The Differences Between Japanese & American Culture
with author Courtney Alameda
Hi everyone, Courtney Alameda here, co-author of SEVEN
DEADLY SHADOWS! I’m here today to highlight some basic differences between
Japanese and American culture—but please keep in mind, this list is in no way authoritative or comprehensive!
But for those of you who haven’t ever watched a Kurosawa film or read a manga,
you might find it easier to acclimate yourself to Kira’s Kyoto if you know a
few key cultural differences first.
“First” names don’t
come first. In Japan, surnames/family names precede individual given names.
I.e., my name would be “Alameda Courtney” in Japan. Calling someone by their
given name in Japan infers a close relationship, and given names are used by
family and friends. Strangers, acquaintances, and superiors (like school
teachers or supervisors) will use an individual’s family name.
You’ll also see the occasional use of honorifics in the
novel, such as –san or –sama. These words are added on to names to confer
status or respect. The honorific –san is equivalent to the western Mr., Mrs.,
or Ms.; while the honorific –sama means “lord.” Most honorifics are attached to
an individual’s family name, but in some cases where the honorific is
diminutive, it’s attached to a given name. –Chan
falls into this second category, as it roughly translates to dear. So you’ll see Shimada-sama and Kira-chan
in the novel.
While writing this novel, Valynne and I went back and forth
on how to format the characters’ names. In the end, we decided to accommodate
western readers’ understanding as much as possible.
Bow
to your sensei! Bowing is something I wish we did in the west,
as it’s a versatile and graceful way to communicate with other people. The
Japanese use bows to greet other people, confer respect, ask for forgiveness, thank
someone for their service, and more. Depending on the context of the bow, this might
be a slight bob of the head, or a full-scale bend to 45 degrees—the deeper the
bow, the more empathetic the emotion or intent.
Take the “P” out of
your PDA. Public displays of affection are a huge faux pas in Japan! Even holding your significant other’s hand
in public is frowned upon, which meant Valynne and I had to get creative as
Kira and Shiro’s friendship developed into a romance. We even ended up cutting
a kiss on a train platform, because there was no way Kira and Shiro would ever disrespect the other train
passengers like that!
Japanese
Kit Kats come in hundreds of flavors!
I’m not even joking, Japan is a Kit Kat paradise.
You want a raspberry Kit Kat? Japan’s got that. Matcha green tea? Sure
thing. Butter cookie? They’ve got that, too! Kit Kats are popular gifts for
students in Japan, as the words kit kat
sound like the Japanese phrase kitto
katsu, which means, “You’re sure to succeed.”
Planes, trains, and
automobiles. . . . Actually, just
trains. In my opinion, Japan’s railways are the cleanest and most efficient on
Earth. Trains are a very popular form of transportation in Japan—I’d say moreso
than in the U.S.—and passengers observe a very particular etiquette to ensure
that everyone’s ride is comfortable and safe.
Eating on trains isn’t allowed, unless you’re traveling via
shinkansen (bullet train). In Japan, people seldom eat in public places
(excluding restaurants, of course), as being seen walking and consuming a snack
or beverage is seen as bad manners. Loud chatter is discouraged, and talking on
a cell phone is considered impolite.
In SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, you’ll see Kira and
Shiro sharing a bento-box style meal on a shinkansen train to Tokyo . . . but
that’s the only kind of train it would be considered fine to do so!
That’s it for now! Thanks for reading, and if
you have a chance to pick up SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, Valynne and I hope that you
thoroughly enjoy it! Until then, don’t fear the shadows . . .
Synopsis:
Kira Fujikawa has always been a girl on the fringe. Bullied by her peers and ignored by her parents, the only place Kira’s ever felt at home is at her grandfather’s Shinto shrine, where she trains to be a priestess.
But Kira’s life is shattered on the night her family’s shrine is attacked by a vicious band of yokai demons. With the help of Shiro—the shrine’s gorgeous half-fox, half-boy kitsune—Kira discovers that her shrine harbors an ancient artifact of great power . . . one the yokai and their demon lord, Shuten-doji, will use to bring down an everlasting darkness upon the world.
Unable to face the Shuten-doji and his minions on her own, Kira enlists the aid of seven ruthless shinigami—or death gods—to help stop the brutal destruction of humankind. But some of the death gods aren’t everything they initially seemed, nor as loyal to Kira’s cause as they first appeared.
With war drawing nearer by the day, Kira realizes that if this unlikely band of heroes is going to survive, they’re going to have to learn to work together, confront their demons, and rise as one to face an army of unimaginable evil.
Purchase:
About the Authors
A veteran bookseller and librarian, Courtney
Alameda now spends her days writing thriller and horror novels for young people.
Her debut novel, SHUTTER, was nominated for a Bram Stoker award and hailed as a
"standout in the genre" by School Library Journal. Her other novel, PITCH DARK, is a genre-blending science fiction/horror
novel in the vein of Ridley Scott's 1979 film ALIEN.
Courtney holds a B.A. in English literature with an emphasis in creative
writing. She is represented by the talented John M. Cusick of Folio Literary. A
Northern California native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion
of books, and a tiny five pound cat with a giant personality.
Valynne E. Maetani (pronounced Vuh-lin
Mah-eh-tah-nee) grew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor's degree from the
University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and
developed educational software for children with learning disabilities.
Currently, she is a full-time writer. She is a member of the We Need Diverse
Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children's literature
because every child should grow up believing his or her story deserves to be
told. Her debut novel, INK AND ASHES, is the winner of the New Visions Award
2013, a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake
City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015. She lives in Salt Lake City.
Tour Giveaway
Open International | Ends February 11, 2020
Grand Prize: Win a signed copy of SEVEN
DEADLY SHADOWS, a signed copy of Courtney Alameda's SHUTTER, and a signed copy
of Valynne Maetani's INK AND ASHES; anime portraits of Kira and Shiro; a
stuffed fox omamori charm from the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Japan; an
origami fox hand-folded by Valynne Maetani; a yokai mini sticker sheet; and an
assortment of Japanese Kit Kats (not pictured) [INT]
Second Prize: Win (1) of (2) A signed copy of
SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS with anime portraits of Kira and Shiro [INT]
