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Q1. Why don't Japanese use spoons when eating Japanese food?
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At Japanese meals, plain, freshly-cooked rice is often served,
which easily sticks to implements with a large contact area like
spoons. Metal ones, in particular, have higher heat conductivity,
and make the rice cool quickly and get even sticker.
Therefore, wooden or bamboo chopsticks are the best choice when
eating plain rice.
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Q2. Why do the Japanese like cherry blossoms so much?
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One reason Japanese people are extremely fond of cherry blossoms
is because they are extraordinarily beautiful. The flower is also regarded
as a Japanese national symbol.
Cherry blossoms have a short blooming period of about one week, and
therefore have come to symbolize the transience of life, and important
element in Japanese aesthetics.
Also, the Japanese school year begins in April around the time when
the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. For many Japanese, especially
students and those starting new jobs, the cherry blossoms are a symbol