graduate from. It simply isn’t true. Yes, they are difficult to graduate from, in the sense that

you actually have to do some work. But, try entering a four year university. The application process alone is

more difficult than most Japanese entrance exams in my view.

I believe you are correct that Japanese universities have become easier to enter than before and are as easy

ever to graduate from. The declining population is having a dramatic impact on smaller private universities,

of which there are far too many to begin with. Those schools have created a downward spiral, with entry

getting easier and easier. Education has suffered as a result.

The introduction of the GPA system to some schools in Japan is welcome news. But, I believe it is simply

a surface-level change. It will do little good until universities themselves are reformed in a way that makes

the focus education and less about simply getting a job. To make the GPA system work, all universities in

Japan must adopt it and all universities must hold students accountable for their grades. That means, as you

have suggested, removing those students who fall below 2.0 for more than two consecutive semesters.

Currently, there is little effect if students fail their courses. If there exists a threat of possible expulsion from

the university, students are more likely to take their coursework seriously. And this is good news for a

system which for too long has produced mediocrity.

An additional advantage of the GPA system is that it helps differentiate students for the purposes of

scholarships and awards. The better students simply stand out better than those who are average. While I

worry a bit about whether the GPA system will have the desired effect, I think it is a good start to improving

Japan’s university education system.

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Unit 2Potluck Party: bring what you have

飲み物や食べ物を持ち寄って開く節約パーティ

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 22 When you hear about American life, you might imagine that Americans often have home parties on the

weekends. Hearing about a party in Japan, most Japanese easily associate it with a party at restaurants, bars,

and other commercial facilities where you have to pay 3,000 - 5,000 yen for food and drinks. Participants

may move on to a second and/or third bar or restaurant with fewer followers, ending up with a hangover the

following morning. For many Japanese people, a party is seen as a costly and energy-consuming event held

in a public place, and not held at private homes.

Americans, on the other hand, generally see a party as a casual event, more frequently held at private

places to cut costs. One of the more famous American-style parties is called the “potluck.” At a potluck

party, guests bring their own food and drinks at their own expense. Some may bring something they cook.

Others may simply buy and bring fried chicken or packs of beer from the supermarket. Every guest is

expected to make a contribution to the party. This might explain why they can have parties so often.

I was invited to several potluck parties when I lived in Hawai’i in the 1980s and the

1990s and I myself once held a party in my apartment inviting many Japanese language students. They

brought many kinds of food-American, Hawaiian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and so on. The party

was fun and quite successful and we had a really good time.

Japanese people, especially college students should learn this American style of getting together to save

money. It will give them more opportunities to deepen friendships with other students, particularly

international students. Do you think potluck parties will spread in Japan?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 22 As a child, I sometimes attended potluck parties. I always found it interesting to see (and try) what the

other kids’ mothers or fathers made to bring to the party. Most of the potlucks I attended growing up were

picnics in the summer time for my baseball team or when I was a Boy Scout, or family holidays such as

Thanksgiving or Christmas. It was pretty rare to attend the kinds of potluck you mention, just among friends

in college. Not that I think that this is a bad idea, but it may be more regional or it may be that I was simply

too busy studying and working.

Potlucks are certainly one way to share the cost of hosting a party. But, for the people involved it is

sometimes a hassle. If you are a poor cook, or if you simply don’t have the time, you may be forced to go to

the supermarket and buy something to take. That seems to me a bit to defeat the purpose. And of course, if

you are the kid whose parents are working and are too busy to participate you might be at the party alone and

with something from the store, leaving you open to ridicule and teasing by the other kids. As adults, perhaps

this is less of a problem, so long as you can cook.

The other potential problem is if everyone brings the same kind of thing. Generally, the host makes a main

course, such as a turkey or a ham. The guests bring other things, a salad or a dessert. But, what if there are

six people and they all bring desserts? I’ve always wondered about that. Personally, I would be in heaven

with six desserts. But, I don’t think that is what most people are expecting at a potluck.

For students in Japan, having an occasional potluck party may be a good idea. It is cheaper than going out

to an izakaya and as you’ve said, students can get to know each other better. And if you share the experience

with the international students, you may get to try something new that you’ve never had before. I’d

recommend students give a potluck party a try.

Unit 3Selling Textbooks after Exams

試験後に教科書を売り出す大学生

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 33 On U.S. college campuses, it is common to see a long line of students waiting to sell their textbooks at

campus bookstores as soon as they have finished their exams. Although there are usually some secondhand

bookstores near campus which sell college textbooks, the quantity is generally small. Instead, campus

bookstores, which are similar to college cooperatives in Japan, function as secondhand or used bookstores

only for textbooks.

In Japan, you often see secondhand bookstores around large universities and usually those bookstores sell a

variety of college textbooks, usually in large quantity. Students wanting to save money can buy secondhand

textbooks at these bookstores. However, the majority of students prefer to buy brand-new textbooks that look

clean and are free of finger marks. Even after the semester or term ends, many of them still keep the books

on their bookshelf at home.

In the United States, however, you may be surprised to see secondhand books are sold alongside brand-

new textbooks on bookshelves at campus bookstores, with the used books being 20-30 percent cheaper. As

soon as students get the course syllabus and the required textbooks are identified, they rush to get the

secondhand books. Naturally, the secondhand books sell faster than the brand-new books. The price for a

secondhand text is usually the same regardless of the degree of damage or cleanliness.

From the professors’ point of view, it is regrettable to see a lot of students discontinue learning what they

were taught in class. Don’t students feel any attachment to the textbooks that benefited them?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 33 Selling back college textbooks at the end of the semester is one of the rituals of American college life.

Tired from our classes and tests, we stand in long lines waiting for our chance to sell our books for much less

than we paid for them. Most students leave the line with a little bit of pocket money and a slight sense of

feeling cheated. Yet, the system gives us a chance to get rid of unwanted books.

In the case of America, most students feel no need to keep textbooks for classes that are not relevant to

their field of study. They believe it is better to get a little bit of money than no money at all. The books that

are sold go to large warehouses for preparation for the next class using that book. That may be at the same

university or they may be sent to a different school somewhere in the country.

Selling or recycling books is not the only benefit of this system. Students who need a book for a certain

class can buy a used book at a lower cost than buying a new book. Sometimes they save 50 percent or more.

Many students try to buy all used books for their classes if possible. In some fields, such as medicine or the

sciences, students may spend as much as $1500 for one semester of textbooks. And with some classes

requiring three or four different books, for these students, they can save a lot of money.

For most American college students, there is little attachment to their textbooks. Yet,

they are attached to their money. Most students are living alone and on a very tight budget. This system

allows them to save money. Without it, some students simply may not be able to afford the cost of buying all

of the new textbooks required for their classes.

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CHAPTER 2 Admirable American Manners敬服すべきアメリカ人のマナー

Unit 4The Rules of Introductions

どんな時にもきちんと他人を紹介する

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 44 One of the most distinctive forms of American etiquette that Japanese people rarely learn from their

parents or teachers is the well-established practice of introducing someone to someone else on the street, at a

party, at a table and in many other places. They do this not necessarily to get both sides together to establish

a new friendship but simply to make everyone feel more comfortable by knowing each other.

When I ate at the campus dining hall in the United States, I had dozens of opportunities where my

American friends introduced someone to me when they joined us at the table. Many international students

followed this convention and we did the same even if there were no Americans at the table. A friend of mine

from Okinawa once got upset when I forgot to introduce him to some people he didn’t know. He sat at the

table where I was eating in the college cafeteria with two or three graduate students. However, I kept talking

and missed the chance to introduce him to them. Naturally, he was not able to join our conversation. After

the meal, he complained about my failure. It was then that I realized the importance of this custom and that I

learned it not from Americans but from other Japanese.

I wonder why Japanese people do not do this. In Japan, we usually introduce someone in formal settings

such as business and they exchange business cards. On the other hand, in informal settings such as at a party,

we often fail to introduce someone’s particular friends to the crowd.

Do Americans living in Japan feel isolated or upset when they are not introduced to others at a party or

other occasions? It is common to teach introductions in English conversation class in Japan. But how about

introducing someone to someone else? I believe Japanese learners of English should learn this convention, in

addition to self-introductions.

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 44 It is true that introducing someone to someone else is less frequently taught in English language classes in

Japan, when we compare it with self-introductions which students learn very early in their English classes.

And there is a greater need in classes to learn how to introduce two people who may not know each other, as

this is a common practice in the United States whether they are hosting an event such as a house party, or

whether it is a business meeting, or even a few people who meet by chance on a street corner. For those

people who are less outgoing, this type of assisted-introduction helps everyone feel more relaxed in that

situation.

In Japan, however, things tend to be a little different. Certainly in business situations, where business cards

are being exchanged, and where a level of formality is required, introductions tend to be self-controlled. It is

expected, I believe, that each person will state their name and position to the person they are meeting. Thus,

it really is not necessary for person A to introduce persons B and C to each other.

Yet, things become quite different when it is a less formal situation. I have found myself in Japanese

school cafeterias from time to time where I have sat down near a person I know and they have not introduced

me to the people they were talking to. In most of these cases, because the language being used was Japanese,

the people I did not know would introduce themselves to me or would ask me my name. I think this is fairly

common and it really did not bother me. After all, I was there to eat more than I was there to make friends.

In Japan, I do not expect people to introduce me to other people they are with. It just seems to come

naturally when we begin talking. I cannot say which way is better in this case, as both the American and

Japanese group dynamics are natural to me.

Unit 5Holding the Door for Other People

他人を思いやるドアの閉め方

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 55 One of the most unforgettable acts of American kindness in my life is the way people care for someone

walking behind them when they open a door to enter or leave a building. In the United States, it is very

common to see someone completely stop walking and hold the door open for the sake of someone walking

behind them, even for someone walking several meters behind and especially if the door is large and heavy.

Japanese would rarely do that, except maybe those who have lived in the States or somewhere else with this

custom. Actually, instead of holding the door, someone may open the door rather forcefully to make it open

widely to delay the closing of the door so that someone behind can pass.

I was rather embarrassed and rushed forward to pass through the door the first time someone held it open

for me. Now I sometimes do the same thing in Japan, but I rarely see anyone else do the same. Why can’t we

do this simple procedure that creates a lot of appreciation in others? Some people may say there are a lot of

automatic doors in Japan, such as we see with taxis. Some may say the sliding door used to be more common

in Japan, so the older generation could not develop this custom to teach their own children, in the same way

older people cannot teach young people to use a cellphone properly because they have never used one

themselves.

Similarly, Americans and other English speakers almost always say “Excuse me.” or “Sorry.” whenever

they touch someone by mistake. On the other hand, Japanese are infamous for rarely apologizing even when

they bump into somebody forcefully (often intentionally ) when getting off a train or bus. Shouldn’t

Japanese people be more considerate of others?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 55 The act of holding the door open for someone behind you and the act of apologizing for bumping into

someone are examples of what we normally call “common courtesy” in English. This simply means that we

are considerate of others around us. People who do not show common courtesy are normally thought of as

rude. Most of this behavior in America probably comes from the upper-class traditions brought over from

Britain. Other examples of this include holding the chair at a restaurant for a female who is about to sit

down, or standing when introduced to someone, or (for men) when a woman leaves the table.

Common courtesy often appears to me to be lacking in some parts of Japanese society. I have frequently

seen doors nearly hit pregnant women and women pushing strollers because of inconsiderate people in front

of them who refuse to hold the door for them. This rarely would happen in America.

It should be noted, however, that it is not only that kind of example, but such a lack of consideration for

others that goes much deeper in Japanese society. People who smoke around small children in restaurants

because they believe it is “their right”. People who talk on their cellphones in subway cars and in restaurants,

not caring for the other people around them. These people lack good manners, not only to me, but to the

other Japanese people I see around them.

It seems to me that the responsibility for teaching people better manners belongs to all of us. Everyone

must be responsible for making Japan a better place. The next time you see an old person or a pregnant

woman coming behind you, hold the door open. If you bump into someone, apologize. The world would be a

better place if we all showed a little courtesy.

Unit 6Never Letting Anyone Cut in Line

行列の横入りを許さないフェア精神

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 66 I once tried to send something to Japan from a post office in New York City. At first, I didn’t have to stand

in a line because the office was not crowded then, so I went straight to a clerk to send my package of

souvenirs. The clerk gave me a customs form to fill out and told me to come back to her with the package as

soon as I finished completing the form. I filled out the slip and tried to return to her but I unfortunately went

to stand at the front of the wrong line. As soon as I did, several people waiting in line pointed at me and

shouted rather loudly. I soon realized I was in the wrong place and understood why they said that to me. I

then wondered if this would happen in Japan. Generally, most Japanese people would do nothing but

complain silently in their mind, or at most they may give me a dirty look to indicate I did something wrong.

Similar to this is the way Americans yield their seats to senior citizens on buses, trains and subways. Of

course, people do this in Japan too, but we see many young people remain seated, even in the priority seats,

while some old people can barely hold a ring. Interestingly enough, when there are no senior citizens on a

less crowded train, most young Japanese people do not sit in the priority seats, but you often see young

Americans seated there.

Actually, young people in the United States are expected to give up their seats when senior citizens board.

They simply occupy the unused seats when no one else needs them. But many Japanese would feel guilty even if they sit in the special seats. You might say the situation is quite similar to the case where American

pedestrians cross the road at a do-not-cross sign when there is no traffic but the Japanese would keep

waiting. What does this contrast look like to Americans?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 66 Even after living in Japan for several years, it still amazes me at how frequently people will butt in line. I

have seen many people trying to push ahead of me on the subways, before entering trains, at the post office,

supermarket, and even at my favorite fast-food restaurant. For being a country that is said to pride itself on

harmony among its people, people seem to forget this when it comes to trains, buses, and movie theaters. It

seems to me that like other examples of courtesy, this one too should be taught to everyone.

One day a few years ago I went into Mos Burger, my favorite place for lunch. Just as I was stepping up to

order, a middle-aged Japanese woman stepped in front of me and started to order. I was furious. Not

knowing the correct words in Japanese, all I could do was to try to ignore her. But I was determined not to let

that happen again. When I got home that night, I asked someone what to say in these situations. I was

looking for a strong way that would make the offending⑤ person understand what they did was wrong. The

expressions I was taught are “Warikomuna” and “Ore ga saki.” From that point forward, anytime someone

tries to butt in line in front of me, I use a deep voice and one of my Japanese expressions.

Because so few Japanese point out when someone is doing something wrong, for me as a foreigner to

speak aggressively, the meaning becomes even stronger. After all, most people don’t expect to hear Japanese

from me. Most people appear a little shocked, but by the time they realize what has happened I have already

boarded the train or ordered my food. So, in this way, pointing out when someone is wrong, has at least for

me, solved this problem. People need to point out when others are doing something wrong.

CHAPTER 3 American Attitudes against the Unwanted好ましくないものを公共の場から徹底排除するアメリカ人の気質

Unit 7 Attitudes toward Smoking

喫煙を目の仇にする文化

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 77 Smokers are often heavily criticized in Japan. In the United States, smokers are often seen with the same

distaste as criminals. Smoking has been banned in many public places, including on college campuses, in

restaurants and even in bars in many areas in the United States. No TV ads or cigarette vending machines are

permitted and many other restrictions have been imposed on tobacco advertisements.

A TV report that aired both in Japan and the United States reported that the number of female smokers is

increasing in the United States and that women are more vulnerable to the effects of smoking than men.

Many of them are influenced by movie stars or other celebrities smoking in films and on TV. Some start to

smoke to show their rebellion against society or their independence, believing they look cool. Many kids

start smoking as a result of peer pressure. That is because many of their friends and family and are also

smoking.

Smokers not only harm themselves but also the people around them. Secondhand smoke actually contains

more harmful substances than primary smoke and may harm non-smokers more severely than the smokers

themselves, who breathe the smoke through the cigarette’s filters. 　

Both smokers and passive smokers develop diseases and use hospitals more frequently than healthy people,

wasting our public health budgets. Many U.S. state health officials have sued tobacco makers and they have

been paid penalties for many years. Now those tobacco makers are targeting Japan and other Asian nations

where there are less restrictions on smoking. Will those cigarette companies be successful? Do you think

Japanese people will ever be as intolerant of smokers as Americans?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 77 Smoking is one area where Japan has greatly changed within the past 15 years or so. Much remains to be

done, but the signs of change are promising. When I first moved to Japan it was nearly impossible to find

restaurants and other places where smoking was not permitted. When I talked to students and to restaurant

owners they said their businesses would suffer if smoking were banned.

Now it is possible to find many restaurants which ban smoking all the time and many others that ban

smoking during the peak lunchtime hours. Many coffee shops, movie theaters, and all trains, buses and

airplanes are nonsmoking. I believe this was caused by three events.

The first reason is probably greater awareness about efforts to show the dangers of smoking and

secondhand smoke worldwide. This got people thinking about how bad smoking is for everyone. The second

reason is that non-smokers, the majority of people in Japan, began standing up for their rights. Smokers often

talk about “smoker’s rights.” But there is no such thing as smoker’s rights and non-smokers realized this.

They began demanding better conditions at restaurants and coffee shops, and began asking people not to

smoke around them. And the third reason must certainly be the entrance of Starbucks into Japan. With their

no smoking policy, they showed everyone in Japan that a coffee shop that bans smoking could be successful.

This set a positive example for other restaurants and coffee houses.

Much remains to be done about smoking in Japan. Many people still smoke around small children. Many

children think smoking is cool. And cigarettes are still too easy for minors to buy. But, having said that,

Japan has definitely changed over the past couple decades.

Unit 8 Intolerance of Drunks

酔っぱらいに厳しいアメリカ社会

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 8 8 Americans are very strict toward drunks in contrast to Japanese who are relatively tolerant of those

intoxicated on the street. In Japanese society, even if you say or do something wrong while you are drunk,

you can make an excuse and/or are often forgiven later because it was a statement or behavior affected by

alcohol. In the United States, on the other hand, such an excuse is generally not acceptable.

In the United States, if you drink and drive, you can be detained for three days. You are not allowed to

drink alcohol in a car even if you are not the driver. Moreover, it is illegal to leave alcoholic beverages

exposed and visible through car windows. Now, in all states, you must be 21 years old or older to buy or

consume alcohol. You must show a picture I.D. to a cashier whenever you buy alcoholic beverages at stores

and supermarkets even if you look much older than 21. Alcohol products are sometimes not sold after

midnight and no vending machines exist to sell alcohol in the United States.

Why is alcohol consumption so restricted in the United States, but in Japan one can buy alcoholic

beverages from vending machines? One explanation may be because of the high crime rate associated with alcohol consumption in the United States. When people drink too much, some may feel sleepy and slip under

the table. However, others become very violent and hurt someone else. They may be tempted to drive,

causing traffic accidents, often with innocent people. Some may use illegal drugs because they become less

careful. It seems that the restriction on alcohol consumption in the United States is more motivated by crime

prevention than for health reasons. Am I right?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 88 The American attitude toward public drunkenness probably has something to do with both the law and

religion. Historically, America has always had alcohol, but not everywhere in America. In certain parts of the

south such as Kentucky and North Carolina, there are what are known as “dry counties.” These dry counties

make it illegal to buy, sell or drink alcohol. What is common about these dry counties is that they are all

found in areas of the south which are both conservative and strongly religious. Sometimes this area is called

the Bible belt. Because of people’s religious views, there has been a view by some in America that alcohol

and the result of too much alcohol, namely drunkenness, are things to be looked down upon.

In the 1920s in America there was, for a short time, a ban on alcohol throughout the country. But, this ban,

called prohibition, ended quickly because of the anger of many citizens who began making homemade

alcohol. The ban was quickly ended but the feeling that drunkenness and alcohol are somewhat bad things

has remained.

These days the government in the U.S. is very strict about alcohol consumption. Often at supermarkets and

bars I am asked to show some form of I.D. to prove I am 21 years old or older. As someone who has lived

outside of America for many years, this to me is a violation of my privacy. It seems to me that America is

overly strict about alcohol consumption, but the American public’s reaction to public drunkenness is much

better than Japan’s.

Allowing people to excuse their misbehavior simply because they are drunk should not be tolerated. Being

drunk is simply an excuse for bad behavior in Japan, by people who cannot drink responsibly.

Unit 9 Scary Public Restrooms

膝下がまる見えの公衆トイレ

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 99 One of the few troublesome structures in the United States is the toilet stalls that don’t have doors that go

all the way to the floor. Your legs are easily seen from outside and people can tell someone is using the stall.

I was so astonished to see them the first time that I could not use them for a while. In some parks, you even

see a toilet totally exposed without any walls. Who would or could use it?

Most Japanese cannot use a stall without complete isolation guaranteed by a firm door covering the whole

stall. We are very sensitive and feel embarrassed to be seen even in a way that might be identified by our

friends. Where does this difference come from? How can Americans use the bathroom in such an

uncomfortable space? Actually, because of the openness, the whole restroom often stinks terribly.

Although I have never confirmed or studied the origin of this type of stall and do not know if it is common

outside the United States, I guess the reason for the strange structure of the American style bathroom is

simply security. In the American stall, anyone can notice if something is wrong. While this appears to be a

good reason, it seems that Americans are willing to give up their privacy easily in the bathroom.

I wonder if this funny American structure could ever prevail in Japan in the future. I don’t think so. Even if

the crime rate goes up, we cannot change our sensitive ethnic character. How do you observe this difference?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 99 Yes, to many people, not only Japanese people, some American restrooms can be quite worrisome. Often

the doors do not go completely to the floor. Restrooms in America range from extremely nice to awful and

you’re never quite sure what kind of restroom you’re going to find. But, let’s look at why American

restrooms are this way.

The primary reason doors do not extend all the way to the floor is to prevent people from doing things in

the stalls other than going to the restroom. Drug and sexual activity have been known to take place in the

restrooms, as well as violence on some occasions. If the door does not go completely to the floor, there is

less likelihood that something bad will happen. Another reason, I guess, is to find someone who becomes

sick and needs help from inside. In the American structure, one can notice if something is wrong.

How did Americans become accustomed to this? I believe this goes back to our school education system

where the restrooms often have this type of door or in some cases no doors at all. Students start using this

style of restroom at a young age and become used to it by the time they grow older with little problem. It’s

not that people like this type of situation, but it is safer than having completely closed spaces where you are

not sure who or what is in the next stall.

For foreign visitors not accustomed to such a style of restroom they might want to find a less crowded one

wherever they are, or do what most travelers do: go to a restaurant or hotel and use the restroom there.

CHAPTER 4 CUSTOMER SERVICEお客様は神様ではない、注意したいアメリカ人の接客文化

Unit 10Impolite Store Clerks

客が買った商品でふざけ合う店員

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 1010 The worst shop clerk I ever encountered was in New York City in 1999, when I went into a shop and

bought a pair of socks. The young male cashier was talking to his female coworker but reluctantly started his

work. All of a sudden, their conversation heated up, and they were laughing loudly, and then the man picked

up the socks I had paid for and hit the woman’s head with them twice jokingly. I couldn’t believe my eyes

and froze in silence. I bet this would never happen in Japan.

Of course, this particular case is rather unusual even in the United States. However, American workers

waiting on customers are generally not as polite as Japanese workers except for those expecting to get tips

such as waiters, waitresses and porters. In Japan, we often hear it said that customers are gods. Shop clerks,

especially at nationwide chain stores, are well trained to pay their utmost respect to customers and be very

polite to us. In contrast, some American clerks in the United States don’t seem to be motivated to be nice to

customers because their smile doesn’t pay off without tips.

Many Japanese visiting the United States often become disappointed and feel very uncomfortable, just as I

did, when they enter shops expecting to be treated just like in Japan. For example, I do not really feel

comfortable when the person whom I’ve just met calls my first name in a situation, particularly clerks. I

remember when I went to a bank in Hawaii to open a new account, a male bank clerk called me by my first

name and I felt very uncomfortable. I didn’t feel I was paid enough respect.

Someone once told me that in the United States treating customers like one’s own friends is considered to

be ideal while treating them like in Japan is seen as rather unfriendly and thus customers feel uncomfortable.

Is that true?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 1010 In the United States, shop clerk jobs are typically low-paying, entry-level jobs and often these people do

not take their jobs seriously. Clearly, what the clerks did was wrong and poor behavior. Even as an American

this type of behavior would make me angry.

The service can be quite good in the United States, but it is equally likely that it will be bad. The goal has

always been friendliness and politeness. But, this friendliness and politeness does not mean the same as what

we see in Japan. Many Japanese chain restaurants and stores, for example, have strict rules on employee

behavior, even creating exact expressions of what must be said to customers. It may be professional, but it is oftentimes far less friendly to me.

What we can see in America is a wide variety of different approaches to the same event (serving the

customer). Some of the friendliest employees I have seen have been waiters and waitresses in simple

restaurants. I don’t believe it was simply because I would be leaving a tip (although this does sometimes

happen). I believe they were genuinely friendly. Other times, it is obvious that the employee just does not

care about his or her job.

The pattern of calling someone by their first name in America by clerks and in society is something I have

often heard Japanese people, even politicians, complain about. Why don’t they show respect and use our last

names? Americans see using the first name as both a sign of equality and one of friendliness. And this

custom is common in many parts of the world. Understanding that this behavior is a sign of friendliness will

help Japanese people in their dealings with not only clerks, but with people throughout American society and

other societies as well.

Unit 11The Troublesome Custom of Tipping

チップを渡す面倒な習慣

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 1111 One of the most well-known American customs among Japanese visiting the United States is tipping. I

personally do not appreciate this custom, because it is a pain in the neck. I understand that giving a tip to

someone who helps you in a certain way is not unique to Americans and is very common in many parts of

the world. Even in Japan, you may give a tip to someone who serves you, but such situations are very limited

to bars or similar services.

I have asked Americans at many difference places: “Do I have to give a tip?” They usually say it is not

really mandatory to give a tip, or you are not really obliged to do so. It’s entirely up to you whether to tip or

how much of a tip you should give to them. Most tourists guidebooks suggest 15 to 20 percent of the bill as

adequate for waiters, waitresses, taxi drivers, hotel porters, hair dressers, and barbers. You never give a tip to

a flight attendant or workers at gas stations or medical doctors or nurses.

Tipping is not legally required in the United States. However, some people may have problems if they

don’t get a reasonable amount of tips. For instance, waiters and waitresses at restaurants are generally paid

less than other kinds of jobs and are supposed to declare the amount of tips they are assumed to have

received for the whole year when they fill out a final tax return. They are assumed to receive a certain

amount of tips, so they have to declare at least that much. Their tips are not tax-exempt. Therefore, if

customers leave no tips at the table they serve, then waiters or waitresses may actually lose money.

If you stay in the United States long enough, you will feel obliged to leave a tip on the table although you

know it is not legally required. How many more centuries will Americans continue this troublesome custom?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 1111 Let me first start by saying I am absolutely, positively against tipping. I was born and raised in the United

States and very few things about my country bother me more than having to pay someone to do their job.

Isn’t that their company’s responsibility?

Back in America I frequently got into arguments with my parents about tipping. I did it, but I complained

about it nearly every time. If the service was extraordinary I didn’t feel so bad. But, more often than not, the

service was ordinary or worse. Even in these cases there is pressure to leave a tip for the waiter or waitress.

We don’t tip teachers for teaching lessons to our children every day. We don’t tip the mailman who brings

our mail even when it is stormy and rainy outside. Why not? If we’re going to have this kind of system, then

why not do it for everyone who provides a service? Restaurants argue that tipping allows them to keep their

costs down, and makes meals cheaper for customers. But, is this really true? There are cheap restaurants in

America and there are expensive ones. It seems to me the only costs they are trying to keep down are the

labor costs.

As for the question of how long tipping in America will continue, well, that is anyone’s guess. Corporate

America is very powerful and they want to keep wages low. As long as that continues, tipping will also

continue.

After having lived in Japan for a number of years I have noticed something. The service is better here. Yet,

in America, a tip is now expected. So, there is no incentive for the employees to do good work. A tip should

be an option, not an obligation. Tipping is an out-of-date American custom that should be stopped.

Unit 12Hotel Room Charges:

How many rooms? Not how many guests

宿泊者の数でなく、部屋数で決まる宿泊料金

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 1212 While I was taking a month-long bus trip across mainland America with my seminar students in the

summer of 1996, I stayed at some local cheap hotels in different cities, including Dallas (Texas) and New

Orleans (Louisiana). I then noticed for the first time that the hotel charges were based on the number of

rooms we occupied, not the number of the guests who stayed in each room.

Under this hotel charge system, the hotel charge for one guest to stay is the same as that for two or more

guests staying in the same room. In other words, three people can stay in one single room where there is only

one bed available; one may take the bed and the other two may sleep on the floor or on the sofa. Each of you

needs to pay just a few dollars to stay per night.

Of course, there is a limit on the number of people who can stay in one room for security and other

reasons. Some hotels may not allow more than five people to stay in one single room and they usually post a

notice to inform the maximum room capacity for guests on the wall at the registration desk or in the room.

Moreover, this charge style could be limited to cheap hotels and motels; luxury hotels may not let more

people stay than the number of beds.

In the competitive hotel business, the introduction of this American hotel charge system in Japan would

give them a competitive edge over other traditional domestic inns and hotels to attract more guests who wish

to save money for hotel rooms, especially those from abroad. Foreign tourists may choose to take a trip to

Japan in groups rather than individually to save on accommodation fees, and it should lead to huge increases

of foreign visitors to Japan as our government is currently promoting and preparing for the 2020 Tokyo

Olympic Games. Do you think this charge system will work well and help increase the number of visitors to

Japan?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 1212 Hotel charges are one case where I think Japan gets it wrong. The American way of charging by the room

and not by the number of people is based on the simple assumption that most people either travel as a pair or

alone. Cases of groups larger than a family of four traveling together are so rare that they are not even worth

considering. So, the idea of packing ten people into a room with many people sleeping on the floor is

unlikely.

In America, there are far fewer end of the year school trips by school kids than in Japan, and seminar trips

like you mention are unheard of. And as you’ve stated, hotels post room capacity in the hotel. That’s enough

to prevent people from abusing the policy. In Japan, on the other hand, paying per person for a room just

seems like a money grab. If two people are traveling together, a couple for example, then it always looks like

the hotel is penalizing them. Just charge one price for the room and be done with it, even if that price is

based on double occupancy.

Ironically, love hotels in Japan charge by the room and not by the number of occupants, because the

assumption is that you will be at the hotel with someone and not there alone. This makes sense. So why can’t

regular hotels in Japan do this? I’m guessing it’s because they can make more money by charging per person.

And that’s what frustrates travelers from overseas most. They are looking for affordable accommodation. In

return, they feel like they’re being gouged by hotel owners.

Much of the world bases hotel prices on the room, as American hoteliers do. It seems to me that Japan is

the outlier. The situation probably won’t change soon. But personally, I would prefer to pay for the room. It

should not matter whether I’m alone or traveling with someone. If you want to base your room price on two

people, that’s fine. But, one price, even for two people, is better than one price for one person, and two times

that for two. That’s simply silly.

CHAPTER 5 THIS IS AN AMERICAN FAMILYアメリカの家族のしきたり

Unit 13Independent-Minded Children

ひとり立ちを急ぐ子供たち

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 1313 American college students usually live away from their parents. They often start living in an apartment or

on-campus dorm after they graduate from high school. They seem to like to have a private life independent

of their parents and with more time and space they can freely use. On the other hand, many Japanese college

students continue to live with their parents even if their college is far away from their home.

Many American students seem to want to become an adult as soon as they can. Living alone is one way to

demonstrate their independence and maturity as well as to have more fun. However, living alone costs them

more than living with their parents. They have to pay for rent, utilities and food, which they don’t pay when

living with their parents. Many American students pay for their own rent and other living costs; otherwise,

they cannot show their independence.

Why do many Japanese students still live with their parents? Don’t they want to have more freedom? Most

of them say they can save money by living with their parents. Although they spend a lot for transportation,

they can still save more money this way. However, some students can afford to live closer to campus by

renting an apartment or room. They may simply prefer to live with their parents and family because they

miss them or they don’t want to prepare their own meals, wash their clothes or do other daily tasks that their

parents do for them.

Today, more and more college graduates are continuing to live with their parents after they get a job or

while they are trying to find a job. Moreover, some young people continue to live with their parents even

after they get married. Can we justify their overdependence on their parents as a sign of their strong family

ties which guarantees their parents’ future dependence on their children?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 1313 Traditionally, one of the greatest differences in the family structure between Japan and the United States

has been whether or not children continue living with their parents after adulthood or whether they move out

on their own. In Japan, although becoming less common, there is still pressure to take care of one’s parents,

particularly with the first child. In America, there is no such pressure.

In America, independence is seen as the key to adulthood. It is not uncommon to hear parents tell children

that they expect them to move out of the house when they are 18 (the year they graduate from high school) or

21 (the year they legally become adults). I heard this often as a child. And by the time I went to college at 18,

I was more than ready to go. Parents look forward to their lives free of the burden of their children. The

children, on the other hand, look forward to getting away from the rules and orders of their parents and enjoy

making decisions for themselves.

Japan has begun to experience a problem with parasite children, who continue to live with their parents and

who simply take from their parents without really contributing anything to the family. With an education

system that fails to properly prepare young people for independence, this is only likely to grow in the future.

But, single children living with their parents long after reaching adulthood are becoming stigmatized in many

cases. This brings Japan much closer to America.

Single people living with their parents are often looked down upon as hopeless failures in America. This is

because of the strong belief that children should be on their own when they reach adulthood, either by going

to college or by getting a full-time job and moving out.

Unit 14Husbands Controlling the Family Budget

夫は妻にお金を任せない

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 14 14 Married American men seem not to trust their wives. In general, American men do not allow their wives to

control their family budget but they prefer to control it themselves. In sharp contrast, in Japan, it is the wife

who takes care of the family budget. This was so common that she was sometimes called “the Finance

Minister.”

Most Japanese husbands work outside the home and their wives withdraw their salary from their bank

accounts and give their husbands an allowance every month. The husband has to live within that amount just

like their kids. How do these Japanese husbands look to Americans?

The Japanese system where the wife controls the whole family budget allows the husband to concentrate

on his outside work. He can be free of anxiety related to money, such as how to save or spend money for

food, drinks, their mortgage, and their children’s education, etc. Housewives have a lot more free time to

look at these issues and might be better at playing that part. However, husbands cannot freely spend the

money they earn.

How about the American system? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What are the social and

historical backgrounds for the Americans’ preference? More curiously, how about the case of international

marriages between a Japanese person and an American? Which way do they choose to adopt?

Actually, I know two American English professors living in Japan married to Japanese wives. One says his

wife controls the budget; the other says he controls it. So, how do they make a decision? Do they act

differently depending on living in Japan or the United States? How about the case where both the husband

and the wife are earning a living?

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 1414 In most American families it is not the man or the woman who controls the money, it is the person who

makes the money who makes the decisions about the budget. Since this has traditionally been the husband, it

is no surprise that it is the husband who decides how that money is used. In many cases, however, where

both husband and wife are working, then either they share this responsibility or they each control their own

money and contribute equally to the household expenses.

As an American in Japan I have always found it strange that Japanese men are slaves to their wives. These

men work long days and often do not get to enjoy any of the benefits of their work. I often see men eating

rice balls on park benches or in the cheapest restaurants around their offices, while middle-aged women are

eating at nice restaurants. I’ve always felt that this is a great injustice. Are husbands so bad at handling

money that they must rely on their wives to do it for them?

It has always seemed to me that the person who works should be responsible for how the money they earn

is spent. Otherwise, what are we working for? As an American in Japan, the lack of money given to Japanese

men is apparent to me every time I try to go shopping. Many department stores and shopping centers have

few or no products for sale to men. Meanwhile, women have floor after floor of items for sale. Certainly

someone should explain the difference of “need” versus “want” to some of these women.

Japanese men should take a day off and go to a department store during business hours on a weekday to

look at the women enjoying shopping while their husbands work. They would be amazed to know the truth

and perhaps they would at least consider sharing in the responsibility of managing the family budget. This is

one case where the American system, I believe, is far superior to what happens in Japan.

Unit 15Protecting the Family with Guns

銃で一家を守る父親

A JAPANESE VIEWPOINT 1515 Around the time of the Los Angeles Olympics (1984), when I was still a teenager, I had a chance to stay

with an American family in the suburbs of San Francisco for a month. One day they once took me to a

nearby mountain with a trailer to camp. I was really surprised to see the host father carrying a gun in the car

during our trip. Fortunately, nothing bad happened in the camp. However, I remembered how scared I was,

not by a possible attack at the camp, but rather by the gun itself.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was established in 1871 and is said to be a very powerful and

influential lobbying group that works against anti-gun bills. The Brady Handgun Control Act, which the

NRA failed to block, requires a background check before the purchase of a handgun. Data shows that during

the eight years of the Clinton Administration (1992-2000) since its enactment in 1993, the Brady Act helped

to prevent a total of more than 600,000 felons, fugitives, domestic abusers, and other prohibited purchasers

from buying guns and the gun-related crime rate declined by 40 percent.

No doubt gun control works to make the nation safer. However, one CNN survey shows that 43 percent of

those surveyed support the NRA stance, 36 percent object and 21 percent said they don’t know. Although the

opinion is split, it is noteworthy that more people support the possession of guns than those who do not. Why

do so many Americans still support the possession of guns?

Guns have spread so widely in the United States that it seems to be impossible to completely ban gun

possession. It is possible that only good and honest people would turn in their guns while bad guys keep

theirs. Consequently, those who have given up their guns might be subject to more danger from the bad guys.

AN AMERICAN VIEWPOINT 1515 Gun ownership has a long history in the United States, and some Americans believe that it is guaranteed by

the U.S. Constitution. This is sometimes difficult for people from other countries to understand. Guns could

be controlled better in America, but it is unlikely that they will ever be banned.

There are a number of reasons that Americans keep guns in their homes. Protection against intruders

coming into their homes is probably the main reason. Many Americans believe they are safer with a gun in

the home. This is not to say that America is really that dangerous. It is generally a safe place.

Another reason is for hunting. Hunting permits are easy to get and many Americans enjoy hunting deer or

ducks. Of course, criminals also can get guns and this sometimes causes a problem. Similarly, people who

get a gun but who do not get proper training can be dangerous too, and many people die from mishandling

guns.

The area where I grew up is a popular hunting area. I got my first BB gun when I was 8 years old and

learned to shoot rifles and shotguns from about 9 years old. I even went though an NRA training program,

won shooting competitions, and reached the level of sharpshooter (a very high level) with rifles by the time I

was about 15. Yet, like many Americans, I have come to believe that not everyone should be allowed to have

a gun.

Banning guns completely in America will probably never happen. There are simply too many people who

support gun ownership. We should remember that Japan is not completely free of guns either. There are

hunters in Japan, and there are criminals with guns also. Yet, it is easy to see that Japan is a relatively safe

place, and one reason is probably that most people do not have guns.