mattev
Mar 24, 2009, 07:24
Hi there I’m currently righting a dissertation about Japan and was hoping that some of you might like to venture an opinion to help me with my research? I would greatly appreciate any assistance.
There are a few areas’ I was looking into. Mainly how Japanese people view themselves as individuals. I have seen it written that relational ties are the key in Japanese social identification, Japan has a “relationship based social identity” western is “category based”. (311, 2007 Kitayama, Handbook of cultural psychology) This shows through in the media exports I have seen from Japan, people succeed as a team or fail individually, Ultraman was the example given in the book I believe, but this idea can be seen in most children’s show from Japan. What do you feel defines Japanese identity both in a larger global scale and on a personal basis? I ask this because in the course of my research I have repeatedly come across statements in the following vein.
“excessive regimentation violates students' human rights and imposes a stifling conformity that will hurt Japan by producing adults who do not think for themselves
nytimes.com/1988/07/27/world/in-japan-the-land-of-the-rod-an-appeal-to-spare-the-child.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=2
“Compared to western societies, adolescents in Japan appear to be highly contingent on school-centeredness.” Guido Oebel (2002)
japanesestudies.org.uk/reviews/Oebel.html
“childrem do not have time to play. It is as if club activities and homework assignments were used to restrict childrens freedom” (schooland, dogs and demons, p. 21)
“intense pressure to perform in lower grades leaves young people burned out by the time they reach collage level” (Schooland, dogs and demons. p.16)
Do you feel these are a fair representation of the education system in japan, and how do people who have experienced said education feel about this, are young people’s lives so school centred? Does this effect their development as individuals?
Also as an aside, Japan has been weathering an economic storm for a while, is a westernised economy that was so concerned with immediate gain now reaping the rewards of its selfishness? Does this shed new light on the Japanese economy?
I realise this might be a bit heavy or ambiguous, but If anyone has any opinions on any of the above subjects or quotes, even if it’s just regarding a small section that you feel strongly about, please feel free to reply either here, or if have some experience in any of the above areas and would like to help me in a more in depth fashion please feel free to contact me.
Thank you
There are a few areas’ I was looking into. Mainly how Japanese people view themselves as individuals. I have seen it written that relational ties are the key in Japanese social identification, Japan has a “relationship based social identity” western is “category based”. (311, 2007 Kitayama, Handbook of cultural psychology) This shows through in the media exports I have seen from Japan, people succeed as a team or fail individually, Ultraman was the example given in the book I believe, but this idea can be seen in most children’s show from Japan. What do you feel defines Japanese identity both in a larger global scale and on a personal basis? I ask this because in the course of my research I have repeatedly come across statements in the following vein.
“excessive regimentation violates students' human rights and imposes a stifling conformity that will hurt Japan by producing adults who do not think for themselves
nytimes.com/1988/07/27/world/in-japan-the-land-of-the-rod-an-appeal-to-spare-the-child.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=2
“Compared to western societies, adolescents in Japan appear to be highly contingent on school-centeredness.” Guido Oebel (2002)
japanesestudies.org.uk/reviews/Oebel.html
“childrem do not have time to play. It is as if club activities and homework assignments were used to restrict childrens freedom” (schooland, dogs and demons, p. 21)
“intense pressure to perform in lower grades leaves young people burned out by the time they reach collage level” (Schooland, dogs and demons. p.16)
Do you feel these are a fair representation of the education system in japan, and how do people who have experienced said education feel about this, are young people’s lives so school centred? Does this effect their development as individuals?
Also as an aside, Japan has been weathering an economic storm for a while, is a westernised economy that was so concerned with immediate gain now reaping the rewards of its selfishness? Does this shed new light on the Japanese economy?
I realise this might be a bit heavy or ambiguous, but If anyone has any opinions on any of the above subjects or quotes, even if it’s just regarding a small section that you feel strongly about, please feel free to reply either here, or if have some experience in any of the above areas and would like to help me in a more in depth fashion please feel free to contact me.
Thank you