Student misses Japanese “necessities”
By Yoshie Yokoyama
Japanese people can live anywhere in the USA, but sometimes we need some Japanese necessities: Japanese food, kotatsu, and a bathtub.
I like American food like hamburgers, french fries, and pizza, but I need to eat Japanese food because it’s necessary in my life.
Rice is the best main food in our Japanese dinner. When I eat something salty, I want to eat rice with it. Of course, I bought a bottle of soy sauce in the supermarket. Whatever I put soy sauce on, it tastes Japanese.
Second, we need a kotatsu in winter. Kotatsu is traditional furniture like a table which is with a blanket and heater.
We put our feet into the blanket and under the table. Once we are in the kotatsu, (I) don’t want to get out from (under) it because it’s very warm.
The family puts their feet into it and talks to each other. It’s also a traditional communication style.
Third, I have missed taking a bath since I came to the USA. Taking a bath is also a traditional Japanese custom.
Now I only take a shower every day.
In conclusion, these Japanese things are necessities: Japanese food, the traditional heater kotatsu, and hot baths. We can live anywhere outside of Japan, but we miss (these things if they’re not available).
Yoshie Yokoyama of Japan studied at the University of Tennessee’s English Language Institute in the Fall II 2008 term.
