Made in Japan, Sold on Britain
54,400 Japanese live in Britain: 12,000 are business people, 5,800 are students, most of the rest are their families. The Japanese like Britain. They find it strange, but they like it.
Masami Sato, one of only 70 “office ladies” - junior women managers - in Britain, is happy. She says, “most things are better here than in Tokyo - there are so many parks and green fields”.
As an office lady, she cannot be promoted above her present junior managerial position, but she thinks the UK is less male- dominated than Japan. She is in London as part of a scheme to give office ladies overseas experience (they are allowed to go to 10 cities considered safe - none of them are in the United States), and she does not want to go back to Tokyo when the time comes next year.
“When I go back to Japan, 1 have to live with my family,” she says. “There are few amusements and we can't be relaxed because all Japanese are very busy.”
The Japanese appreciate the space, the more relaxed atmosphere and the longer holidays, but they also experience some difficulties: the most obvious is the language. Mr Kojima has lived in Wales for two years, and still has problems. “The language is very difficult, but the staff are very experienced at explaining to the Japanese,” he says. “I can understand the explanations, but I can't understand when they talk to each other.”
Besides the language, there are also cultural differences which can make life difficult. Banker Kaoru Itoh says “the British like arguments, the Japanese don't. They dislike raising the opposite opinion. In Japan everyone respects the opinion of the majority.”
C. Answer the questions.
How many Japanese work in Britain?
What is Masami Sato's job title?
Does Masami Sato like living and working in London? Why/Why not?
Why is she working in London?
What are her job opportunities in London?
When is she going home?
7. Does she want to go home? Why/Why not?
In what way is life in Britain difficult for Japanese?
Describe one cultural difference between Japanese and British people.
Vocabulary
A. In your country, do businesspeople usually:
1. have business breakfasts?
2. entertain businesspeople at home?
3. entertain businesspeople at the weekend?
B. Match the typical dishes (1-8) to the adjectives (a-h). Then make sentences.
Example: Curry is an Indian dish.
1 2 snails 3 sushi 4 spaghetti 5 goulash 6 hamburger 7 paella 8 sweet-and-sour chicken |
a) American b) Italian c) Indian d) French e) Hungarian f) Chinese g) Japanese h) Spanish |
curry
What other typical dishes do you know?
C. Look at these word for parts of a menu.
Starter |
Main course |
Dessert |
Soup |
|
|
Write the dishes from the box under the headings on the menu.
soup apple pie steak pâté salad ice cream grilled fish fruit chocolate mousse moussaka spring rolls cheesecake roast duck tiramisu prawn cocktail beef stew stuffed mushrooms |
D. Underline the correct word to complete each of these sentences.
1. You ask for the receipt / menu at the start of a meal.
2. You ask for the check /bill at the end of a meal in London.
3. You ask for the check /bilI at the end of a meal in New York.
4. You ask for the tip /receipt after you pay.
READING
A. Look through the article and decide whether each statement is true or false.