1
Q
aimai
A
state in which there is more than 1 intended meaning resulting in obscurity, indistinctness and uncertainty
2
Q
origins of aimai
A
- geographical determinism
- Jp isolated from rest of Asia because dangerous seas
- free from threat of invasion
- Jp mountainous with little inhabitable land
- people had to live in close communities
- Jp isolated from rest of Asia because dangerous seas
- climate
- hot summers, rainy season supports intensive agriculture (e.g. rice)
- irrigating, planting and harvesting traditionally shared by community
- achieve high productivity w/ small space
- hot summers, rainy season supports intensive agriculture (e.g. rice)
3
Q
explanation of aimai
A
- bred cooperation b/c fear of exlcusion
- have to communicate w/out disrupting harmony
- avoid expressing ideas clearly
- form of unity in which everyone aims for same goal
- strong emotional unity -> inability to criticise openly
- asserting opinion clearly shows assumption that other person knows nothing
4
Q
examples of aimai
A
- ‘maa-maa’
- response to questions of how well you are/did
- avoids appearing overconfident
- ‘ichio’
- way to say yes w/out assertion
- avoids appearing superior
5
Q
cross-cultural effects of aimai
A
- Jp appear shy/uncertain
- non-Jp can find irritating
6
Q
aimai differences b/w Jp and West
A
- disagreement
- Jp: listen w/ air of acceptance then disagree vaguely, emotional response to disagreement, would affect relationships
- West: direct and honest expression of opinion, non-emotional responses to disagreement
- silence
- Jp: indicates deep thinking
- West: discomfort, indication of apathy
- solutions
- Japanese need to be aware of ambiguity and problems that can arise
- Non-Jp need to understand cultural significance
7
Q
giri
A
traditional attitudes toward moral duty/social obligation
8
Q
2 parts to giri
A
- moral pinciples/duty
- behaviour obligated to follow
9
Q
history of giri
A
- recieved goodwill from others in rice field in helping transplanting and reaping rice
- needed to return favor
- carefully noted whether recieved favor back
10
Q
examples of giri
A
- chugen and seibo
- summertime and wintertime gift giving
- Valentine’s day and white day
- negajo and shochumimai
- cards sent in New Year and July
11
Q
bushido
A
- ethics formed among samurai
- foundation of national morality after Meiji restoration
12
Q
bushi/samurai
A
- class that had political power and position of leadership from end of 12th C
- self-defense groups that protected private manors and maintained public order
13
Q
feudalism
A
decentralised structure of society in which vassals obtained protection and land as reward for loyality and service to lord, powerful in Middle Ages
14
Q
origins of bushido
A
- zen buddhism
- introduced tea ceremony, flower arrangement, haiku, calligraphy
- stressed physical discipline, self control, etc.
- confucianism
- rational, utilitarian philosophy of human relationships which consideres proper human relationships as basis of society
- stresses social order based on strict ethical rules
- centered on familiy and state - both governed by men of education and superior ethical wisdom
- 4 principles: humanism, faithfulness, respect for social norms, chi (wisdom)
15
Q
neo-confucianism
A
justified ideologically feudal system in Jp in 17th C
16
Q
key principles of bushido
A
- loyalty
- bushido historically determined to die
- all samurai had to live honorably so have no regrets when die
- strict moral code involving justice, politeness
- loyalty in feudal Jp = relationship b/w lord and vassal
- differing opinions on reason for relationship
- obligations and service
- submission and self-sacrifice
- remuneration only
- honor
- die rather than disgrace self
- if samurai died in war then fame and rewards passed down generations
- seppuku (suicide by disembowelment) most honorable samurai death
17
Q
cons of bushido
A
- led to fanatic patriots
- committed horrific atrocities in name of honor
- before Russo-Japanese war early 20th C Jp soldiers killed sick wife and kids so not a burden on country
- Kamikaze squads in WWII
- attitudes praised as exemplifying budo spirit
18
Q
modern bushido
A
- still dominant in some ways
- sometimes -ve b/c suicide seen as easy escape to honor family after failures
- some young people losing respect
19
Q
- uchi
- soto
A
- inside, home, belonging, spouse
- outside, outdoors, others, outside home
20
Q
origins of uchi/soto
A
- traditional ie system
- male dominated (senior male had absolute power)
- head of household in charge of family business (provided family w/ salaries)
- household itself more important that individual members
21
Q
influence of uchi/soto on politics
A
- psychological exclusivism towards other groups
- discrimination against minorities e.g. burakumin, Ainu, ethnic Koreans
- need to develop relationships w/ people from other countries
- group all other people as ‘gaijin’
- important for young people to be aware of this aspect of culture
22
Q
- honne
- tatamae
A
- deep motive/intention
- refers to motives/intentions that are socially-tuned, suppressed by majority opinion
- dichotomy contrasting genuinely held feelings and socially controlled ones
- prevalent in most countries, Jp uses it extensively
- considred virtuous not to express feelings
- easy for Jp to use b/c grow up w/ them, can cause misunderstanding
23
Q
gambaru
A
to do one’s best and hang on
24
Q
free time in Jp vs. US
A
- not working = unpleasant feeling for Jp, seen as wasteful/shameful
- e.g. Jp men don’t know what to do with themselves when retire, increased suicide among elderly
- cruicial for US to have free time
25
origins of gambari
* rice growing
* intensive labor practice so needed people to give all during harvesting, etc.
* geographic conditions
* challenging conditions never allows contentness, always restless
* equal opportunities for upward mobility
* post-Meiji restoration greater equality
* if work hard can fight for better place in society
26
gambari today
* losing importance
* some think youth have been spoiled
* classrooms unruly
* rigorous exam process means a lot of kids give up on dreams
* beginning to think leisure time important, shortened work week to 5 days
27
problems w/ gambari
* death from overwork (karoshi)
* fanaticism (e.g. soldiers in WWII)
28
origins of do spirit
* Taoism
* beliefs of ancient china
* influenced Zen Buddhism
* do literally translates to 'way'
* expresses unity of man and nature
* concerned w/ bringing heaven and earth together
* Zen Buddhism
* emphasizes importance of acting
* naturally
* gracefully
* thoughtfully
29
do in tarditional Japanese arts
* formalization (actions become rule bound - kata)
* beauty of complete perfection (constant repetition of kata)
* mental discipline
* integration w/ skill
30
problems w/ do
* Jp seek perfection in all aspects of life to achieve spiritual satisfaction
* emphasis on perfecting established standards rather than creation of ideas
* accepted in soc. if follow rules
31
haragei
way of exchanging feelings/thoughts in an implicit way
32
+ve of haragei
* can read others minds and guess what they are thinking
* social lubricant
* helps avoid arguments
33
-ve of haragei
* hide real feelings/thoughts
* seen as decietful in business/politics
* hide motives to gain power
34
haragei + amae
speaker allows themselves to become dependent on sensitivity of listener to read b/w lines
35
haragei + honne/tatamae
don't say what really think
36
haragei + ishin denshin
* intuitive understanding w/out using words/signs
* ID is unintentional, whereas haragei is intentional
37
high/low context cultures
* HCC
* most info lies in setting/people, little info in verbal message
* don't ask many qs and value silence
* e.g. Jp
* LCC
* verbal message contains most info
* ask qs to avoid ambiguity, intolerant of it
* e.g. West
38
nemawashi
laying groundwork before reaching final agreement
39
spadework vs. nemawashi
* decision making process
* JAPAN
* Jp. decides by unanimous agreement
* boss has nominal decision-making power
* if don't notify opponents/supporters, reason enough to go against plan
* WEST
* boss has ultimate decision-making power
* done on those in power
* meaning of meetings
* JAPAN
* make decisions before meeting
* too uncomfortable to discuss frank opinions in meetings
* more like ceremonies
* WEST
* place to discuss matters and reach conclusion
* certain characteristics
* JAPAN
* notification
* WEST
* effective advertisement
40
cons of nemawashi
* sometimes regarded as crafty
* non-Jp think it is cheating/lobbying, etc.
41
bigaku
* Japanese sense of beauty
* Western life widespread among Jp people
42
examples of bigaku
* wafuku: original Jp clothing
* today mostly wear yofuku (western clothes)
* kimonos less popular b/c difficult to move in and seen as putting on airs
* kimonos only worn on special occasions now - demonstrate formality, status and pride
* hogaku: traditional Jp music
* rare in Jp these days
* modern Jp music played with Western instruments
* used in certain occasions (e.g. New Year)
* Japanese art
* traditionally monochromatic, few strokes, silk cloth, etc.
* now western art ubiquitous - vivid colors, complete, explicit
* traditionally beauty comes form feelings
* W. art is logical beauty
* criticised for vague beauty fundamentals
43
beauty in Jp today
* Jp blindly imitates W. culture
* need to gain greater appreciation of Jp culture
44
kisetsu
Japanese sense of seasons
45
6 Jp seasons
* winter
* summer
* spring
* fall
* tsuyu (rainy season)
* typhoon season
46
Jp lifestyle w/ weather
* architecture
* raised floors
* airy rooms
* paper doors
* keep cool from humidity
* clothing
* mostly W. clothing except for yukata (informal kimono)
* worn as pyjamas or relaxing summer nights
* food
* fruits+veg year around
* bamboo shoots in spring
* eels in summer
* letters
* most begin w/ some form of seasonal greeting
47
annual seasonal Jp events
* cherry blossoms in spring
* Tanabata festival July 7, hang sheets w/ poems outside
* omisaka prepare for New Year
48
wabi-sabi
simplicity and elegance as Japanese beauty ideals
49
zen buddhism and wabi-sabi
* zen doesn't regard nothingness as a state of the absence of objects
* instead affirms existence of unseen behind empty space
* nothingness is ideal form of beauty
* tea ceremony
* esteemed qualities: lack of polish, asymmetry, simplicity
* lack of ornamentation requires participants to complete surroundings in mind
50
modern wabi-sabi
* disappearing due to lack of understanding
* practise tea ceremony w/out mental effort, form of entertainment and imitation
* materialism: Jp only values surface, don't see unseen beauty of outer world
* lead more luxurious lives adn need to realise the values they were built on
51
amae
japanese dependence on others' benevolence
52
amae explanation
* related to enryo (restraint), giri (social obligation), tsumi (sin), haji (shame)
* inner circle: amae, no enryo
* middle circle: enryo
* outer circle of strangers: neither
* like relationship b/w mother and child
* Jp people struggle to say no b/c don't want to break amae bond
* if want to get close will bring present
53
shudan ishiki
* Japanese group consciousness
* considered a virtue to adhere to values of a group, solidarity
* social groups create own social codes of behaviour
54
what is shudan ishiki influenced by?
* development of non-verbal communication
* uchi/soto
* emphasis on harmony
55
iitoko-dori
* adopting elements of foreign culture
* began w/ acceptance of shinto + buddhism
* reconcile theoretical contradictions
* Jp people have 2 religions
* e.g. 1873 Tomioka model factory built entirely of imports, French workers hired, Jp workers copied them
56
consequences of iitoko-dori
* little religious conflict
* able to accept new ideas (e.g. christianity)
* Jp not willing to stand up for beliefs w/out group consensus
57
kenkyo
* Japanese virtue of modesty
* people expected to be modest regardless of social position
* self-assertiveness discouraged, consideration encouraged
* Jp soc. v. vertical heirarchy e.g. sempai-kohai
* v. complicated honorific system(teingeigo - polite, senkeigo - honorific, kenjogo - humble)
* used to address superiors adn respected people, also older people
* express humility in English to establish equality, in Japan to show inferiority
58
chinmoku
silence in Jp communication
* Zen: purpose not stated explicitly but learned intuitively
* group consciousness
59
otogibanashi
* Japanese foltktles
* portray visual and emotional beauty
* known for portrayal of physical beauty of seasons and in-depth description of hero's emotional life
* often contains animal characters that take form of humans
* helps explain japanese concept of people coexisting w/ nature in vague way
* stories develop in same basic way
* ideal person portrayed: strong will
Japanese Culture
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