Country & Culture Highlight: Japan
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The Benefits of a Japanese Au Pair
A Japanese au pair can introduce your family to a new language and culture, offering unique insights into the country's history and customs. Plus they bring valuable life skills such as cooking traditional meals, organizing travel plans and even helping with homework in English. Japanese au pairs are also known for their politeness, helpful attitude, willingness to learn and adaptability, all of which are invaluable qualities for any host family. In addition, Japanese au pairs can help bridge the gap between American and Asian cultures. As members of both worlds, Japanese, as well as Asian au pairs in general, have a unique perspective that can be beneficial to your family’s understanding of different cultures and customs. Ultimately, a Japanese au pair will not only bring value to your home, but will also help foster an open mind and respect for different cultures. Having a Japanese au pair in your home is sure to be an enriching experience for you and your family. From language learning to cultural enrichment, there are countless benefits that come with having a Japanese au pair.
Au Pair Japan: AuPairCare’s Tradition of Hosting Japanese Au Pairs
AuPairCare has one of the longest traditions of bringing Japanese au pairs to the U.S., in part because our co-founder, Takeshi Yokota, hails from Japan. Comprised of an archipelago in East Asia, Japan has a family-oriented culture rich with longstanding traditions in theater, literature, and design. Let's explore Japanese skills and attributes that may be important to you as a host family interested in our au pair Japan program.
Country Facts: Japan has a population of 127,728,000 people. The city of Tokyo is the capital and one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the world. The official language is Japanese.
Communication Style: Japanese au pairs, and tend to be softer-spoken and less likely to speak directly or offer to share about themselves, as boasting is looked down upon in Japanese culture. Instead, politeness and patience are preferred, which may be demonstrated through conscientious and concerted interview communications.
Cooking: Japanese cuisine is based around rice, noodles, vegetables, fish, and tofu, though international cuisine is quite popular. During mealtime in Japan, you are encouraged to eat with your eyes and this is reflected in elegant (and often adorable!) food presentation. Most young people learn cooking from their mothers, and first dishes often include curry rice, Nikujaga (beef and potato stew), and miso soup.
English: Young people in Japan often begin learning English in middle and high school, where the focus is on reading and writing for exams. Because Japan is linguistically homogenous, there are fewer opportunities to practice spoken English on a day-to-day basis. Hence, at first meeting, Japanese au pairs may be more confident in their written correspondence than in spoken English.
Driving: Japanese au pairs who grew up outside of larger metropolitan areas may have had more experience driving, and those within city limits will be familiar with heavy traffic. This is in part because Japan has an efficient and far-reaching public transit system, and the cost to obtain a license often involves schooling fees upwards of $2,000. Japanese Au pairs are likely to be used to much smaller vehicles and may find American cars, trucks, and SUVs to be intimidating when they first start to drive in the US.
Highlight: Summer in Japan is a time of many local and regional festivals called Natsu Matsuri, where revelers visit yatai (booths) and delight in shaved ice, candy apples, and a goldfish scooping game. Many festival visitors wear a yukata or casual summer kimono, and the events are often topped off with fireworks!
Search for the Perfect Au Pair from Japan Today!
At AuPairCare, we have a long history of successfully matching Japanese au pairs with American host families. Our experienced team understands the unique needs of both host families and au pairs and will work to find the perfect fit for your home. Choose from our range of qualified, experienced Au pairs from Japan today and experience a new culture first hand while receiving quality live-in childcare.
