The natives of Japan, the Japanese, are very convinced that they are different from everyone else, as in other nations. For many centuries, foreigners were not allowed into Japan. There was, and still is in some areas, a real xenophobic concern about outsiders. Inhabitants of non-Japanese origin crept over 1% in 1993! The vast majority of these are Korean. It wasn't until 1858 that foreign trade was opened in the port of Yokohama. The first cemetery for foreigners was built in Yokohama to keep them away from the Japanese dead. I've been to this cemetery, and it is lovely. I don't recall any Japanese being buried there.
The Group
In Japanese culture, the group is more important than the individual. This is the opposite of American culture. Workers who spend many hours at work are giving priority to giri - social obligations over ninjo- human feelings. I know Japanese families who haved lived abroad and have gotten used to having a lot of family time. Then they moved back to Japan, and were obligated to giri. The families of two former students of mine returned to the United States for family time. One family applied for American citizenship - which, I'm sure, caused sorrow for the family members back in Japan. Individual concerns do have a place in Japanese culture, but it is not as defining as being in a group. The group importance is part of the code set down by Confucius and imported into Japan.
To this end, the Japanese love to join clubs and associations. They take group responsibilities very seriously.
Them
To a Japanese, I am a gaikokujin (outside country person), or gaijin (outside person). Away from the big cities it is not unusual to hear whispers of gaijin da (It's a foreigner!) The Japanese are, for the most part, very courteous to foreigners. Many long term foreign residents feel that they should be treated on level with a native Japanese. This does not always happen. I know some Americans who have lived for 20+ years in Japan that feel a bit irritated that they are treated as outsiders. Hmm...seems to me that we do the same to people who are foreign born and have lived in America for a few decades! (Unless they are white foreign born - I'm just saying)
Minorities
In America, we celebrate our cultural heritage. In Japan......need to be part of the group. Koreans, especially those born in Japan, an who only speak Japanese have only recently been released from the obligation to carry thumb-printed ID cards at all times. Koreans still face discrimination in the work place and in other aspects of their daily lives. It is not unusual for Koreans to change their surnames to Japanese surnames - similar to how American immigrants had to change names, or pronunciations.
Two minorities that have faced persecution are the Burakumin and the Ainu. The Burakumin are racially the same as the Japanese, but social outcasts because they belonged to communities that brought them in contact with death, which is considered a contamination and taboo in both Shinto and Buddhism. There are about three million hereditary Burakumin in Japan today. It is common knowledge that a person's possible Burakumin origin in available to anyone - usually employers and future father-in-laws. It is not polite to bring up this subject in polite conversation.
The Ainu are the indigenous population of Japan, and mostly live on reservations on the northern island of Hokkaido. It is thought that there are fewer than 500 pure-blooded Ainu left with intermarriage. They do have their own spoken language, but no written language. When a language dies, so does a culture. They have made an effort to rekindle pride in their culture.
Men and Women
It used to be that the role of women was to be passive, and to let men dominate. This also came from the Confucius codes. However that is not so much the case in today's Japan. Still, there are situations that need to be fixed. When Crown Prince Naruhito married commoner Masako Owado, people felt sorry for her having to give up her career- her father is a well-known diplomat. This was a marriage of love. Then, Crown Princess Masako had to endure constant baby watchers. The couple finally had a daughter, Aiko. Princess Aiko is not allowed to inherit the throne under current law. Her male cousin, and the first boy to be born to the royal family in 41 years will inherit the throne. Legislation was written to allow women to inherit the throne - there have been empresses in control of Japan - however the legislation died. Perhaps Aiko's parents want her to have a few more choices.
A Peek into Japanese Culture
There are numerous Japanese films that can be found in the USA. My favorites are Shall We Dance about a man who takes upballroom dancing. Don't confuse this with the American counterpart with the same name and plot. (which is lame) What makes this movie work is that the main character is going against the group. Another excellent movie is The Cellist. This deals with the contamination of death. It is a sweet movie with some comedic moments. Both movies have English subtitles.
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