Cultural Notes

This is just a small list of some of the cultural observations I noted during my trip in Japan. I should be quick to point out that these observations took place over a very brief period – three weeks – and a very small section of the country – Tokyo – so they may not be fully accurate or even representative of the country as a whole. With that in mind:

• Quiet:
• One of the first things we noted was how relatively quiet Japan and its people were in contrast to the U.S. and Americans. That’s not to say that there were not loud Japanese or that parts of where we were weren’t loud, but on the whole, when compared to American cities, things were quiet. For example, on the way to Tokyo from the airport on our first day, I noted only two honks from cars, and traffic was at a standstill in places. Additionally, the people were relatively quiet as well – we were able to note this mostly from the fact that we – Americans, that is – were easy to pick out in a crowd on the street, the subway, a restaurant, or a hotel because of how loudly we talked to and at each other. After a while, it became quite noticeable that we were very loud –although we probably wouldn’t have been out of place if we had talked at the same volume in an American city. Perhaps some of this comes from the fact that Japan is such a small country with so many people living in one place that for everyone to get along quiet is a necessary item that has been ingrained in the culture. But that’s just a guess, so take it for what it’s worth.
• Clothes:
• In Tokyo, business suits were a must. And not just business suits, but black or blue business suits – I think I saw one guy wear khaki’s during my stay. Women were dressed up, many of them in heels, and school children wore uniforms. So in the city it was very formal. In Atsugi, which is much smaller than Tokyo (perhaps around 100,000 in population), the situation was much different. While some were still formally dressed, many more were more casual in dress. Indeed, many American styles were seen – t-shirts, jeans, etc. – as well as different hair styles and shoes. So overall, it seemed that there was a mix of the formal and the casual, but on the whole, it seemed a bit more formal than what one finds in the U.S.
• Tired:
• As one of my fellow FMFers noted, Japan seems to be an exhausted nation. I’m not sure if he’s right or not, but from my observations, you could make a good case for his argument. On the subway in particular, it’s nothing for the entire car to be zonked out (something that I tried unsuccessfully as I missed my stop due to sleeping on the car) trying to catch some “z’s.” And in meetings, it seemed that many of the Japanese we met would doze off for minutes at a time (sometimes doing so while standing up). Maybe they were just closing their eyes, but sometimes it seemed like it was sleepy-time. Perhaps part of this is due to the long commute that many people have to take to Tokyo (it’s nothing for someone to take a ninety minute ride into town to get to work). Or perhaps it’s due to the long hours people work or the long nightlife many men are expected to partake in (to create business connections). Or perhaps it’s due to us visiting Americans being boring.
• Drinking:
• This observation may be the most biased of all – our groups were treated very well, and the alcohol flowed freely – but was this due to the “celebration” atmosphere of our trip and of our being there? So it’s difficult to tell, but it sure seemed like alcohol flowed very freely in Japan. Whether that’s more so than in U.S. is difficult to tell over a three-week period, but again, it sure seemed like it. And the fact that alcohol is served from vending machines (vending machines, by the way, that are all over the place) and that mixed drinks are served at baseball games makes one think that alcohol is more prevalent in Japan than in the U.S. The issue of responsibility, however, may be a reason why this is so … so again, that’s my guess, so take it for what it’s worth.
• Smoking:
• For a society that focuses so much on cleanliness (slippers, hot towels before eating, etc.), smoking is uber-big-time in Japan. Asking for a non-smoking table is possible but not going to help you much – everywhere else in the restaurant is pretty much a smoker’s paradise. I’m not sure why smoking is so huge in Japan, but it sure seems to be.
• Crosswalks:
• For the most part, people just don’t cross the street at a crosswalk unless the little green “go” light says so. Now don’t take this to mean that no one in Japan jaywalks, but for the most part, people will wait even if nothing is coming.
• Importance of Education:
• Education, culturally, seems much more important in Japan than in the U.S. In America, if you bomb out of school, you theoretically have opportunities to succeed elsewhere (i.e., Bill Gates, Art Model, the Wendy’s guy). In Japan, if you bomb out of school, you haven’t only failed yourself, but your family as well. Simply put, it seems that education is necessary for any kind of success you’re going to have in Japan. However, there is a bad side to this – the pressure to succeed. There is so much pressure on kids to get into the right school and pass the right exams that some in Japan wonder if the educational system – or the cultural emphasis on education – is too stringent.
• Influence of WWII:
• Wow. This is everywhere. From peace signs the kids sport to peace museums all over Japan, the second world war’s influence is everywhere, especially among the middle-age to older generation of Japanese. Peace is simply one of the key phrases we heard throughout our trip – it’s not only in schools but also seems to be in the general population as well. With more than half the population being essentially wiped out during the war and with the impact of atomic weapons upon their country, many Japanese see this time period as an important stage in their history. Many seem to see WWII and it’s impact as their destiny, but whatever the case, WWII is still around everyday in modern Japan. Whether that feeling stays true or not amongst the younger generation will be interesting to see over the coming years.
• Gifts:
• It’s not so much the gift as the giving of the gift that is seen as important in Japan.
• Business Cards:
• Apparently, business cards are much more important in Japan than in the U.S., and one should follow a proper manner when they are presented and given out. The card is supposed to represent a part of you, so it’s seen as very important.