Nelly-chan the Insane -
Hi! Good points here... not a fanfic, admittedly, but hey, whatcha gonna do? I have a question for you: why do Japanese school uniforms look like that? The sailor-girl motif, I mean? It's really interesting. I ask this partly because one of my career plans is to teach English in Japan (I've read up on it, they're in high demand there) and of course learn Japanese myself, because it's a neat language. Lol, Nelly-chan.
Uniforms
Well, according to Mom a little over a century ago missionaries came to Japan from England. The uniforms in England schools (for girls at least) were "sailor" style and so Japan picked it up. In fact Mom's school was the first one in Japan to wear that type of uniform. That's a pretty old school.
The school Mom went to is a private school, but all of the Jr. high and high schools have uniforms. In college it's mostly the private colleges that have uniforms. About fifty years ago schools were really strict (i.e. Skirts have to be a so and so length below your knees, shoes couldn't be dressy or stand out, hair couldn't be permed, etc.) Schools have now loosened up, but they are reassessing it and hope to find a balance. They've kept making small allowances for fashion and because of the newer generation of teachers. Skirts were allowed to be a little shorter, freedom of hair, wearing makeup, etc. Each school have their own regulations though, when you enter a school, you agree to their rules so you are totally at fault if you disobey since they are letting you go to their school, they risk their reputation by letting you into their school. I think I all ready mentioned the rigorous studying and testing to get into high schools.
The bad part about this is that perhaps it's too much freedom, which is why it's being reassessed. You are supposed to talk respectfully to your teachers, using formal language. Students are using informal or bad language, loosing the old, respectful language.
Well Nelly-san, I hope I answered your question satisfactorily. If not leave another inquiry. Thanks.
Driving
In Japan you can't get a drivers' license until you're 18 years old. It's practically a requirement to go to driving school, which costs about $1,000 or so. The weird part is is that you can ride a motorcycle from 16.
In Tokyo it is rumored that the light signals are purposely timed unsynchronized, which would explain the major traffic jams, in efforts to reduce the number of people wanting to drive their own cars and instead use the trains, buses, etc.
Trains, subways, and buses are usually on time. Many people depend on them to be so. I've been on the trains when they were both crowded and practically deserted. I've heard that they can be so full that white-gloved conductors will shove people into the trains. Fortunately I have not experienced this, although I have been pressed up against several people. In buses and trains there are a set of gray seats (or another color that is different from the rest) that are reserved for the elderly and handicapped. This means that if they are open you are welcome to sit, but if the bus is crowded and an elderly person comes on board you must relinquish your seat to them. I think this is a great idea.
I saw no signs of graffiti in the buses and trains, or garbage for that matter. Everything is kept clean and I didn't have to worry about gum being under the seat. LOL.
Well, I think that's all I can think of for this right now. If you guys have anymore questions or comments, I'll be happy to see them.
By the way, after I have a few responses to this latest section I'm going to post it under something else. I'm not sure what, but I'll figure something out. My name will still be LSR_7 and if that doesn't work try LSR-7. For some odd reason it won't let me have an underscore.
Thanks.