Cute racism a la japonaise ?

[kkkktttt]

It doesn't seem so obvious to all Japanese that not only Japan has four seasons. Or at least, it is not obvious to them that all Europe does. Otherwise, why would it be such a common question, and why would some people be surprised when I say that Belgium, or France, or Italy all have 4 seasons ? Even my wife admitted that she did not know that before going to Europe (before meeting me). That's very strange for me. What do Japanese people learn at school about geography, I asked my wife. She said that 1) not everybody takes geography classes (it's not compulsory like in Europe), and 2) some teachers had told her that Japan was one of the rare countries in the world to have 4 seasons (I can't speak for other Japanese, but in her case, and other friends to whom I asked, that is what they were told).

世界の気候については小学校、中学校、高校とそれぞれ のレベルに応じて習いますよ。高校では選択制ですが、 小・中学校では義務教育として習うはずです。奥さんは 忘れているだけではないですか？
地理の時間だけでは� りません。
Antonio Vivaldiの「The Four Seasons」は日本でもっとも好まれるクラッシック曲の� 黷ﾂで、学校の音楽の授業でも習います。欧州には� の� 謔､な名曲を生み出す美しい「四季」が� るわけですね� B
会話の内容にもよりますが、もし本当に「春夏秋冬は日 本にだけ� る」などと思い込んでいたのならば、もう一 度義務教育をやり直すよう勧めてください。

[kkkktttt]

ベルギーでMaciamoさんと同じような境遇に� った日本人の例を� ﾐ介します。
母国を相対的に見ることによって、� るいは著者の「解 決法」を学ぶことによって、日本社会との「つき� い方 」がこなれてくるかもしれないですよ。
http://www.infoplaza.be/belgium/bovy21/bo216225.htm

[Maciamo]

世界の気候については小学校、中学校、高校とそれぞれ のレベルに応じて習いますよ。高校では選択制ですが、 小・中学校では義務教育として習うはずです。奥さんは 忘れているだけではないですか？

She could have forgotten, but then so did her 4 friends we asked, and so did about 50 of my students.

Antonio Vivaldiの「The Four Seasons」は日本でもっとも好まれるクラッシック曲の� 黷ﾂで、学校の音楽の授業でも習います。欧州には� の� 謔､な名曲を生み出す美しい「四季」が� るわけですね� B

Exactly ! That's what I have answered a few times when I was asked whether Europe also had 4 seasons. Tonight again, we were talking about Italy, and I was asked if Italy had 4 seasons... Well, Vivaldi was Italian, they should know...

会話の内容にもよりますが、もし本当に「春夏秋冬は日 本にだけ� る」などと思い込んでいたのならば、もう一 度義務教育をやり直すよう勧めてください。

I completely agree. But then many business men and women I have met should go back to school. It should be quite obvious that Europe has four seasons, since the names for each season (spring, summer, autumn, winter) exist in every European language. If they weren't 4 seasons, why should they be just 4 names for them ?