Message from staylor

[Anonymous]

From the readings, plus my own understanding of the closeness of the relationship between the United States and Japan, I can fully understand how and why Japan grew into a 'consumer culture'. Status has always been important in Japan, whether it was assigned in the past by birth or acquired in the present by hard work and good pay. As we know in the US, status is often displayed through the amount and type of material possessions one has. We look at a person's car, house, clothes, and everything else as an indicator of that person's wealth and status. It has been this way for as long as mercantilism and capitalism have been in existence (and even prior). Japan was supported in it's rebuilding efforts by the most capitalistic and materialistic country on earth, the United States. It only stands to reason that the growth of a material culture would take place during this process, especially considering the fact that Japan's economy was exploding. More wealth means more money, which people inevitably spend on things they want rather than need. It does seem to conflict with longstanding Confucian and Shinto beliefs of the Japanese, which I believe is why the effort to push 'frugality' and to save money in a bank has become so important in Japan.