Cultural Notes for Ch5-6

Question 1

What is zarusoba and what is it made of?

Answer 1

Zarusoba is a favourite noodle dish made from a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour.

Question 2

When and where can zarusoba be found?

Answer 2

During the summer, it can be found at almost any Japanese restaurant.

Question 3

How is zarusoba served?

Answer 3

It is served cold on a bamboo mat in a square or round lacquered box. Thin strips of nori are sprinkled over the noodles.

Question 4

What accompanies the zarusoba?

Answer 4

A soy-based dipping sauce accompanies the noodles in a small dish. Condiments such as minced negi and wasabi are served alongside the dipping sauce in tiny dishes.

Question 5

How does one eat zarusoba?

Answer 5

To eat the noodles, one may add the desired condiments into the broth with chopsticks and eats with a slurping sound. At certain restaurants, the broth in which the soba was boiled is provided in a small, often square teapot-looking container. It may be added to the dipping sauce, then drunk as a broth after the meal.

Question 6

What are the different varieties of sushi?

Answer 6

にぎりずし - hand-molded sushi
ちらしずし - loose garnished sushi
まきずし - rolled sushi
いなりずし - cone sushi
てまきずし - hand-rolled sushi

Question 7

Where did tempura originate?

Answer 7

The popular Japanese food known as tempura is said to have originated with Portuguese missionaries, who arrived in Japan during the latter part of the 16th century.

Question 8

What ingredients do the Japanese often use to make tempura?

Answer 8

fish, shrimp, squid and vegetables (ie. eggplant, green peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, green beans, mushrooms, lotus root, carrots, etc.)

Question 9

What can be added to tempura when eaten?

Answer 9

Tempura is dipped in a soy-sauce based broth and grated daikon and grated ginger may be added to the dipping sauce for greater flavour.

Question 10

How is the word tempura often written in Japanese? Is there any hidden meaning behind this?

Answer 10

天ぷら

No, it is not related in any way to heaven.

Question 11

What is centigrade in Japanese?

Answer 11

せっし

Question 12

What is fahrenheit in Japanese?

Answer 12

かっし

Question 13

What particles are common to skip in Japanese in informal conversation? Which ones are not dropped as easily?

Answer 13

can drop: を、が、は、へ

not easily dropped:に、で、から、まで、と

Question 14

Despite being far less common than before, ever since the debut of cell phones, where can you still find public phones in Japan?

Answer 14

airports, hotels, stations and some department stores in Japan

Question 15

What colour are public phones? What do the colours mean?

Answer 15

grey or bright lime green
grey = domestic/international
green = domestic

Question 16

How do you pay to use the public phones?

Answer 16

they accept coins, but it is better to buy a telephone card (テレホンカード) which can be purchased at vending machines, convenience stores, most hotels and some businesses.

Question 17

When you buy telephone cards (テレホンカード) from a hotel, what must you be careful not to confuse it with?

Answer 17

TV cards. They look almost identical to telephone cards and are also sold in vending machines.

Question 18

How common are cell phones in Japan and what are they used for?

Answer 18

It has become an essential part of the lives of Japanese. Almost everyone, with the exception of the elderly, carry cell phones. While they still function as a communication tool, they also provide many Japanese with entertainment and information, function as daily organizers, serve as passers for public transportation and is even a source of e-cash.
The cell phone culture is an interesting recent phenomenon that reflects the lifestyle and social values of the Japanese.

Question 19

What is tookookyohi?

Answer 19

Junior/high school students deliberately decide not to go to school for long periods of time. AKA “school allergy.”