About Buddhism

1. We say "itadakimasu" before every meal, and we say "gotisousama" after every meal.
2. We go to the Shinto shrine on the New Year's Day. This is said " hatumoude ".
3. My grandmother prays in front of the buddhist altar every day. A Japanese house mostly has the buddhist altar.
4. We visit a grave at　the Bon Festival and the New Year.
5. We sit up straight at serious events such as the funeral and the buddhist service, etc.

About American Politics

Barack Obama assumed the position of the president in the United States on January 20, 2009. He is attracting attention all over the world as the first president of the United States of African. He is winning full support from US citizen. A lot of people gathered for his inaugural, and his assumption was blest by them. Moreover, United States's voting poll rate is very high. When I saw this news, I was felt that the American was very positive about politics of own country. On the other hand, the Japanese is not so interested in politics of own country. Recently, a light poll is becoming a problem in Japan. I think that this news is one of the large differences between Japan and the United States.

(TOKYO Web, YOMIURI LINE)