True or false answers, among other things

Firstly, true or false answers:

True or false: You will very rarely see Japanese people wearing anything that reveals their shoulders, even in summer.
True.  It's considered rude to reveal your shoulders.  On the other hand, it's ridiculously hot.  This leads to some interesting fashion choices, such as wife beater/tank top + scarf.

True or false: In Japan, you stand on the left side of the escalator and walk on the right.
False.  In all parts of Japan except the Kansai region, you stand on the left and walk on the right.  In Kansai you stand on the right and walk on the left.  Basically, Kansai is forever rebelling.

True or false: You can buy all of the following items at convenience stores in Japan: batteries, shampoo, notebooks, sandwiches, razors, fresh vegetables.
True.  Japanese convenience stores are basically the best thing ever.

True or false: It's common to hear American pop songs in Japanese stores.
True.  Including some wildly inappropriate ones!  My favorite example is that Steven, one of my fellow Fulbrighters last year, heard Lady Gaga's "Christmas Tree" (perhaps you should not listen to this around sensitive ears) playing in a convenience store along with other "Christmas" music.  I also heard "Starships" (same with this one) playing in a super-girly-lace-and-sparkles-everywhere store, which I personally thought was an awesome juxtaposition.  And since I've linked to "Starships," I am now required by law to link to this music video.  It is the law.

True or false: All of the following are foods closely associated with summer in Japan: watermelon, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, persimmons, figs.
False.  Cucumbers and watermelon are the only ones of the bunch that are strongly associated with summer.  Persimmons are a fall food.

True or false: The LDP just lost seats in the Diet.
False.  The LDP just gained seats in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly.  I should know, 'cause we've been watching news on it all week.

True or false: Wearing a hat is the most common way of protecting oneself from the sun during the summer in Japan.
False.  It's much more common to carry a sun parasol.  Particularly concerned women will often wear long sleeves or gloves.  Sunscreen is a thing, but it seems like not many people use it.  There are generational and gender differences, of course--men and older women are more likely to wear hats than carry sun parasols...although young men are much more likely to just not use any sun protection at all.

True or false: Tanning is considered unattractive in Japan.
True.  Thus the long sleeves and gloves in ridiculously hot weather.  I've had a couple of uncomfortable conversations where people have told me that I should be more careful not to tan, because tanning is unattractive, and I have to inform them that, no, that's just the color my skin is.  The weirdest instance was when I had such a conversation in the middle of winter.

True or false: Japanese deodorant is significantly stronger than American deodorant.
False.  Japanese deodorant is actually significantly weaker than American deodorant, so if you're planning on visiting Japan, I highly recommend bringing your own!

Mary and Julia tied for first with 7/9, so each of them will be receiving an arbitrary fabulous prize (alternatively an arbitrarily fabulous prize).

In other news, uhhh, not a whole lot to report.  Class continues to be class-like.  The weather is slowly getting hotter, which I strongly object to.  I have discovered the joys of frozen watermelon during summer (seriously, chop up a watermelon and stick it in your freezer RIGHT NOW; you're welcome).  I've been assigned my RSEA mentee for the next year, which means I have a minion now mwahahahaha.  It looks like I might be going to the National Diet Library with some of my classmates this upcoming Saturday, which should be cool.  I submitted my first abstract to a conference.
...yeah, my life is not terribly exciting right now, OH WELL.
I should go do research on Japanese political parties for class right now, so I'm going to end this post here.

Oh, wait, since I promised Julia, here's the speech I gave last week on how not to be super offensive while visiting a shrine:

　今日は神社への正しいお参りの仕方について話させていただきたいと思います。お参りとは、参拝しなくても、神社に行くということです。どうしてお参りのやり方が分かったらいいかというと、皆さんは観光客として神社に行くかもしれませんが、神道を信じなくても、神社は聖なる場所なので、正しい行動が必要だからです。

　まず、鳥居の通り方に関してご説明いたします。鳥居とは、神社の領域を示すための大きいゲートです。鳥居を通る時は 、真ん中を歩いてはいけません。なぜかというと、鳥居の真ん中の部分は神様が通るはずの道だからです。真ん中を歩けば、神様の道を阻んで、お邪魔になるという信仰があります。ですから、鳥居を通るなら、右側か左側を歩いてください。

　鳥居を通ってから、「手水舎」という、手と口を洗う場所に行かなければなりません。なぜ手と口を洗うのが必要でしょうか。神道の世界観によると、人間の世界で生きたり、生活をしたりする人の体は「穢れ」という汚いものを持ってきます。聖地に入る前にその穢れを消すために手水舎で手と口を洗わなければなりません。神道を別に信じなくても、聖地を汚さないように手水舎を使ってください。正しい洗い方は次にご説明いたします。最初に、右手でひしゃくを持って、左手を洗います。次に、ひしゃくを左手に持ち替えて、右手を洗います。そして、もう一度ひしゃくを右手に持ち替えて、口を漱ぎます。手水舎の水は飲めない場合が多いので、漱ぐふりした方がいいです。ひしゃくを使い終わってから、握りを洗うためにひしゃくを縦にして、残りの水を握りに浴びせて、置き場所に戻します。

　皆さんは観光客として神社に行くので、写真を撮りたいという方 は多いでしょう。撮影禁止というサインがなかったら、本殿の中を除き、どこでも撮影していいという神社が多いです。本殿は「神体」という神様の体を象徴している像や宝が祀られている場所で、そこで写真を撮るのは本当に失礼ですので、ご遠慮ください。本殿はどの建物かというと、参拝者がその前で祈る、「坪鈴」という鈴が取り付けられている建物です。ある神社では撮影コンテストなどがありますので、本殿以外の場所できれいな写真をいっぱい撮ってください。

　皆さん、今夏、このお参りのルールを守って、たくさんの神社を楽しく見に行きましょうね！