- How many cousins do you have? How many cousins do or did your parents have?
- How many of your extended family are you in regular contact with? Do you think this is higher or lower than the average person? If higher, why do your extended family have strong links? If lower, why did your extended family lose touch?
- Which of your parents or grandparents do you look like or take after?
- Do you have anyone in your family who married someone from abroad? If yes, tell me their story. If no, would it cause controversy in your family if a younger member of your extended family decided to do so?
- There are many famous brands and businesses in Japan that are controlled by family dynasties. Name one. How far back does this dynasty go (please google it if you have no idea!)?
- If you were born into a multi-generational family business and your future was determined very early on in your life, would you consider yourself lucky or unlucky? Why?
Question 1
I have around 16 or so. I have not met 12 of them. I do not know how many cousins my parents have.Question 2
I am not in any regular contact with any of them as they all live in England while I was raised in New Zealand. I think it is rare in Japan but for someone with my circumstances it is normal.Question 3
I look exactly like my dad. Everyone from his family are more or less the same height too.Question 4
Yes, I have married a Mexican and a Japanese. It has not caused any controversy.Question 5
Mitsubishi was established by Iwasaki Yataro. It was forced to break up in 1946 into four smaller companies.Question 6
I would consider myself to be very lucky, although I would not have a point of reference if I was born into that life.Tough Vocabulary
| - English - | - Japanese - |
|---|---|
| circumstances | 事情 |
| break up | 解散 |
| point of reference | 参照点 |