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Good manners involve words of appreciation, before, during and after a meal. Before the

meal, people say i-ta-da-ki-mas, meaning ‘I humbly receive’. During the meal, they say oi-
shii to indicate they are enjoying the meal. After the meal, they say go-chi-so-sa-made-shi to
express appreciation for the meal.

In public places such as railway stations, bus stations and airports, people form an orderly

line. Talking loudly on cell phones in trains and buses is considered rude. People do not have
long conversations on the phone in the streets. If they must use phones, they turn on the
silent mode. Also, they speak very softly to each other in public places. Another interesting
fact is that there are not many dustbins on the roads of Japan. People carry the rubbish until

they find a dustbin or take it back, but never throw any rubbish on the roads.

The food culture in Japan is indeed amazing. Japanese cuisine consists of lots of rice, fish
and vegetables. The food is rich in nutrients and very healthy, and this makes the Japanese
on average, one of the longest living populations.

The Japanese love plants and have an art form

of arranging flowers called ikebana. Another art
form is the art of growing bonsai trees which are
miniature trees.

Sports are also an essential part of the Japanese

culture. While baseball and football are played,
traditional sports such as sumo, judo, kendo and
some other martial arts are also popular.

Did you know that Japan’s literacy rate is around
99%? Various studies have found that Japanese

students lead the world in numeracy and literacy
skills. So, what is it that makes the education system
in Japan one of the best in the world?

It is quite different from that in many other

countries.
Until the children are 10 years old, they are not given

any exams. Instead, they are taught to be respectful,
generous, considerate towards others and most importantly they are taught how to take care

of themselves, others, nature and animals.
In Japan there are no school buses. It is a common sight to see children walking to their

school in the morning. Some children also take public transport. This way, children are
trained to be independent.

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