Japan and the US: Different but Alike

The culture of a place is an integral part of its society, whether that place is a remote
Indian village in Brazil or a highly industrialized city in Western Europe. The culture of
Japan fascinates people in the United States because, at fist glance, it seems so different.
Everything that characterizes the United States - newness, racial heterogeneity, vast
territory, informality, and an ethic of individualism - is absent in Japan. There, one finds
an ancient and homogeneous society, an ethic that emphasizes the importance of groups,
and a tradition of formal behavior governing every aspect of daily living, from drinking
tea to saying hello. On the surface at least, US and Japanese societies seem totally
opposite, but these cultures also share some similarities.

One obvious difference is the people. Japan is a homogenous society of one nationality
and a few underrepresented minority groups, such as the ethnic Chinese and Koreans. All
areas of government and society are controlled by the Japanese majority. In contrast,
although the US is a county with originally European roots, its liberal immigration
policies have resulted in tits becoming a heterogeneous society of many ethnicities –
Europeans, Africans, Asians and Latinos. All are represented in all areas of US society,
including business, education and politics.

Other areas of difference between Japan and the US involve issues of group interaction
and sense of space. Japanese value groups and formality. This is illustrated in a Japanese
proverb that says, “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” In addition, the
Japanese sense of size and scale is focused on the diminutive and miniature. For
example, the Japanese are renowned for their skill and ability in producing transistors.
Unlike Japanese, Americans pride themselves on individualism and informality. A person
who rises above the crowd in the US is rewarded and valued. Also, North Americans’
sense of size and scale is large and grand, which developed out of the vastness of the
continent.

Both societies have transplanted cultures in which each can look towards a “mother”
society. For Japan, this connection can be made with China, which has influenced certain
areas of Japanese society, including language, religion and art. Also, some social customs
in Japan can trace their beginnings to Confucius beliefs that originated in China. Similar
to Japan, the US can also trace much of its culture to a “mother” society, this being
England. Language, art, literature, social customs and ways of thinking in the US have all
been highly influenced by English culture.

In conclusion, the societies of Japan and the US different, yet alike at the same time.
Their differences probably contribute as much as their similarities toward the mutual
interest the two countries have in each other. It will be interesting to see where this
reciprocal fascination leads in the future.