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Showing posts from December, 2022

Japan after the 2019 pandemic

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  Post-pandemic Japan has been a revelation to behold. The system that signposted the country of Japan as a giant in the world’s economy in recent years, might in fact be attributed, almost solely to tourism. Aurora Mizutani guest speaker at Henoko Base protest 2015–2016 The wearing of face masks in Japan, a practice that was already prominent within society, has become the new social norm. If you don’t wear a face mask in Japan, (regardless of the mandatory mandate for wearing a mask having been lifted) you will be frowned upon, told off and possibly ostracized. This face mask hysteria is often propagated by the Japanese media, which never misses an opportunity to constantly convey to the public the dangers of social interactions, whilst advocating vaccines. This standpoint is not entirely exclusive to Japanese society in this time of social upheaval, but Japan takes face mask-wearing strictness to another level. Aurora Mizutani English teacher, Okinawa Japan, 2015–2018 English la...

Japan before the 2019 pandemic

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  Japan is known for many reasons, mostly cultural. There are opportunities for foreigners in teaching jobs, entertainment, recreation, and tourism. However, one of Japan’s most fascinating social norms must be their partiality to wearing face masks. Aurora Mizutani with George Murasaki (紫) from the popular Japanese music band 2017–2018 Face mask-wearing in Japan has always been a mystery to foreigners. It is my understanding that the practice was introduced to encourage polite consideration for fellow nationals, in what is by all accounts an already extensively structured society. Face masks in Japan aim to prevent the spread of influenza and more importantly are worn by those concerned with harmful particles in the air emanating from the nuclear powerplant catastrophe of 2011. So now we know. English language teaching jobs for foreigners in Japan revolve around native English speakers. But job longevity is not guaranteed in Japan, and neither is career advancement. Lack of job se...