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1. Do you have any interest in Japanese antiques and family heirlooms? Why?
2. Japan is a country where consumers often expect very high standards and where households are prepared to spend a lot of money on well made artisan products that, in some cases, get passed from generation to generation. These include kimonos, Buddhist altars (butsudan), Japanese lacquerware, Paulownia chest of drawers (kiri tansu), inkan, swords and hina doll displays. Name something in your home or in your parents' home that is considered a family heirloom. Tell us a little about what it looks like and how you feel about it.
3. Who originally bought it? How much did they pay (even a very rough approximation is fine)? Is it worth that now? Why?
4. Tell us about a friend, an acquaintance, a family member or a celebrity that you have read about who owns an interesting, beautiful or really expensive Japanese antique.
5. Do you think young people today are as likely to invest in these items as their parents and grandparents? Why?
6. The Japanese government often spends a significant amount of money trying to keep traditional craftsmanship alive. Is this a good use of tax payers' money? Why?

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Question 1

Yes, I do. I'm curious about kimono which are passed down from generation to generation. I love kimono and think they are beautiful. I know that production methods for making kimono have changed a lot over many years, which means there are many different styles and materials that have been used to make them. I am particularly curious about the value of a kimono based on its age, material and quality of the design.

Question 2

The only family heirloom my family keeps are jewelry. The family jewels are passed from mother to daughter in my mother's side of the family. We have a wonderful collection of all jewelry made from all sorts of jewels like diamond, emerald, garnet and onyx. We also have a collection of pearl jewerly. When I turned 18, my grand aunt gave me a diamond ring that I wanted from the family collection since I was a child. I was so happy to receive it. When I got married, my mom gave me diamond earrings and a full set of pearl jewerly. She also gave me a diamond and gold ring that once belonged to my grandmother. I was very happy to receive them and love to wear them when I can.

Question 3

My mom, grandmother and grand aunt would buy the jewerly on their own. Our family has a jeweler that we regularly go to. One piece of jewerly can cost around 80,000 yen. I'm sure it is worth much more now. Jewelry prices don't usually change. It is probably even more expensiven now because it's an heirloom. Jewerly increases in value over time like paintings.

Question 4

I don't really know anyone that owns an expensive Japanese antique. But my best friend's family in the Philippines also collects jewelry. She has a nice pair of diamond earrings which she wears on important work meetings.

Question 5

I don't think so, because young people now a days are simply not earning as much as the previous generations, so it's difficult to buy luxury items like that because most of the money is spent on basic necessities.

Question 6

I think Japanese craftsmanship is one of a kind and the quality is the best in the world. It would be a terrible shame if these works of art are lost forever. If I could afford it I would definitely buy expensive products from Japanese craftsmen.

Tough Vocabulary