UNIT14

1	One American businessman asked the amusing question: gWhy do Japanese people change their seasonal clothes all at once?h
2	In fact, June 1st and October 1st are known as the dates when clothes should be changed, which are called koromo gae.  This unique custom started in the Meiji Era, a time when Japan was trying to catch up with Western nations.  To create motivation for teamwork and efficiency, most schools, factories, department stores and many other industries had their workers wear uniforms.  One type was prepared for spring and summer and the other for fall and winter.  Changing uniforms twice a year led to a national trend \\ the changing of nearly all clothes twice a year.
3	Uniforms are still used in many schools and places of work.  And people still get a sense of seasonal change as a result of the uniform changes they notice around them.
4	As described in the previous question, the Japanese tend to move and act together.  And this tendency is closely connected with the four seasons.  Take spring for example.  The Japanese image of spring is cherry blossoms.  Since the cherry blossom period only lasts for a week or so, people rush to places where blossoms can be enjoyed on weekends or after business hours along with spring picnics.  Many groups of business colleagues, neighbors or other types of friends seek out the best places to sit under well-blossomed trees, and once they find them, they enjoy drinks and food together.  This cherry blossom party is called ohanami.
5	In autumn, there is a similar tendency to appreciate the changing colors of leaves.  In summer, people like to go to the tops of buildings where outdoor beer parlors are set up for the season.  And the same people may gather again in December for a special party called bonenkai to mark and celebrate the end of the year.
6	Japanese people like to have different parties with drinks from season to season.  In the old days, these parties were associated with agricultural events such as in celebrating the end of the harvest.  Now the gatherings not only occur among farmers but among office workers as well.
