miks

I read that during the interview, sometimes you may be asked questions about Japan, or be asked a question that requires some knowledge about Japan.

Maybe we can share whatever (hopefully important) facts about Japan


What are the four main islands of Japan?

(from the North East): Hokkaido 北海度, Honshuu 本州, Shikoku 四国, Kyuushuu 九州

By region:


How many people live in Japan?
About 128 million. (127,704,000 in 2008)

Who is the prime minister (souri daijin 総理大臣) of Japan?

Yukio Hatoyama 鳩山由紀夫
And before him: Taro Aso (I've heard some Japanese people refer to him as "asshole"), Yasuo Fukuda, Shinzō Abe, Junichiro Koizumi (also known as Elvis).

What is the capital of Japan?
Tokyo 東京. It's in the Kanto Region.

What are 10 major cities in Japan?
(in decreasing order of population)Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Saitama.

What are the three writings systems of Japan?
Kanji 漢字, Hiragana ひらがな, Katakana カタカナ

How much of Japan is mountainous?
About 73% Geography of Japan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Name a Japanese movie director:
(These names are arranged Last name then first name)
Kurosawa Akira, Ozu Yasujiro, Oshima Nagisa, Mizoguchi Kenji, Miyazaki Hayao, Kitano Takeshi, Yamada Yoji, Tezuka Osamu

Some writers?
Murasaki Shikibu (woman writer!), Souseki Natsume

Athletes?
Matsui Hideki (Professional baseball player)
Kobayashi Takeru (Speed eater!)

Others?
List of Japanese people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Name some Japanese holidays:
七五三 (753 day: A day where all children ages 7, 5 or 3 are celebrated)
雛祭り (Doll's day: A day where all girls are celebrated)
Here's some more: Japanese Holidays


I'm not sure what else...

kalliea

These are the three writings foreigners use/call them. Japanese people refer to them as Kanji and Kana (hiragana and katakana.) However, if you want three, they all use the term Romanji all the time....

You might impress them more by telling them that there are actually 15 national holidays, because after WWII, the US was 'helping' to write their constitution, and wanted the same number of holidays as the states.


They don't normally just ask you to name things. They ask you 'Who is your favorite Japanese _______' fill in the blank. So don't bother just memorizing lists. You need to be able to talk intelligently about the topics. Not just sprew out facts.

Remember, you are trying to show your character in this (SHORT) interview. So rather than give short, direct answers, talk to the panel. If they ask you who the P.M. is, don't just say 'Hatoyama.' Say something like 'It's Hatoyama, of the Democratic party, and his being voted in was amazing, because it was the first time in 50 years since someone NOT from the LDP!'

Other things...be ready to answer question specifially about your area. Like...'Does your hometown have a Japanese sister city? If so, what city (and where in Japan is it?)'

Then try and look into some traditional Japanese arts or sports, incase they ask you about join clubs or interests in culture aspects...

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Langus

I'd recommend reading the Japan Visitor blog for the couple weeks before. The guy compiles a nice summary/list of top news stories and I was asked about a current news story in my interview. Made me damn happy I'd taken the time to read his page.

HamBread

Start reading the Japan Times, Japan Today, the Daily Yomiuri, and whatever other crap reporting sites you can find about Japanese news. Don't cram or memorize, just start to make the news part of your routine. Before long and much to dismay you might find you've actually started to formulate Real Actual Opinions for yourself!

kalliea

This. YES.

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Numbers and colors are my bread and butter

Gusuke

Respect for the Aged Day, Showa Day, Greenery Day, and Health Day had nothing to do with the US occupation and were enacted years later.

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Coollead

I've never, ever heard that in the year and a half I've lived in Japan.

I've heard "romaji", and not once to refer to "kanji" "hiragana," or "katakana."

mothy

Are you guys suggesting Kalliea just made something up off the top of her head?? Crazy! Be careful. She can lift 200 pound lawn ornametns over her head. She can fucking kkkill you!

Back on topic!

Japan fact:

Japan is unique in having 4 seasons! 4 fucking seasons! Imagine that!

Japanese people can't eat x on account of their intestines being different. (where x equals a different fucking thing to each Japanese person)

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mothy 3.1
Banned unjustly
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Rachel1404

My advice is to spend more time finding out about your own country, city etc rather than loads of detailed facts about japan. They want you to go over there and internationalise the nation by telling everyone amazing stuff about your own country's culture and customs.

For example at my interview I don't remember being asked any factual questions about japan. But I was asked the difference between a tabloid and a broadsheet newspaper (easy). Then to name a left wing and a right wing newspaper (which I had no clue about!). Others were asked the difference between the House of Commons and the House of Lords etc.

I reckon that all you need is to be able to name the four islands, prime minister, a few current events and be able to give some idea of what is in the prefectures you requested.

Coollead

Here's what I was asked about Japan and it's culture/news during my interview:

word

Same here...

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Neb

Here's what they asked me:
Tell us what you know about Japan.

I shit you not, this ultra general question was asked. So i just started spewing off cultural crap and the shit i wanted to do (the sapporo snow festival got some smiles).

HareBlare

And here. Although I tried to slip in some general discussion about Japan's current affairs - so that I could demonstrate some knowledge and understanding of what's going on over there.

miks

Hmm.. I have no idea what I want to do in Japan except climb mount Fuji.

IanExclamationMark

I just want to say that I love that your location is "in the sea, retard."

Meelynn

If you have any relevant Japanese study you probably won't get asked questions about Japan.

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Waldroon

You can read articles about Japan every day for the next few weeks but you'd be better off spending your time thinking about the basic categories that all questions will fall into and coming up with answers for those.

Oh hell here you are;

Why do you want to go to Japan/JET/become a teacher?
What would you do if you had a problem with your coworkers/work/students/placement?
What will you do to share your culture/get involved/stay active so you don't flake out on us
How does your previous experience prepare you for living/working/flourishing in Japan?
Do something unexpected so we can see how you react under pressure
Prove you speak the Japanese you say you do
Answer a random question about Japan/your home country/your home state
Prove to us you know about the things you said you knew about in your SOP
Tell us that you didn't lie to us
Ask us a question that proves you aren't a moron who interviews well

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cm2jr4

Japan has heated toilet seats.

cielya

This is all you need to know about Japan. I miss warmlets so much.

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FamilyMart

Wait, Tokyo's a city? I'm so confused....

And are they really going to ask us to name Japanese directors? Did you put that dude that did The Last Samurai on that list?? He's the only one I know of.



Fact: The first maid cafe was established in Akihabara.
Jackpot. Giggity giggity.