Japan

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Cultural Profile

Japan: Florence Kluckhohn Value Orientations

1. Relationship to Nature and Supernature The first value orientation is man's relation to nature. There are three possibilities for man's relationship with nature which include: subjugation to nature, harmony with nature and mastery over nature. The first option, subjugation to natureor reverence of nature means that man has the impression that natural forces control man and man must accept these forces and not attempt to change them. Harmony with naturerefers to man not controlling or trying to conquer nature but rather, both man and nature live together as one and are accepting of each other's forces. Man values nature and respects it, man has a harmonious relationship with nature. Lastly, mastery over nature refers to man's intent to control nature. Man seeks to do this by creating development projects to lessen the impact of natural phenomena. In other words, man attempts to influence the impact nature might have on a culture through management, or preventing or protecting oneself from the power of nature. The Japanese culture's relationship with nature is that of harmony with nature. The Japanese people respect nature and don't attempt to manage or control nature but instead, they feel a spiritual bond with nature and this is evident through various practices. For example, Japanese gardening, such as rock gardens, express their belief in living harmoniously with nature. Such appreciative origins date back to the beliefs of ancient Shinto, a widely practiced religion in Japan. (Mac Leod, 1) Their appreciation for the simplicity of nature is apparent in the structure and design of rock gardens. The United States doesn't live in harmony with nature but rather, attempts to master nature. This is evident through the way people respond to natural phenomena such as, hurricanes. People try to manage and protect themselves and their belongings by boarding up their houses, taping windows, moving furniture and evacuating. Man's relationship with nature affects communications because a certain program with developmental projects might aim to control nature. The Japanese might not as readily accept a program that attempts to master nature as the Americans do. A communications practitioner must be aware that a project needs to respect nature and adhere to the Japanese belief of living harmoniously with nature.

2. Innate Human Nature This value orientatiation deals with the innate nature of man and whether man is good, evil or a mix of the two. Different societies have different beliefs as to where man stands in this continuum, which is often determined by heritage, religious or philosophical beliefs. Evil human nature means that all man is evil, but goodness could be achieved through strict discipline, or may not by alterable at all. Good human nature means that all men are basically good. Lastly, a mixtureof the two means that man has both good and evil human nature and there exists a battle between the two. The Japanese believe they are inherently good, with an immutable predisposition, meaning men are good and that is unalterable. This belief among Japanese society is reflected in Buddhism, an also widely practiced religion in Japan. Buddhism believes that humans are born good because they are a creation of nature, which is good. Man is part of nature, and God created nature, than man must be good. In the United States, the innate human nature is perceived to be neutral and mutable. The possibility of corrective action and change is a shared American quality. This belief of innate human nature may pose a problem for the American practitioner in Japan, who might encounter resistance if they practice beliefs that man isn't born good and must be altered to reach perfectibility. The practitioner must understand Japan's view of human nature and its immutability when setting goals for a program that might aim to change human nature. The proper steps must be taken in order to accommodate Japan's beliefs.

3. Human Activity

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This value orientation places great importance on human activity and its measurable accomplishments. For example, some cultures might place more importance on the materialistic achievements of an individual compared to the intellectual achievement. The being orientation is defined be relationships. Being-inBecoming is a mixture of the two extremes and is defined by relationships and self-development or achievement. Doing defines the human but what the human does. Japanese society believes in the being orientation where mans activity is defined by his relationships and not by development or materialism. Achievement and development are not as important in a traditional vertical society such as Japan where an individual's birth, family background, age and rank is much more important.(Zaharna, 5) In a being culture the emphasis is on spontaneity and fully experiencing each moment. In these cultures, one works to live, one does not live to work! Work gets done, but is not necessarily prioritized over other things; people who do work a lot do so because they want to, not because they think they should. (DiStefano) As opposed to the American belief in doing, where man is defined by what he does. American culture places an emphasis on achievement, materialism and weather the achievements can be measured. For the American practitioner in Japan, the different belief in human activity must be understood and respected. The American, who tends to place more significance on what one does professionally, will need to adapt to the Japanese belief system that self-development and achievement doesn't define the person. Daily interaction among Japanese society will have to be modified and the communication program must reflect the importance of social structures rather than the American way.

4. Time Each society has its own understanding of the past, present and future and how these time elements play a role in their lives. Each society works on differing time dimensions. The past refers to a society that places great importance on history and tradition. The present places importance on the present moment, not the future or the past. Carpe Diem or Seize the Day is a great expression that reflects a present-oriented belief in that living each day individually and to its fullest is most important. The past and future are unimportant and not pressing. The future means looking forward and prioritizing for the future. Japanese is a past time oriented country because it is a traditionalistic culture. Japan defines time by tradition and experience. For example, the Japanese strongly value ancestry and tradition, which reflects that it is a past oriented culture. More specifically, the elderly and ancestors are worshipped in Japanese society. There are viewed as being intellectual and guiding figures to others. Another example is the Buddhist religion, where the conceptions of reincarnation and karma are widely practiced. Those ideas reflect the past-oriented characteristics of Japan. More specifically, what one has done in the past, good or bad, will determine one's future. One's behavior and action in one's life determines their future. It is a belief that each life is present life is dictated by the past. (Exploring Cultural Awareness) American's put emphasis on the future and often make long-term goals. They set their lives in a futuristic timeframe whether it's investing in the stock market, setting up an IRA or putting money away for your child's college tuition. For the American practitioner, one must be very conscious of the differing time elements that exist between the two cultures. Planning for a massive communication project in the future might be viewed as being too futuristic and unpredictable for a Japanese client. A future project might be very hard for the Japanese society to conceptualize. The element of time is important and must be highly regarded when planning a project. Setting an appropriate time frame that can be envisioned by Japanese culture is vital.

5. Relationship to Other People The three integral parts of this value orientation include: individual, collateral and linear. This part categorizes relationships as a whole, more specifically family. The nuclear family, or the immediate family members including, mother, father, brother and sister, is indicative to the individualistic orientation. Collateral consists of more family bonds compared to the individualistic pattern. Collateral includes the immediate family, but is also extended to include grandparents, uncles and aunts and cousins etc. Linear goes even further to include all of the above family members and distant relatives, both genealogically and chronologically. (Zaharna, 6) Japanese culture reflects the linear orientation to include all family members near and far. Linear also includes ancestors, who are highly regarded in Japanese society. Making decisions for the collective group, or the entire family, is more important than making individual decisions. Important decisions are made to include all the family members, nuclear, immediate and extended. (DiStefano) The family provides support and assistance for each individual member; in turn, individual members provide support and assistance for the entire family. These relationships, interactions, and obligations are lifelong and the goal of individual members is not necessarily autonomy and independence. This concept is critical to understanding Asian families, and service providers should avoid applying Western labels such as codependency and enmeshment when observing normal family functioning dictated by cultural values and beliefs. (Exploring Cultural Awareness, 37) In the United States, the individualisticorientation has the most prominent role among American families. Decisions are often made regardless of the extended family member's stance. The nuclear family has the most influence on relationships patterns among American society. An American practitioner must be aware of the importance the extended family and even ancestry plays in daily

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life and decision-making in the Japanese society. Messages must be created to include all the members. A target audience carries on a different meaning in Japan, when compared to the U.S. A target audience in Japan must be more broad and far-reaching. The American definition of a highly specified target audience is irrelevant in Japanese society. Therefore, A message must be developed to encompass many more people, rather than limiting the appeal to an individual. Di Stefano, Mavneski. Culture in International Mangement: Mapping the Impact. IMD International. Aug. 2004 <www.02imd.ch/news/research/perspectives/index>. Exploring Cultural Awareness: Workbook 3. National CASA. <www.nccourts.org>. MacLeod, Colleen. Japan: A People In Harmony With Nature. Kezai Koho Center Fellowships. <www.kccfellowships.ncss.org>. Zaharna, R.S. (working draft 1/28/2000). "Overview: Florence Kluckhohn Value Orientations." http://academic3.american.edu/~zaharna/kluckhohn.htm

Mackenzie McGrath-April 2005-American University

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