Japanese Club with Mrs. Crist

Konichi-wa, My name is Mrs. Crist and I am the foreign language teacher at Hanover Middle School. Besides speaking Spanish and French, I know a little bit of Japanese. I have been to Japan twice and have many Japanese friends. I worked for a Japanese company in Washington D.C. before I became a teacher. I want to share with you some of the things I learned about Japanese culture and language during this club.

Navigate to the Navigate to the page you would page you would

like to visitlike to visitMap of Japan Photos of Japan

Facts comparing Cultural TidbitsJapan to 2 other countries under construction

Vocabulary Pages Mrs. Crist’s photoalbum under

construction

Let’s Compare Japan to U.S.A. and Mexico

To get a better idea of where Japan stands compared to other countries in the word, let’s compare some facts about Japan to those of U.S.A. and Mexico.

All of the information is very current, from the summer of 2008, taken from www.cia.gov.

How Big are the countries?

• U.S.A. has a total land and water area of 9,826,630 square kilometers.

• The U.S. is the 3rd largest

country by size in the world.

• Mexico has a total land and water area of

1, 972,550 square kilometers.

• Japan has a total land and water area of 377,835 square kilometers.

• Japan is the smallest of the three countries. It is slightly

smaller than California.

How many people live there?

The U.S.A. population is 303,824,646 people. The average age is 36.7 years.

The birth rate is 14.18/1000 people.

The death rate is 8.27/1000 (this means that in a group of 1000 people, 8.27 of them will die in a given year.

Mexico’s population is 109,955,400. The average age is 26 years. The birth rate is 20.04/1000.

The death rate is 4.78/1000.

Japan’s population is 127, 288, 419 people. The average age is 43.8

The birth rate is 7.87/1000The death rate is 9.26/1000

This is fascinating!! Japan has more people than Mexico even though Mexico is 5 times bigger!

Japan’s population is aging, which may account for it’s death rate being higher than the other countries.

Mexico’s average age is only 26. This will account for the lowest death rate of the 3 countries.

More about birth and death

In the U.S.A., the average woman bears 2.1 children. Out of 1000 babies born, 6.3 will die as infants. U.S. population is growing at a rate of .883% The life expectancy of Americans averages 78.14 years: men 75.28 years and women 81.13 years.

In Mexico, the average woman bears 2.37 children. Out of 1000 babies born, 19.01 will die as infants. Mexican population is growing at a rate of 1.142% The life expectancy of Mexican males is 75.84 years, for women it is 78.78 years.

In Japan, the average woman bears 1.22 children. Out of 1000 babies born, 2.8 will die as infants. Japan’s population growth is negative: - 0.139%

Recall that the death rate (elderly population) exceeds the birth rate. Japanese women may be choosing careers over families. The life expectancy is 82.07: 78.73 years for men and 85.59 years for women. This is one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

Mexico’s higher infant mortality rate is disturbing and may require further research as to the causes.

More People Facts

In the U.S., citizens may vote at the age of 18.

99% of the population is literate.

12% of the population lives below the established poverty level.

In Mexico, citizens may also vote at the age of 18.

91% of the population is literate.

Nearly 40% of the population lives below the established poverty level.

In Japan, citizens may vote at the age of 20.

99% of the population is literate.

There are no statistics available about the poverty level.

I find the literacy rate in all 3 countries impressive.

The poverty level in Mexico is very troubling and may help account for the high rate of Mexican immigrants coming to the United States.

Government

The United States is a constitution-based federal republic.

George W. Bush is the current president.

The external debt is $12.25 trillion.

The unemployment rate is 4.6%

Mexico is a federal republic.

The president is Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa. He is called Presidente Calderon.

The external debt is $179.7 billion.

The unemployment rate is 3.7%, but it is estimated at 25% of the population is underemployed.

Japan is a constitutional monarchy w/ a parliamentary government.

The chief of state is Emperor Akihito.The head of government is Prime

Minister Yasuo Fukuda.The external debt is $1.492 trillion. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

It appears that more Mexicans have jobs than people from the other 2 countries! The problem is that they are not getting enough hours and high enough wages to support their families.

Money

The monetary unit of the United States is called the U.S. Dollar.

The value of the U.S. dollar has been decreasing in recent years when held up against currencies in other countries, such as the euro.

U.S.A.’s per capita G.D.P. is $45,800.

Mexico’s money is called The Mexican Peso.

With each U.S. Dollar, you can by 10.8 Mexican pesos. This exchange rate has stayed fairly steady for the last few years.

Mexico’s per capita G.D.P. is $12,800.

Japan’s money is called the Japan Yen.

You can buy 117.99 yen for every U.S. dollar. In 2006, you could only get 116.18 yen, so this has improved slightly in favor of

the dollar.Japan’s per capita G.D.P. is

$33,600.

Vocabulary PagesClick on the topic to view each vocabulary page

• Colors

• Numbers

• Family

• Days of the week

• Seasons

• Animals

• Foods

Colors: Iro

Daidai-iro-orange

Midori- green

Kuro - black

Hai-iro - grey

Aka - red

Cha-iro - brown

Shiro - white

Ao - blue

Pinku -pink

Murasaki - purple

Ki-iro-yellow

Numbers:Kazu

1 ichi 11 juichi

2 ni 12 juni

3 san 13 jusan

4 shi 14 jushi

5 go 15 jugo

6 roku 16 juroku

7 shichi 17 jushichi

8 hachi 18 juhachi

9 kyu 19 jukyu

10 ju 20 niju

Family:Kazoku

Grandmother sobo younger sister imoto

Grandfather sofu older sister ane

Cousin itoko daughter musume

Uncle oji older brother ani

Aunt oba younger brother ototo

Husband otto son musuko

Father chichi

Wife tsuma

Mother haha

Iroirona-hi: days of the week

Japanese

Getsu-yobi

Ka-yobi

Sui-yobi

Moku-yobi

Kin-yobi

Do-yobi

Nichi-yobi

English

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Dobutsuen-zoo page 1

Japanese English

Inu dogNeko catKingyo

goldfishTori birdUsagi rabbitHamusuta hamsterMorumotto guinea pigOndori roosterMendori henMe-ushi cowShichimencho turkey

Japanese EnglishButa pig

Uma horse

Hitsuji sheep

Gacho geese

Ahiru ducks

Fukuro owl

Hikigaeru toad

Risu squirrel

Kitsune fox

Chocho butterfly

Tora tiger

Kujira whale

Same shark

Dobutsuen:Zoo Page 2

Japanese EnglishHebi snakeShima-uma zebraYagi goatBiiba beaverSai rhinoShiro-kuma polar bearKuma bearZo elephantKame turtleAzarashi sealRakuda camelShika dearKirin giraffeRaion lion

Japanese EnglishIruka dolphin

Pengin penguin

Wani crocodile

Okami wolf

Kangaru kangaroo

Gorira gorilla

Komori bat

Saru monkey

Kaba hippo

Washi eagle

Panda panda

Kisetsu:Seasons

Haru- spring

Natsu-summer

Aki-autumn

Fuyu-winter

Tabemono-Food page 1

Japanese EnglishNiku meat

Hanbaga hamburger

Hamu ham

Sarami salami

Soseji sausage

Sakana fish

Toriniku chicken

Hottudoggu hotdog

Beekon bacon

Biihu beef

Japanese EnglishYasai veggies

Sarada salad

Retasu lettuce

Ingen or mame beans

Kabocha pumpkin

Horenso spinach

Tamato tomato

Saya-endo peas

Kyabetsu cabbage

Tamanegi onion

Serori celery

Kyuri cucumber

Ninjin carrots

Tabemono-food page 2

Japanese EnglishKudamono fruitPuramu plumPain pineappleMomo peachApurikotto apricotRemon lemonGurepu-furutsu grapefruitMikan tangerineMeron melonSakuranbo cherryRingo appleBudo grapesBanana bananaOrenji orange

Japanese EnglishNashi pear

Ichigo strawberry

Ki-ichigo raspberry

Dezato dessert

Kukkii cookie

Keki cake

Chokoreto chocolate

Okashi candy

Sato sugar