U.S. and JapanU.S. and Japan

History/Psych Collaborative 4History/Psych Collaborative 4thth Quarter ProjectQuarter Project

Cultural Differences Between Cultural Differences Between the U.S. and Japanthe U.S. and Japan

► United StatesUnited States Individualistic cultureIndividualistic culture Flexible ties to family and Flexible ties to family and

groupgroup Respect immediate familyRespect immediate family Individual decisions Individual decisions

valuedvalued Behavior ruled by self-Behavior ruled by self-

interestinterest Individual Individual

accomplishments valuedaccomplishments valued

► JapanJapan Collectivistic cultureCollectivistic culture Strong ties to family Strong ties to family

and group/countryand group/country Respect family Respect family

(especially elders)(especially elders) Group decisions Group decisions

(consensus) valued(consensus) valued Behavior is governed Behavior is governed

by social normsby social norms Team Team

accomplishments accomplishments valuedvalued

Cultural Differences Cultural Differences (Continued)(Continued)

► Here are several Here are several noticeable cultural noticeable cultural differences between differences between the US and Japan:the US and Japan: The traffic lights in Japan The traffic lights in Japan

are horizontal instead of are horizontal instead of verticalvertical

In Japan, citizens do not In Japan, citizens do not make appointments to see make appointments to see the doctor/dentist but, they the doctor/dentist but, they are made on a first come are made on a first come first serve basis.first serve basis.

In schools, the academic In schools, the academic year begins in April, during year begins in April, during the spring, instead of the the spring, instead of the fall in the US.fall in the US.

In restaurants, it is not In restaurants, it is not Japanese custom to leave a Japanese custom to leave a tip or pay at the table.tip or pay at the table.

CollectivismCollectivism(Brian So)(Brian So)

► Collectivism is the theory that people think Collectivism is the theory that people think of society as a group. In Japan, a person is of society as a group. In Japan, a person is part of a group before he is an individual. part of a group before he is an individual. People take great pride in their culture, their People take great pride in their culture, their art, and their nation as a whole. Adherence art, and their nation as a whole. Adherence to tradition is a great part of their society. to tradition is a great part of their society. Collectivism is both beneficial and Collectivism is both beneficial and detrimental- while some people may see detrimental- while some people may see that the old ways are often right, they often that the old ways are often right, they often do nothing to fix the errors that are do nothing to fix the errors that are introduced by tradition. For example, a child introduced by tradition. For example, a child who does not behave will often be scolded, who does not behave will often be scolded, and then, people will assume that the and then, people will assume that the parent has not taught the child well. The parent has not taught the child well. The child is considered a unit of the family as a child is considered a unit of the family as a whole. In Japan, an insult from one whole. In Japan, an insult from one individual can be considered an insult from individual can be considered an insult from the group the person belonged to as a the group the person belonged to as a whole. A good example would be this - whole. A good example would be this - when a person committed a crime when a person committed a crime deserving of capital punishment, such as deserving of capital punishment, such as treason, all his family would be executed treason, all his family would be executed with him. When one person was dishonored, with him. When one person was dishonored, the whole family would be held in dishonor.the whole family would be held in dishonor.

People in Japan have been creating such calligraphy for centuries: they are good at perfecting what is handed down to them.

IndividualismIndividualism(Brian So)(Brian So)

► Individualism is the idea that people Individualism is the idea that people are individuals before becoming part are individuals before becoming part of any group. Individualism promotes of any group. Individualism promotes independence and creativity. While independence and creativity. While collectivism encourages the use of collectivism encourages the use of tradition and old methods tradition and old methods oftentimes, a culture that is highly oftentimes, a culture that is highly individualistic has many more individualistic has many more creative people. Also, people are creative people. Also, people are thought of as single people before thought of as single people before they are thought of as family. For they are thought of as family. For example, a family is not ostracized example, a family is not ostracized simply because of one black sheep. simply because of one black sheep. People tend to be more free-thinking People tend to be more free-thinking than those in a collectivist than those in a collectivist environment. A good example is the environment. A good example is the way the United States has a large way the United States has a large number of inventors- people are number of inventors- people are encouraged not to follow set encouraged not to follow set patterns of thinking.patterns of thinking.

American individualism encourages the creation of “stuff” that does not fit the social norms, like this awesome tank-like motorcycle. n-n

Historical Differences► By: Carey Price

Differences in Fighting ► American soldiers fight to defend their country and Fight hoping they can accomplish the job and come homeBack to their families

► The Japanese culture for fighting is to fight for one’s honor Of their family and country. The soldiers go into wars preparedTo die. The men and women are happy to sacrifice themselves.

► Pearl Habor was an example of when this type of fighting took place.

► The Japanese air force flew themselves into U.S. Navy Ships,Killing hundreds of American soldiers.

► http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=american+soldier&form=QBIR#focalef7c22e3bd1894bc47f33ef6e752f960&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wecarepackageproject.com%2FSoldierFlag.jpg

► http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=pearl+harbor+japanese+fighters&form=QBID

► http://library.thinkquest.org/26638/war/japan-strategies.html

Historical Differences Historical Differences (Continued)(Continued)

► By: Carey PriceBy: Carey Price

Work EthicsWork Ethics► The U.S. citizens work for vacation and a luxuriousThe U.S. citizens work for vacation and a luxurious life style. life style.

► The Japanese people work themselves to The Japanese people work themselves to death for perfection. Their economy puts pressure on death for perfection. Their economy puts pressure on

families to work long hours in order to keep up with paymentsfamilies to work long hours in order to keep up with payments.. ► Typically, the Japanese worker stays at the office forTypically, the Japanese worker stays at the office forlonger hours and has lower wages than the American worker.longer hours and has lower wages than the American worker.

► Furthermore ,Japanese products are better made than Furthermore ,Japanese products are better made than American products.American products.

► http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/2/8/6/p102860_index.htmlhttp://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/2/8/6/p102860_index.html

► http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=american+business+men&form=QBIR#focal=267391bae7f2c74bf9dbc10dcd677272&furl=http%3A%2Fhttp://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=american+business+men&form=QBIR#focal=267391bae7f2c74bf9dbc10dcd677272&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.haloimages.com%2Fimgs%2FMK00161_FPO_PREV.jpg%2Fwww.haloimages.com%2Fimgs%2FMK00161_FPO_PREV.jpg

► http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=japanese+workers&form=QBIR#focal=158c539b72878c4404e2831582c893f3&furl=http%3A%2Fhttp://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=japanese+workers&form=QBIR#focal=158c539b72878c4404e2831582c893f3&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Folmedia%2F1480000%2Fimages%2F_1483839_japan_workers_bbc_300.jpg%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Folmedia%2F1480000%2Fimages%2F_1483839_japan_workers_bbc_300.jpg

Social ConversationSocial Conversation► Americans love to talk. We Americans love to talk. We

talk constantly to fill in talk constantly to fill in awkward silences that can awkward silences that can happen in a conversation. happen in a conversation. Japanese people are quite Japanese people are quite different. They believe different. They believe actions speak louder than actions speak louder than words and prefer the silence words and prefer the silence in a conversation to random in a conversation to random babble. babble.

► Japanese people also like to Japanese people also like to “beat around the bush” and “beat around the bush” and talk indirectly so that the talk indirectly so that the listener can come to their listener can come to their own conclusion. Americans own conclusion. Americans just want to get the point.just want to get the point.

Matt P. SlideMatt P. Slide

CitationsCitations► Slide 2:Slide 2:

Gaumer, C., Shah, A. (2004, January). Television Advertising and Child Consumer: Different Gaumer, C., Shah, A. (2004, January). Television Advertising and Child Consumer: Different Strategies for U.S. and Japanese Marketers. Strategies for U.S. and Japanese Marketers. The Coastal Business Journal. Volume 3, Number 1The Coastal Business Journal. Volume 3, Number 1. . Retrieved May 27, 2008, from Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://www.coastal.edu/business/cbj/pdfs/articles/spring2004/gaumershah.pdfhttp://www.coastal.edu/business/cbj/pdfs/articles/spring2004/gaumershah.pdf

► Slide 3:Slide 3: Cultural Differences in Life Between Japan and the US. Ball State University. Retrieved May 27, Cultural Differences in Life Between Japan and the US. Ball State University. Retrieved May 27,

2008, from http://www.bsu.edu/web/clubjapan/learning/culture_files/frame.htm2008, from http://www.bsu.edu/web/clubjapan/learning/culture_files/frame.htm

► Slide 8:Slide 8: Pic.- (2007, November 1). Pic.- (2007, November 1). Quality Assurance Management & Technologies ConferenceQuality Assurance Management & Technologies Conference. Retrieved . Retrieved

May 27, 2008, from http://www.bbjtest.com/qamt/people_talking.jpgMay 27, 2008, from http://www.bbjtest.com/qamt/people_talking.jpg Info.- (2004-2007). Info.- (2004-2007). American-Japanese Communications 101American-Japanese Communications 101. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from WIN . Retrieved May 27, 2008, from WIN

Advisory Group, Inc.: http://www.winadvisorygroup.com/AmericanJapaneseComms101.htmlAdvisory Group, Inc.: http://www.winadvisorygroup.com/AmericanJapaneseComms101.html