by Jen Ruhl
1. What are "kami" in the Shinto religion?
a. Priests b. Objects of worship c. Shrines d. Non-believers
2. Which of the following changes did NOT take place after the Meiji Restoration of 1868?
a. The capital of Japan was moved to Tokyo.
b. Samurai lost all their privileges.
c. Feudal lords regained more ruling power from the emperor.
d. Japanese scholars were encouraged to go abroad to study Western science.
3. The European traders who came to Japan in the 1500s are famous for introducing Christianity and:
a. paper b. horses c. gold d. guns
4. Which describes the most polite way to drink green tea?
a. Holding the cup with 2 hands, with the fingertips of each hand touching.
b. Holding the cup with one hand and supporting it from below with the other.
c. Holiding the cup with one hand, pinky finger out.
d. CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!
5. Which of the following cities was never a capital of Japan?
a. Nara b. Nagoya c. Nagaoka d. Osaka
*Bonus: Which of the following 4 countries were invited to participate in the first year of the JET Program(me)?
Canada New Zealand United States Ireland United Kingdom Australia
France Germany Singapore South Africa
Answers:
1. b. Kami are objects of worship. Kami can exist in anything, and are thought to sustain and protect the people. Kami can be in rocks, trees, people, and even abstract things.
2. c. Feudal lords lost their regional power over Japan after the Meiji Restoration, which is when the Emperor reclaimed his ruling privileges from the Shogun. The feudal lords had to return their land to the Emperor, and the samurai gradually lost all of their privileges.
3. d. The missionaries brought Christianity and guns ... sounds like Texas! (joke!)
4. b. You should hold the cup with one hand and support it with the other. Make sure you admire the design of the cup before drinking, and turn the cup clockwise so that you drink from the back!
5. b. Nagoya never served as Japan's capital. The other three were ancient capitals of Japan, though Nagaoka and Osaka were for only a very short time.
Bonus: The first 4 countries to participate in the JET Programme were the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Canada and Ireland joined in year 2, and France and Germany joined in year 3.