Japanese Views On Western Culture

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

This is something that most fans of Japan know about,but its something that i think is being put into the spotlight more and more often these days.Can someone explain Japan and its views or thoughts on Western Culture?Mainly the USA and Europe?

Why is it that The Gaijin [foreigners] getting more and more exposure?Is Japan slowly becoming more like the west?From Japanese people having American or European names,to western themes in anime.

Do older Japanese still think they are superior to the outsiders,or do they not like the status that younger people are more open minded to such thoughts,clothing,music,and food?

Discuss.

[White hell]

This is something that most fans of Japan know about,but its something that i think is being put into the spotlight more and more often these days.Can someone explain Japan and its views or thoughts on Western Culture?Mainly the USA and Europe?

Why is it that The Gaijin [foreigners] getting more and more exposure?Is Japan slowly becoming more like the west?From Japanese people having American or European names,to western themes in anime.

Do older Japanese still think they are superior to the outsiders,or do they not like the status that younger people are more open minded to such thoughts,clothing,music,and food?

Discuss.

Western culture is the dominant culture in the world, everywhere you go you will see western influnece's. at the sametime countries will still retain their own culture or mix some western concepts with their very own. IMO, even though japan has adopted alot of things from the west, it still retains it's culture. japan westernized because it needed to, it wanted to become a world power. long story short. the western culture has just bean intergrated into japanese culture via culture diffusion and as for western names in anime, anime doesn't have to asia centric in other words into doesn't have to be centered around japanese life, hence characters with different names. anime is story telling; story telling isn't bound by culture, nationality, region, etc unless you want it to.


I think the younger japanese , well at least they seem to enjoy western idea's. the older people were still exposed to western culture just not in the amounts as the younger generations. Different people in japan may have different opinions about western culture in japan. Japan hgas always been subject to foreign cultures, when prince shitoku visted Tang dynasty china, he adopted many Customs from them, the same happened during america's occupation. I don't hink adopting western culture has changed japan to much, maybe alot, but not to the extent where it would be a threat. that's just my opinion.

[MeStinkBAD]

Well... I haven't done some checking in some time, but while their popular culture is becoming more and more westernized, the rest isn't so much. Political corruption was and probably still is far more common then in the west. The banking system has some considerable problems. It's much harder for Women to make it in the business world over there. The country is still biased against Koreans. What's portrayed in Anime and pop culture is one thing, but the reality is quite different.

[Ninja337]

Japan is still Eastern as hell and I like it just the way it is. Hands off gaijin.

But seriously, Japan is opening up to Western ideas as the country progresses and their responsibility in the world grows. It isn't good for business not to be.

[KuroiKenshi]

Japanese people are under the illusion that they dont live in a western country. i laugh at this.

and at your mother.

but seriously, i think that most of the "westernization" (i think of it more as opening to consumerism and its relevant patterns of society, but thats a different story) has already taken place. its just at a level that most people dont care to think about. most of the differences between japanese society and "western" (possibly the broadest brush anyone has ever used to paint anything, and essentially a meaningless term) are a thing of the past in my opinion.

[Burbster]

Japan's probably as western now as they'll ever be.

[Ninja337]

Japan's history lends itself to being Western. As oposed to China, a communist country that never expirienced a feudal period and had a very late industrial revolution; Japan had a feudal period like Western Europe, had monarchy for a few centuries like Western Europe, had an Industrial Revolution like Western Europe, and later rose up to be a Capitalist Democratic, like Western Europe. It's not that Japan is Western, it's that great minds think alike.

[Suiko Eiji]

I would like to entertain this question with what I considered to be humorous social commentary - Japan seems to be opening itself and modeling more like the USA and Western Europe. Some might see this as gaijin and their way of life as being put more in the forefront. I think it links back to declining birth rates in Japan; it seems that gaijin are the only people who will have sex with Japanese women.

On a more serious note...

Japan had a feudal period like Western Europe, had monarchy for a few centuries like Western Europe, had an Industrial Revolution like Western Europe, and later rose up to be a Capitalist Democratic, like Western Europe. It's not that Japan is Western, it's that great minds think alike.

Truer words were never spoken.

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

Well,some of this can be understandable.When Japan was seeking to modernize itself,it sent people to Europe and the USA to learn about certain aspects of their cultures and bring them back to Japan.I once heard that Japan based its modern Navy by Germany,its army by the United States and its airforce by Great Britain.

But there are those who did not want to modernize,or at least become "westernized".Im still sure there are those who dispise or dislike western culture,this is often mentioned in fedual animes.

[Bernard_Monsha]

Japan's history lends itself to being Western. As oposed to China, a communist country that never expirienced a feudal period and had a very late industrial revolution; Japan had a feudal period like Western Europe, had monarchy for a few centuries like Western Europe, had an Industrial Revolution like Western Europe, and later rose up to be a Capitalist Democratic, like Western Europe. It's not that Japan is Western, it's that great minds think alike.


I hate to break this to yoou but Japan aped China until the end of the Gempei war in the 12th century. They were compelled to modernize from fear of inadequacy and had an industrial revolution and then were forced to become a liberal democracy by loseing a war. It is not as if Japan really chose it's course for the last 150 years history , outside influences dictated it.

BTW China is also a western country as Communism is a western philosphy that has taken shine in the east.

[Suiko Eiji]

Well,some of this can be understandable.When Japan was seeking to modernize itself,it sent people to Europe and the USA to learn about certain aspects of their cultures and bring them back to Japan.I once heard that Japan based its modern Navy by Germany,its army by the United States and its airforce by Great Britain.

But there are those who did not want to modernize,or at least become "westernized".Im still sure there are those who dispise or dislike western culture,this is often mentioned in fedual animes.

Erm, the during the modernization of the Imperial Army during the Meiji Perod (1868-1912), the naval model was Great Britain, who was still the world's greatest naval power. The Army was based upon models from Germany (specifically paying attention to the Prussian traditions) and Holland (The Netherlands), again, some of the best in their field at the time. When military aviation came about in the 1920s-30s, one could argue that airpower was based off of an American model with parallell airforces and the fleet moving to be based upon carriers instead of battleships, despite the Imperial Navy during the Shouwa Period (1926-1988) having a class of battleships larger than any other constructed in the modern period.

[Starchild]

despite the Imperial Navy during the Shouwa Period (1926-1988) having a class of battleships larger than any other constructed in the modern period.Japan has neither the imperial navy nor battleships after WW2.

[Suiko Eiji]

Japan has neither the imperial navy nor battleships after WW2.

You're right, I probably should not have included the entire Shouwa Period but rather cut it off after WW2.

CORRECTION: The Shouwa Period I was speaking about concerning the Imperial Navy was from 1926-1945/6.

[cris]

Japan's only army = 自衛隊　Self-Defence Army or w/e it is in English =-P. BTW, metropolitan areas of Japan, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Hokkaido, etc are becoming very Westeren, even the food they eat.

More and more as the generation gets younger in Japan, they eat more and more fast foods = obesity (over weight) people in Japan are growing, and the girls have bigger chests than lets say 20 years ago because of the hormone change (burgers, sausage every day for breakfast, etc)

[fujyoshi]

More and more as the generation gets younger in Japan, they eat more and more fast foods = obesity (over weight) people in Japan are growing, and the girls have bigger chests than lets say 20 years ago because of the hormone change (burgers, sausage every day for breakfast, etc)

oh no there goes corruption!! Gah fast food is the devil!!! >:O

[Starchild]

Japan's only army = 自衛隊　Self-Defence Army or w/e it is in English =-P.Japan does not have any army after WW2. 自衛隊 is force.

[Suiko Eiji]

Japan does not have any army after WW2. 自衛隊 is force.

Yes, the Jieitai has a lot of restrictions on what it can and cannot due. The very nature of its existance, as a defense force to protect Japan against invasion, makes it in all practicality, barely half an army*. It has only been since 2001 that the use of the Jieitai outside of "only defending Japan" has occured and from what I gather, is not without critics in Japan.

*There are three branches to the Jieitai; Ground, Maritime, and Air and I believe they act as seperate branches but all fall under the banner of Jieitai much like the construction of Germany's modern Bundeswehr.

[m_fugue]

It's not that Japan is Western, it's that great minds think alike.

It's mostly rather "modern" culture than western, and the modernity is not exclusive to the west (albeit its origin).

You could still be modern without subscribing to the traditional western values like Christianity. Modern science & technology, industrialization, materialism, liberal democracy and the other modern values and conveniences don't necessarily require older western values.

Also Japan has contributed lots to the development of the modern culture, more so than the majority of the so-called western nations. It has as much claim as those western nations to the modernity.

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

Speaking of that,how was Japan`s view on western culture before World War II?How was it viewed after?That is something else i tend to hear different reactions to.

True,Modern Japan clings to its feudal and old past,which stands to say in some cases for example,Japan uses the western number system [1,2,3] but i hear Japan has its own system.Can anyone explain more?

Likewise,there are compromises and both systems are used.Is this how Japan is now?A sort of toleration for old and new?

[cris]

During the early stages post-WWII, as expected, many Japanese pretty much hated the idea and bash the gaijin and talked crap after crap about them. This generally got loose when less and less American military groups occupied Japan, and the long enough exposure to the Western/American eventually blended in with the culture.

Of course like all countries that became westernized, they still kept their old traditions or blended it in with the western.

I'm not sure what you are talking about in terms of number system, can you be more descriptive about this?

There are still people that doesn't like western views and stuff, but that is mostly people who are around the WWII era or people who just can't accept the culture gap (very noticable on MMO games.... the culture gap (usually attitude difference)

[Starchild]

Simply speaking, Japan's way of modernization (sp?) after WW2 should be called Americanization.

[Suiko Eiji]

Speaking of that,how was Japan`s view on western culture before World War II?How was it viewed after?That is something else i tend to hear different reactions to.

Most of this answer is assumption: I think it depends on the community, position, and individual. During the Meiji Resotration, many public (government, high-ranking, and traveling officials) adopted Western-styled dress, military organization, and some ideals of societal change (Though more changes in sociopolitical areas and modern art began to reflect that of Europe in the very late Meiji era and through the Taisho (1912-1926) era). However, the vast majority of the country still operated with little change to traditional culture, dress, and ideals. If I had to compare the views on Western culture before and after the war, I would say they aren't all that dissimilar. I would say that more Western economic ideals are stressed by the general public because it is seen as a means to financial wealth and power however, still retaining certain cultural aspects such as bowing to greet one another and bowing based on social rank (and the existance of social rank which I've seen less of in the West, though more in Europe than in the US).

True,Modern Japan clings to its feudal and old past,which stands to say in some cases for example,Japan uses the western number system [1,2,3] but i hear Japan has its own system.Can anyone explain more?

Likewise,there are compromises and both systems are used.Is this how Japan is now?A sort of toleration for old and new?

Japan does use Indo-Arabic numeral system that we in the US and, as far as I know, all of Europe for all modern uses such as mathematics and financial transactions. There are a couple sets of traditional numeral kanji borowed from China centuries ago. These, from what I've seen, are used on some government documents or certificates of honor or what-not, such as ranking certificates I received from Japan when I was in martial arts.

[Richi]

Simply speaking, Japan's way of modernization (sp?) after WW2 should be called Americanization.

yeah, but before that..wasn't japan sending their top scientists to different parts of the world to learn more about the modernization (sp) and copy any special sources they got out of these parts of the world??

you can't call it americanization...because americanization is not even real... more like modernization >< America copied everything, bulding designs and gov't building designs and law, straight out of Rome and European influences.

[Richi]

Speaking of that,how was Japan`s view on western culture before World War II?How was it viewed after?That is something else i tend to hear different reactions to.

True,Modern Japan clings to its feudal and old past,which stands to say in some cases for example,Japan uses the western number system [1,2,3] but i hear Japan has its own system.Can anyone explain more?

Likewise,there are compromises and both systems are used.Is this how Japan is now?A sort of toleration for old and new?


They also use the same scientificewords for zoology and oceanography sciences. O_O

[Suiko Eiji]

They also use the same scientificewords for zoology and oceanography sciences. O_O

While you are correct, my question is why does this matter? I mean, those same sort of words are duplicated in other languages with local flavor and sometimes roots.

[Spadesy]

Does it really matter whether it's called "westernized" or not? They modernized, just like the rest of the developed countries. Jeans are jeans, shoes are shoes.

[Starchild]

At least Self Defense Force was formed by the order of the U.S. government.

[Ageha]

[QUOTE=Richi]yeah, but before that..wasn't japan sending their top scientists to different parts of the world to learn more about the modernization (sp) and copy any special sources they got out of these parts of the world??

I think you're thinking of after the Meiji Restoration (1868+), when Japan was forced out of its self imposed isolation.

[Spadesy]

At least Self Defense Force was formed by the order of the U.S. government.

Oui. But their primary mission (as of now anyway) isn't grunt work against insurgents in Iraq. It's humanitarian aid and rebuilding things, like a peace corps.

Except of course, they carry rifles and wear cammies.

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

Perhaps the most ovious,and least questioned fact is that these days.More and more of the english language is actually finding itself in Japanese.If you are to listen to J-Pop songs,and even some anime songs you hear the japanese music.But crude english,why is this?

[sailornyanko]

For the same reason why they shove english into the names of mexican products and pop songs: cuse english is a different language and therefore it's exotic and interesting to the ignorant masses. Could of been any widely diffused language.

[Myrc]

The east and west isn't divided by technology or modernity or other such things. What sets apart Japan (and China, Taiwan, Korea, etc) from the west is that they are collectivist societies, where western countries are predominantly (if not exclusively) individualist societies.

[Suiko Eiji]

The east and west isn't divided by technology or modernity or other such things. What sets apart Japan (and China, Taiwan, Korea, etc) from the west is that they are collectivist societies, where western countries are predominantly (if not exclusively) individualist societies.

I agree that culturally, this is about all that seperates a nation like Japan from the USA, Germany, or the UK; however useful the old East-West terminology was in comparing economic standards, it is a little out of date.

[White hell]

The east and west isn't divided by technology or modernity or other such things. What sets apart Japan (and China, Taiwan, Korea, etc) from the west is that they are collectivist societies, where western countries are predominantly (if not exclusively) individualist societies.

I disagree,society in genral is based on collectivism. But, It may be more restricted in japan

[Noi]

The east and west isn't divided by technology or modernity or other such things. What sets apart Japan (and China, Taiwan, Korea, etc) from the west is that they are collectivist societies, where western countries are predominantly (if not exclusively) individualist societies.

You may want to use a different term, as "collectivist" is a reference to socialism.

[White hell]

All I know is that japan's "WA" and "Honne to Tatemae" philosophy is scary. The obsession in persona and collectivism just doesn't fly with me, I'm not suprised suicide or hermitism is an option

EDIT: But, what society isn't like that

[Suiko Eiji]

You may want to use a different term, as "collectivist" is a reference to socialism.

I know what he meant by 'collectivist' society and it's not quite the same that is intended when referring to a socialist society.