Conversational Japanese. Anne Kaneko

      But some of the traditions live on. When you move to a new neighborhood or apartment you should introduce yourself to your immediate neighbors. At other times giving a few homemade cookies or sharing something from your country will be interpreted as a gesture of friendship. You will certainly receive something in return.

      Addresses refer to blocks, not to streets: three numbers separated by a dash. The first is the local neighborhood block, the chōme. Within this are perhaps ten to twenty sub-blocks called banchi. If you look at a map, you’ll see these do follow some sort of order, but if you’re walking along a street the numbers are not in sequence. The last number in the address is the number of the house, again not in sequence along a street. Signs on lamp-posts indicate the name of the chōme and the numbers of the chōme and the banchi but Japanese addresses are notoriously difficult to find. Give good directions and send a good map if you invite someone to your home.

      Living in a Japanese community entails certain responsibilities. Dues may have to be paid to the town association. Trash is to be put out only on certain days, and in some areas people take turns cleaning the collection point after the garbage truck has left. Neighbors may not look kindly on those who do not abide by these communal rules.

      If you want to play an active part in your community, the town association (chōnaikai) will be only too happy to have your help. These bodies, linked both with the city or ward office and with the police and fire departments, are responsible primarily for disseminating information on health, sanitation and the environment. They also organize outings, local festivals and other community activities. You can join the Sunday morning weeding group or the pest-control squad, help supervise baseball practice for children, or participate in planning (and celebrating) the local festival.

      You might find that your Japanese neighbors are more tolerant than you are. The prevailing attitude is one of give-and-take (otagai-sama). You put up with their noisy dog and they tolerate your noisy children; your guests can park in front of their gate if their guests can park in front of yours. If you will be the source of disturbance, you can smooth relations with a prior warning or, failing that, an explanation afterward.

      If you are new to the area, ask your neighbors about nearby stores, schools, doctors and so forth. The police in the neighborhood police box (kōban) may be able to make recommendations. The Yakult lady who delivers sweet yogurt-type drinks by bicycle, the parcel delivery people, and others who pass through regularly know the entire area and are mines of information. Don’t be afraid to try local markets and family-run shops. You’ll be surprised how much even a little Japanese will make your day-to-day living in Japan more enjoyable.