Notes:
Labor Thanksgiving Day 勤労感謝の日;
used to 以前は～したものだった;
mashed potato　マッシュポテト
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Yesterday was a holiday in Japan. Do you know its name in English? It is called Labor Thanksgiving Day now, but it had a different name before 1948. The day used to be called “Niinamesai.” It was a harvest celebration that goes back to the time of the “Kojiki.” Today is a holiday in the U.S. called Thanksgiving Day. It used to be a holiday to celebrate the harvest, too. These days, however, people just think of food. Families get together and eat a big meal. A big turkey is usually roasted in the oven and served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Pumpkin pie is often served for dessert.
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Notes:
religion 宗教;
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The other weekend, I took a course to learn how to guide travelers from abroad in English. During the two days of training, we went to a cave, a street with “kura”, a traditional Japanese craft shop, a temple, and a ramen restaurant. I gave a presentation about Japanese religion and manners to my instructors and the other trainees on the bus, and when we got off at the temple, I was very nervous because it was my first time! I realized that I didn’t really know the culture and daily life of Japan. They are very difficult to explain in English. (written by a reader, edited by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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