Japanese Culture

The Japanese culture is a multi-layered and complex system that has been developing within itself and forming new layers for thousands of years.Social ranking and status play a part in many major institutions that one goes through in a lifetime. In Japan, everyone is aware of everyone else's age. In some companies, newsletters that display the ages of employees are produced for internal distribution. Vertical ranking, based mainly on age, determines everything from the location of desks in a classroom to the order in which cups of tea are distributed. These rankings are even pervasive in the language, which has different ways of addressing others in regard to their age, whether older or younger.

Traditionally, the Japanese place great importance on the concept ofwa, or group harmony. The value of the common greater good is more important than valuing one's own needs. The inferior partner in a relationship, whether personal or business, must allay their own wants, thoughts, and opinions to that of the superior, so as not to cause the superior to lose face or be humiliated. The appearance, or tatemae, is more important than the reality, or honne. Although this may appear as hypocritical or negative to the eyes of westerners, to the Japanese this may be completely normal.

For more information on Japanese Culture, click on the picture!

Japanese Quote

"I want to become a good person"