The Most Important Elements in Japanese Culture - web review

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Recently, as I was conducting a bit of research on the Japanese culture, I came across an article written in June of 2007 by Kevin Bucknall on the subject of General Elements of Japan tailored to understanding the Japanese businessmen. The web site is http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977025266 and can not only be helpful for the businessman but for those of us who are teaching students with Japanese heritage. The article discusses the strong sense of nationalism, desire to conform, group harmony, lack of strong class system, young Japanese students sent abroad, outside influences, WWII as a topic of discussion, the generation gap, art and culture, symbolism, nature, work and hierarchy, gender roles, laws and regulations, race issues, foreign countries, Japan as a safe country, education is Confucian, homosexuality as a topic not openly discussed, bad manners, the issue of shame, the name of the Emperor, general optimism among the people and white gloves worn as a form of polite dress. The article spans ten pages in length and gives a good overview for someone trying to get a quick grasp of cutural perceptions, practices and "things to avoid." Very interesting and a good recap to many of our readings and lectures from class. -Susan Pavelka[Edit by="spavelkagregg on Dec 27, 2:12:59 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Reading Susan's web review brought several things to mind about Japanese culture. First, especially since I saw mention of the Japanese emperor, I thought about the book I just purchased over the weekend. It is called Princess Masako, Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne. The book cannot be purchased in Japan. I've always been curious about Princess Masako's recent depression and mental health since her marriage to the Emperor's son. Her mother-in-law suffered something very similar and has never fully reccoverd. What is it about life in the imperial family that has affected two commoners who married into the royal family? I'm sure part of the stress is from the pressure for her to bear the male heir to the throne. She's Harvard-educated and was once very active and important. I can't wait to read the book. Something else that came to mind was Susan's mention of the importance of conformity and group harmony. When I was growing up, my mother instilled in me the value of staying within the norm, of not making myself conspicuous. In my generation, even in class, the Japanese-American kids were often not outgoing and talkative in class--you didn't want to draw attention to yourself. In my film review today (Feb 4), I discussed the social disregard for mentally challenged children in Japan years ago. Perhaps this falls in line with the fact that the disabled children lacked conformity with the rest of society. The film showed several incidents of local children taunting and physically abusing the mentally challenged children.

[Anonymous]

Aileen,
Your responses are well taken. In a recent interview with the JBA, Japanese Businessmen's Association, a question was posed to the teachers in the room. "How are the Japanese students in your classroom different from the other students?" My response was quite similar to your sentiments and recollections regarding your childhood. While students are encouraged, even rewarded for direct participation in my English classes, often I find myself having to actually call upon the Japanese students to share, otherwise, they remain fully involved intellectually, yet absolutely quiet vocally. Upon sharing this information the committee of five Japanese men smiled sheepishly and nodded their heads. Thank you for your personal insight - the connections made through shared response in the forum are quite valuable.
-Susan

[Anonymous]

Reading your comments made me think that you might enjoy the book that I just finished reading about Princess Masako. See my post under "Women in Japan." What is important about Japanese culture would certainly include being polite and respectful in the sense of not stepping on anybody's toes (like the Japanese journalists who cannot be disrespectful of the Imperial family) even if it means one does not tell the truth--evasiveness or avoidance.

[Anonymous]

Japanese Woman Caught Living in Closet
By MARI YAMAGUCHI,AP
Posted: 2008-05-30 14:02:06
Filed Under: Weird News, World News
TOKYO (May 30) - A homeless woman who sneaked into a man's house and lived undetected in his closet for a year was arrested in Japan after he became suspicious when food mysteriously began disappearing.

Police found the 58-year-old woman Thursday hiding in the top compartment of the man's closet and arrested her for trespassing, police spokesman Hiroki Itakura from southern Kasuya town said Friday.

The resident of the home installed security cameras that transmitted images to his mobile phone after becoming puzzled by food disappearing from his kitchen over the past several months.

One of the cameras captured someone moving inside his home Thursday after he had left, and he called police believing it was a burglar. However, when they arrived they found the door locked and all windows closed.

"We searched the house ... checking everywhere someone could possibly hide," Itakura said. "When we slid open the shelf closet, there she was, nervously curled up on her side."

The woman told police she had no place to live and first sneaked into the man's house about a year ago when he left it unlocked.

She had moved a mattress into the small closet space and even took showers, Itakura said, calling the woman "neat and clean."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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