Michaila Cheung

Cross Cultural Psychology Project         Discovering and discussing the traditional  practices between Japanese and American cultures

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PDA in Japan vs. America

For my last blog post in the series of discovering and discussing the traditional practices between Japanese and American cultures, I bring you the ideology of PDA (Public Display of Affection) in public between Japan and American cultures.

           Though Japan has no real rules not allowing physical intimacy in public like some other countries do, they still frown upon the sight of it. You will most likely not see couples share long hugs, cuddling, or kissing in public. They do not do these things because it can make other people very uncomfortable. Hand holding is seen between friends and sometimes young couples. So instead of there being laws against public affection, Japanese culture relies on people giving unapproving looks in hopes the people get the hint and stop what they are doing. Showing affection in public in Japan is seen as distasteful. These unsaid laws go for travelers and tourists as well, they are not immune from the glares people will send their way if caught showing public affection.

           In America, the scene is quite different. It is very normal to see people embracing each other deeply, couples holding hands while walking, or even people kissing while in public. According to a study done in 2014, Americans do not feel comfortable with all forms of public affection, however, they are definitely more likely to be okay with most, such as the three examples given prior.

           As I have learned in my Cross Cultural Psychology class, the United States is seen as independent people and those of Asian countries, and in this case Japan, are more interdependent. Leaning more independent means those people seen themselves being unique, free, individual, and equal. To be interdependent, those people seen themselves as relational, similar, rooted, and ranked. These characteristics come up in both Japanese and American cultures and as well as the topic for this blog post, Public Displays of Affection. Since Americans feel as though they are mostly free and individual spirits or people there is nothing stopping them from acting as they see fit in public areas. They want to standout and choose their own path, so listening to societal norms such as those that Japan has, is not in their wheelhouse. In opposition, people in Japan want to fit in, follow the right or societal way to do things, as well as keeping calm. It makes sense for Japanese culture to condemn public displays of affection simply because it can make other people uncomfortable, and it is not the way things are done in Japan. People would rather follow the rules than potentially offend someone or cause a disruption in their culture.

           Neither the Americans or Japan are right or wrong in this incident. They have two very different cultures, and it makes sense that they would have differing views upon the topic of public affection.

https://today.yougov.com/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2014/01/10/no-petting-please-were-american

https://www.mybucketlistevents.com/cultural-differences-between-us-and-japan/

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Recycling and garbage disposal in Japan vs. America

Japan has been the global leader in promoting its people to recycle as much of their waste as possible for decades. They have a very intense and strict system that the people who live there must maintain. Each city has their own regulations, but they are still very similar. Sorting out your trash into different types, using specific bags and being sure to put it out on the right day and time is just part of what Japanese culture has set for its people. When becoming a resident in Japan, you are given vouchers which allows you to buy one set of ten bags. This is to discourage producing more waste.

(A trash recycling area at a highway rest stop in Japan)

The situation is starkly different here in America. There are no laws that say you have to recycle certain items and nothing about how you cannot use more than 60 garbage bags for a year (yes if you are a single male living alone you are going to be rationed to sixty garbage bags per year). In America it is a specialty for us to see that blue bin which is only for plastic bottles. It is more likely for someone to throw away food in the recycling bin or something plastic that cannot be used again. Americans produce roughly 5.91 pounds of trash per day with only 1.51 pounds being recycled.

(Recycling system in America)

I believe a great deal of the drastic difference between Japans and the American recycling system is due to how each culture is already. How Japanese are seen as interdependent and mostly a Buddhist population, and how Americans are seen as independent and primarily Christian. Factors such as Buddhism believing in chants and mantras to help the spiritual mind relate to the idea of reptation and contribute to how Japanese people have specific time, bag, and way to recycle their trash. In contrast Americans are a thick minded people and do not want to change their ways for anyone but themselves. So, if a situation does not affect them directly then they do not have an opinion or belief about it. This goes for recycling as well. It is known that is there is a massive problem with plastic waste in our world. There is something known as the “Great Pacific garbage patch,” which is described as a trash vortex and it weights around 80,000 tones. Many people in America do not believe it is real and nor want to do anything to help alleviate the issue. Japanese culture has become so adamant about trying to not add to the problem that they have made it a part of their everyday routine to lessen their waste.

(The Great Pacific Garbage Patch)

I have also learned in my Cross-Cultural Psychology class that when someone has less religiosity then they are more open to experience and are higher on agreeableness. This then shows how Japanese are less religious than Americans are because they are more open to the idea of strict recycling and comply more with the laws that are set forth.

(A residential trash pick up point in Japan)

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/trash-talk-a-guide-to-garbage-disposal-in-japan/ 

https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/03/13/fix-recycling-america/

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American dining tables vs. Chabudai

           In almost every traditional household in the world there is some form of what represents a dining room table, as the American culture has coined it. Specifically, in American culture there is sometimes a separate room that is dedicated to being the “dining room”. In this room regular or formal dinners might take place. It is the room where a family would gather for Thanksgiving dinner and have special plates and silverware that are only used for that occasion. The traditional tables used in this culture are meant to sit four to eight people at a time.

(Traditional American dining room table)

These tables are typically 28 through 30 inches high from the ground, having enough space to fit chairs, stools, or benches. This is the main difference from traditional Japanese dining tables.

(Scene from Japanese anime, Toradora, that shows the “chabudai”)

Since Japan is such a small country, their living spaces tend to be smaller also and, in an effort, to have less things or clutter in their homes, the Japanese have their dining tables, much like other furniture in their homes, lower to the ground. Japanese traditional homes have bamboo floor mats called tatami; these mats are all throughout the living spaces of the homes and people sit on them at their “dining tables”. These tables are called chabudai and are “short legged” tables.

(Scene from Japanese anime, Anohana, that shows how some homes have space below the table for a more “normal” sitting position)

In some Japanese homes the table sits like a coffee table, about half the size of a traditional American dining room table and just above the table. However, in other homes like in the picture shown above, there is space below the table so you can put your feet and legs into like you are sitting in a chair almost. A typical chabudai have pillows or cushions for people to sit on and they are always very comfortable. When it gets cold in Japanese homes, the kotatsu is used. This is a way people stay warm, there is a heat source under the table with a blanket or other heavy material in order to keep the heat in.

(An example of the kotatsu, that is used to keep warm)

Japanese people are seen as being more interdependent; they are a more relational people so it would make sense that they eat in a more informal way then in American culture. American dining room tables are sometimes seen as very formal and the opposite of relational. As mentioned before, Japan is a small country, so the living spaces are typically going to be small areas. Having furniture lower to the floor is seen as a way to save space.

http://www.iris-estrie.com/why-is-japanese-furniture-so-low/

https://www.animeimpulse.com/blog/2019/2/19/the-ultimate-guide-to-kotatsu-tables

[discoveringculturaldifferences]

Outside shoes in homes

In American homes, the wearing of shoes in the house, and more specifically past the front hall or foyer is a common practice and not looked down upon. That is with the exception of people who want to keep their new floors or white carpets clean. And of course, unless someone has particularly dirty shoes and the mother says to take them off at the door. Most Americans would say that it is more of a courtesy to take one's shoes off and not something that is done unless asked to. This has become a very standard American practice, to leave one’s shoes on while in one's own or another’s house. However, when you think of Japanese culture, it is a traditional practice to take one's shoes off when entering into their own or another’s house and put-on slippers that are meant to only be worn while inside the house.

           Traditional Japanese-style homes use bamboo floor mats called tatami and as a way to keep them clean, they do not wear outside shoes in the home. This is a typical practice of public schools and certain public buildings even though they do not have tatami flooring. Taking off outside shoes is also seen as a way of being clean because of all the different bacteria that can be on the bottom of shoes. Japan is a country that prides itself on cleanliness so it would only make sense that this practice is done in Japanese homes. In Japan, most homes have a small entryway called a “genkan”.

(An example of a genkan in a Japanese home)

This is typically lower than the rest of the house and sometimes has small cubbies where guests can keep their shoes in replacement of slippers that are provided by the host. This same practice is done in hotels, schools, and other public buildings. They all have a separate room where outside shoes are taken off and slippers are worn then after. In Japanese homes, there is often another pair of slippers that must be worn but only when in the bathroom. Yet another way of Japanese culture preserving their cleanliness mantra.

(In Japanese public schools students have small lockers specifically for their outside shoes to be stored)

           The only similarity I have determined is that in an attempt to organize shoes, American homes sometimes have small cubbies where shoes can be stored, whether they be a guest or member of the household.

(An example of an American style entryway with an organizer for shoes and coats)

           The concept of etics and emics is one that is very similar in context but differs entirely. Etics are those aspects of life that appear to be the same across different cultures, or things that are universally accepted. Emics are aspects of life that seem to be different between cultures. The wearing of, or lack thereof, outside shoes in the house would be considered an emic because when comparing American and Japanese cultures, they differ in this way.

https://goodyfeed.com/why-is-it-asian-culture-for-us-to-remove-our-shoes-before-entering-peoples-houses/

https://japanesense.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/a-glimpse-of-japanese-schools-life-part-2/