Japanese Culture - Research Paper Example

However, the words ha s become embedded in Japanese popular culture, as a character in the renowned video game Super Mario. Yoshi is the name of a green dinosaur in the game. 4. Uichi-Soto literally means inside and outside that is a way to classify people as in-group and out-group. It is a social custom that is also reflected in their language, whereby an out-group member is honored and an in-group member is usually treated in a more informal manner. 5. Honne/Tatemae are terms that describe social behavior; Honne refers to a person’s true feelings or character that is exhibited in front of close friends, whereas Tatemae literally means a facade that is behavior in public and in front of strangers.

Tatemae is actually an important aspect of Japanese society, in order to create accord and a polite environment. 6. In Japanese, Chonai literally means a street, town or neighborhood, whereas Chonakai refers to associations formed by all the households in a particular neighborhood. This practice is rampant in modern Japanese cities and they are self-governing bodies. The concept of Chonakai was established during the age of feudalism in Japan. 7. Kojinshugi is a compound word that is formed from Kojin, which means personal or individual and shugi, which means doctrine of beliefs.

The word Kojinshugi now stands for individualism, a concept that received immense amount of attention during the Russo-Japanese war. It was a time when Japanese people strove for individuality, while struggling with conformism. 8. Shudanshugi refers to ‘groupism’ in Japanese society or the doctrine of groups. The word seems to incorporate Confucian ideology that emphasizes the importance of uniformity and conformity within a group to maintain peace in a society. It is the exact opposite of Kojinshugi. 9. Onsen & Sento refers to Japanese Hot Springs and Bath houses, respectively and their primary function is to provide relaxation and rejuvenation to its visitors.

Onsen use water rich in minerals and other additives, and are usually located near volcanic springs. On the other hand, Sento uses regular water; with little or no mineral additives. 10. Furusato means ‘Hometown’ in Japanese and they are usually established by Japanese expats abroad. They often call it a home away from home that shows how existential meaning of their identity is drawn by people living away from Japan. 11. Oyabun/Kobun literally refers to a father-child relationship. This is usually signified when two individuals drink Sake (Japanese Wine) from the same cup.

This is a tradition that has been adopted by all segments of the Japanese population, including Yakuza and Shinto weddings. 12. Ainu are a race of people indigenous to Japan, inhabiting the northern and central islands. They were officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1899 and another law was passed in 2008 that not only granted them recognition, but decreed a complete eradication of discrimination against them. Their language is also called Ainu. 13. Kamidana literally refers to a spirit altar and is a miniature shelf that is hung on walls.

It is a classic feature of Shinto Shrines and can also be seen in traditional Japanese homes. It contains a wide variety of items, all of which are pertinent in Shinto ceremonies. 14. The term Kokusaika does not have any set definition but is often translated as ‘Internationalization’ or ‘’westernization’ in other words. It is a fashionable way of embedding western