Seiza Style

This post is dedicated to those who are interested in learning about how Japanese people sit when they're eating at a low table.

This style of sitting is called せいざ', when translated, literally means, 'sitting straight.'
Men usually sit this way with legs slightly spread apart and hands resting on their thighs, palms down, fingers facing each other, while women sit with legs touching and hands neatly folded in their laps.

This way of sitting is an ancient tradition, which started when the Japanese held tea ceremonies long ago.
Most foreigners or elderly people cannot sit Seiza, because of knee prohibitions. The Japanese were taught to sit this way from a very young age, so their muscles are familiar with the position. It takes much practice and patience to sit this way without blood circulation being cut off.

Foreigners usually feel discomfort within the first few minutes of sitting Seiza, usually beginning with numbness and burning pains. Then, when the foreigners get out of Seiza position, they feel that pins & needles sensation and find it hard to walk,

I've been training myself since last night to sit like this and keep composure, and it doesn't prove to be that hard (I lasted 12 minutes on my first try)
My record is 16 minutes, and I will keep practicing until I don't feel pain anymore.

For those who can't sit Seiza, there is a position many are familiar with, Agura, which is basically sitting with the legs crossed. It is considered informal for the Japanese to sit like this, but foreigners and the elderly are an exception.

That's all for this post!
Love you all!
-M

Seiza...

                                                                                       Agura....

Gosh, it's been forever!

I haven't blogged in a looong time, but I guess it doesn't matter, seeing as I have zero people who actually read it :)
Anyways, I have een neglecting my Japanese in favor of getting my grades up... Right now I'm making all B's... Hoping for all A's :)
I'd like to adress a topic that a lot of people ask me about when I tell them I study Japanese...

Anime.

Everyone asks me, "Are you one of those cosplay/ anime freaks?"

First of all, I don't watch anime or do cosplay. Second of all, people who watch anime and dress up like their favorite characters are NOT freaks.

I don't have the time for anime...  nor would I really want to watch it.

And people that like to dress up in costumes or sit around watching Japanese cartoons aren't wierd. It's a hobby, just like singing or dancing is.
Nobody gives you grief when you're singing in the shower, pretending to be some mega superstar. Cosplay is like that, it's just putting on a costume and getting up in front of people to act like your favorite character.

And another topic I'd like to talk about relating to anime...
If anime is the reason you want to learn Japanese or visit Japan, then FIND ANOTHER REASON.
If you think Japan is going to help you escape into a world where everybody has huge eyes and there are high schools with lots of hot school girls and guys, you're going to be dissapointed when you come.

And if you want to come to Japan so you can finally be considered 'cool', then guess what, more dissapointment for you. If you're an annoying  jerk, odds are that people in Japan will treat you in the same way that the kids back home did, only the asian bullies will be ridiculing you in a different language.

So that's it for my welcome- back rant.
Thanks :)
Minna-san daisuki!