Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

A Day to Celebrate Girl Children, and Westerners Who Don’t Follow “Senpai” Rules

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
9 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

One of the themes of Japan is that relationships are “vertical,” with differences in the roles played by people of different social levels, which wouldn’t exist as much in the West. A good example is the way a senpai in a school or company will interact with his or her kohai, acting as a mentor teaching a protégé, giving guidance and doing things like picking up the tab at coffee shops, and receiving respect and deference from the younger person in return. If you listen in on a conversation in Japanese, it literally takes only seconds to understand the relationships between the speakers thanks to the language they use: the senior will speak with informal verbs and might use second person pronouns like kimi, suitable for talking to someone younger than them, while the junior will use formal speech in return — it’s all sort of like TCP/IP for humans. This convenient senpai/kohai system can break down in certain situations, for example when a 40 year old man joins a company and suddenly has a 25 year old senpai, or while dealing with Westerners who don’t understand the seniority system. In a KanColle comic I posted to J-List’s Facebook page the other day, the battleship Katori decides to assert her role as the dominant senpai to the “new” American ship, Iowa. But since Americans are always tall, blonde and full of confidence (at least in Japanese popular culture), Iowa turns the tables on Katori and assumes the dominate role instead. (Artist credit here.)

Tomorrow, March 3rd, is a special day for families with girl children in Japan. Called Hinata Matsuri (usually translated as Girl’s Day in English), it’s a day to proudly display beautiful Japanese dolls that represent the Imperial Court, which serve to bring happiness to the family. Like other interesting cultural traditions in Japan, such as Setsubun, when children throw soybeans to chase imaginary devils out of the home, Hinata Matsuri is a very old tradition, going all the way back to the Heian Period (794-1185) when Japan enjoyed its most peaceful time. The special day for families with boy children comes on May 5th, when families will fly huge kites called koi-nobori, which represent carp swimming upstream to spawn.

J-List carries many fun and interesting “solo” products for guys, for girls and for couples which are sometimes based on your favorite anime characters. Today we’ve posted two parody toys that represent your favorite Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, along with other fun parody items you might want to browse.

Tags: culturefamilyUSA

More Posts Like This

I Raised That Boy
Your Friend in Japan

What Anime Raised You? J-List Customers of Culture Respond!

by Peter Payne
5 months ago

One reason I love social media like X, Bluesky, and Facebook is that I can post questions to my followers...

Reverse Culture Shock Usa Vs Japan
Your Friend in Japan

Back in Japan! What is ‘Reverse Culture Shock’ Like?

by Peter Payne
3 years ago

I'm back in Japan after a very busy trip to the U.S. for the summer conventions, followed by a few...

Why Cats Are Good And Polite Japanese Is Bad

Why Cats are Good and Polite Japanese is Bad

6 years ago
Tommy Lee Jones Boss Coffee

Tommy Lee Jones? Helen Keller? 14 Famous People Who Love Japan

7 years ago
Anime That Started Out As Hentai Fate Stay Night

Japan Doesn’t Worry About Hentai

8 years ago
Art by Pomu https://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=2302136

What is Christmas in Japan?

8 years ago
Next Post

Thoughts on Pasta and Curry, and the Latest Trend in Japan: Nekonomics

Trending Today

Summer 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
Featured

Summer 2025 Ecchi Anime and The Streaming Services of Culture

5 days ago
Yandere Dark Elf Episode 1 Featured Image
Featured

Yandere Dark Elf, Episode 1 — Love Heavier than Chocolate Melons!

2 months ago
Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

3 months ago
Jlist Wide Yabai Banner Email
Your Friend in Japan

J18 Publishing Presents: The YABAI Art Gallery Experience at LA ARTCORE, Little Tokyo!

5 days ago
Dekichau Made Kon Web Cover
News

Dekichau Made Kon Will Receive an Anime Adaptation

1 month ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
My Dress Up Darling Returns! 7 Reasons We Can't Stop Loving Marin Kitagawa
Your Friend in Japan

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Is Here! 6 Reasons We Can’t Stop Thinking About Marin Kitagawa

by Peter Payne
July 7, 2025

My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Is Here! 6 Reasons We Can’t Stop Thinking About Marin Kitagawa

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 Travels North

Adult Slice of Life: Why You Should Watch Kowloon Generic Romance

Welcome to the Outcast’s Restaurant! — A Fluffy Foodie Iyashikei

Campfire Cooking with My +3 Cardboard Delivery Box (It’s Just a Box)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.