最後に、自宅待機をしている皆さんに息抜きを☆ 外国語で日本語を選択しているアメリカの高校生が使っている日本語の教科書(“Adventures in Japanese”)に掲載されている日本文化を紹介するコラム(Cultural Notes)からの抜粋です。日本の「下敷き」文化を紹介しています。
Japanese students always go to school well equipped with school supplies. They carry pencils, pens, erasers, compasses, notebooks, pencil cases, etc. They also always carry their own supply of tissue. Another necessary item is the SHITAJIKI, which is a smooth page-sized solid plastic sheet which is placed under paper so that one can write neatly. There may be several reasons for using a SHITAJIKI. First, Japanese students rarely use loose “sheets of paper.” They almost always use notebooks. SHITAJIKI provides a solid backing when writing in a notebook. Second, Japanese traditionally always used both the back and front of a page of paper. By using the SHITAJIKI, one can always have a clean piece ( not one which is roughened by pressing heavily on the opposite side of the page ). Japanese were conscious of recycling and environmental protection long before Americans because of their limited resources.