Japan Times Round Up

A speaker at one of the JET conferences once related a quote by a British anthropologist in Japan, who said that it was very interesting to see American people and Japanese people interact; one group had been brought up to believe that everyone in the world wanted to be just like them, the other group had been brought up to believe that no one in the world could possibly be like them.

This winter I was sitting on the plane next to someone who was traveling to Japan for the first time, and he was asking for advice about how to fit in. “Don’t worry,” I said. “They don’t expect you to fit in.”

We Americans tend to look at the world as if our customs and values are universal, and are surprised when we find cultures resistant to our values. Japanese people on the other hand assume that their customs and values are unique to them, and our surprised when foreigners take any interest in Japan. This Japan Times article touches on this aspect of the Japanese world view, that makes Japanese somewhat uncomfortable around foreigners who seem like they understand too much about Japanese culture.

This funny article on Koizumi’s press conferences indicates that brushing aside and sidestepping reporter’s questions is not unique to American politicians.

And then this article on the liberal sexual practices of Japanese young people seems to confirm what a lot of us JETs have often noted antidotally among ourselves.

This somewhat goes back an article I linked to previously about the “God Gap” between Japan and the US. Because of no strong religious prohibitions against sex in Japan, people seem to be a lot sexually freer than in America. Although I have to be somewhat careful when I say this, because “my America” of Grand Rapids and Calvin College might not be representative of the larger country. But there seems to be general consensus among JETs here that sexual attitudes in Japan are more relaxed than in our home countries.

What amazes me then is the view Japanese have of American culture as “anything goes” totally lacking in any morals what so ever. I try and explain that America is actually socially conservative, strong religious right, Christian nation, et cetera, but there’s a refusal to believe it. This is largely because the image portrayed in Hollywood movies is not representative of America’s larger culture, but you would think in Japan of all places they would understand the concept that movies don’t represent real life. I mean, have you seen Japanese movies?

I occasionally hear comments like, “In America everyone has abortions, but in Japan we don’t think it is a good idea.” Or, “In America everyone has sex all the time, but in Japan we are more careful.” (I’m paraphrasing slightly, but these sentiments are often expressed). I try and correct these views, but it always feels like an uphill battle.