Couples may spend many hours of the day apart from one another, in contrast to American households. Children may live with their parents, especially young women, until they are married, rather than leaving after they depart for university. Children often have many outside academic and extracurricular commitments that keep them away from the home, although when at home they are more likely than American children to be responsive to the will of their parents.
Hospitality
The Japanese rarely entertain at home. If your hosts to entertain you at home, this is a great honor. Make sure to bring a gift for the household if they do. In Japan, the wrapping of the gift is of equal importance to the gift itself, so make sure that the presentation is striking. Style is tantamount. "The gift itself is of little importance, the ceremony surrounding it is very important." (Williams, "Behavior, 2003) However, do not use white to wrap the gifts, as it symbolizes death.
Ethical considerations
Do not attempt to impose one's values about pluralism, feminism, or other issues while in Japan -- one is unlikely to change a society such as Japan through argument. Remarks about the treatment of ethnic minorities in America or Japan, or of the hostile relationship between Japan and America during World War II are best avoided.
Legal and Government Considerations
Japan's form of government is that of a parliamentarian democracy under the rule of a constitutional monarch. The Prime Minister is its chief government officer. (Williams,...
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