Western cultural influences on the Native Japanese culture: Good or Bad?
606799
I come from Asia and I live in the West. These are my thoughts on the matter:\n\nGood because:\nit frees the younger generation from the heavy pressure of the family telling them what to do with their life - even when they don't want to do something, they have to, so that their family-name will not go down. This makes for a lot of unhappy ppl, so it's good in a way that they feel free to follow their own course.\n\nBad because:\nIf you look at the family life in the east, it's often more comfortable, close, trusting and productive than in the west. In the west, there is often distrust between family members, a distanced relationship, discomfort that shouldn't really be there when you need help, and this unease of sorts in many families, instead of this relaxed sort of "everyone knows who they are in this family" atmosphere. So a lot of people are lonely and angry. This will also happen in Japan if it isn't happening already. \n\nIn general, I find it more Bad than Good. \n\nHonor and Accountability to the community are two good traits of eastern cultures that are going fast, and it can be attritubed to a fair extent to western influences. Also, materialistic tendencies to the point of being selfish and unfriendly have also permeated the east to a point where it is scary.\n\nI know I am saying "east" the whole time instead of "japan", but this is not a problem in Japan alone. In general, I think there is more security and happiness in the world, if everyone followed the eastern modes of living than the western ones.
274238
I think that in the present time. The biggest Japanese influence in the Philippines are mostly affecting the kids. It is Anime television programming or Manga magazine circulation like " NARUTO "  and " BATTLE B-DAMAN "
132030
I didnt know we were all obsessed with Japanese culture. I think your a bit narrow on your sight. We are a land of so many diffrent cultures and history. I think it is you that needs to look past the room/town that your in.
927943
Sounds great but how do you plan to study cultural difference without learning their language? You would be better off studying in an english speaking country other than your own. Sure there are some good english speakers in Japan but don't you think that they would be influenced by their experiences with english speakers and the english language and thus not necessarily representative of the broader society? I would give this a miss unless you are bilingual.
520320
Different cultural perspectives in America?  Germany?  Japan?  Be more specific and I probably can help you.
765842
Pure ethnics will likely disappear in time, but strains always resurface (it's called recurrent). As for the language, no it cannot merge. There will always be people that don't move from where they were born, that are not mixed into the global net and that don't have the slightest interest in what is happening outside their universe. Look at the US, most have no idea of how Japanese people live, still we're talking about advanced interlinked societies.
917569
Japanese have interesting history
218510
I have always found Japanese people to be very easy to work with, talk to, and befriend.\n\nOf course, depending on your willingness to understand another culture (if you are not Japanese) will determine your ability to relate.  The best thing to do is to learn how to be polite.  \n\nLike any other people, Japanese are very curious about other cultures and ideas.\n\nThat being said, I hate to generalize, as all people are different.  You may meet people you don't like, but that is just that person, not that entire culture.
507249
Yes and no. Yes, every culture has their own way of mannerism. No, as human, manners depends much of one's own upbringing despite of one cultural's background.
736535
Orientals bow instead of shaking hands to avoid getting negative\nspiritual energy from others.\nWhat do you know about Martial Arts Bullshido?\nI am self-taught, studying for 30 years. Have proven myself in "street" fights.\nAnd started developing my own style before I got degenerating discs!\nWhat have YOU done but criticize people on Yahoo Answers? I've seen your answers before.
734939
Hey what exactly do you have in mind?\n\nSome general ideas here:\n\nhttp://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/g101ilec/sasia/ssc/ssdiv/ssdivfr.htm\n\nAlso, UNESCO published this document on the topic: www.unu.edu/hq/japanese/ gs-j/gs2004j/shonan20/kaldun.pdf \n\nIn the meantime, you can also get some ideas from this text\n\nIts principal language groups include Sino-Tibetan, Indo-Aryan, Austronesian, Austroasiatic, and Semitic; important singular languages include Japanese and Korean. East Asia contains three main ethnic groups: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The Indian subcontinent is home to a vast diversity of peoples, most of whom speak languages from the Indo-Aryan subgroup of the Indo-European family. Because of the influence of China and the former Soviet Union, the Mandarin Chinese dialect and the Russian language are used widely. Asia is the birthplace of all the world's major religions and hundreds of minor ones. Hinduism is the oldest major religion to have originated in southern Asia; Jainism and Buddhism emerged in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, respectively. Southwest Asia was the cradle of the so-called Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Daoism and Confucianism, both of which originated in the 6th or 5th century BC, have profoundly influenced Chinese culture and the cultures of surrounding peoples. Asia is marked by great disparities in wealth. A few countries, notably Japan, Singapore, and the oil-rich countries of the Arabian Peninsula, have attained high standards of living; others, such as Bangladesh and Myanmar, are among the poorest. Between these two extremes lie Russia, China, and India. Asia is a land of great cultural diversity, but there are five main cultural influences: Chinese, Indian, Islamic, European, and Central Asian. China has had great influence in East Asia as the source of Confucianism, artistic styles, and the Chinese writing system. Indian influence has been expressed through Hinduism and Buddhism, affecting the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Central Asia. Islam spread from its original Arabian home to become important in the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and elsewhere.
775850
Japan is a very homogeneous society they remain traditional and still let out side influences into there country. there old ways still aaare there in there every day lives.
1145429
Look, We all have features about ourselfs that we don't like, and some that we do like.  We just have to accept who we are.  I am half Japanes, and sometimes I hate being Japanese because of people who are against Japan.  But then I think, screw them!  Who cares what they think!  I am proud of my heritage because I am the only Japanese kid at my school.  And in a way, I feel unique.  You can't change the way you look, you can only change the way you think about yourself! =)
872696
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=southeast+asia+music+affect+on+culture&spell=1
27682
traditional something. but not necessarily the "normal" one. mine was traditional scottish in america to a japanese wife. in a church, with bagpipes, kilt and 9 foot dress for my wife. then a normal one in japan, ie, not traditional (you need to live in japan to realize that few modern couples have traditional japanese weddings) - i would have prefered the traditional japanese to the "western style" that they did.
630811
♡You already got a few answers but I'll add my two yen (two cents) too. Here are a few interesting(?) fact about Japanese culture and I hope this helps with your speech:♡\n*It seems that every culture has lucky numbers and unlucky numbers. In Japan, four and nine are considered as unlucky numbers because of their pronunciation. Four is pronounced "shi" which is the same pronunciation as death. Nine is pronounced "ku" which has the same pronunciation as agony or torture.\n\n*Seven appears to be a universally lucky or holy number. There are many terms that include the number seven: seven wonders of the world, seven deadly sins, seven virtues, the seven seas, seven days of the week, seven colors of the spectrum, the seven dwarfs, and so on. Buddhists believe in seven reincarnations. The Japanese celebrate the seventh day after a baby's birth, and mourn the seventh day and seventh week following a death.\n\n*Don't say "NO"\nThe Japanese try to avoid confrontations and direct questions that might create discomfort or a loss of face. The Japanese are not direct, open, or frank. Often they are criticized for being too vague, but their real intentions might be to respect and develop a relationship.\n\n*Presentation\nFor the Japanese, the form is often more important than the content. The way something is said is just as important as what is actually said. The manner in which the food is presented at the table is as important as the taste of the food. The gift wrapping and presentation of a gift can be more important than the gift itself.\n\n*Working overtime\nUnlike Western custom, workers do not leave promptly at closing time. They do not leave until their bosses have and frequently stay quite late every night. It is also embarrassing to be the first one to leave and you do not just sneak out the door. Much of the productive work is done after hours and workers have a chance to be less formal with each other.\n\n*House slippers \nHomes are quite private in Japan and you do not just "drop by" without an invitation. If you are just making an errand, do not expect to go right into the house, but stay at the door or in the entrance area called the "genkan". All shoes worn outside are taken off in the genkan and you are provided your own guest slippers to be worn inside the house. You do not wear these slippers in a tatami room and you remove them at the entrance to the tatami room, even if you have bare feet. Also, you do not wear these slippers in the room for the toilet. There are special slippers designated for use while in the toilet room. This is also a signal to someone else that the toilet is occupied.\n\n*Greetings\nIn a Japanese home, you should always ‘announce' when you are leaving the house or when you have returned. [I'm leaving (home) -iitekimasu / I'm home - tadaima]Appropriately, the people in the house wish you off or receive you into the home. As a courtesy, "good-night" and "good morning" salutations are always said.
822061
You're viewing this through western vision.  In Japanese culture, some situations we would consider lewd and even illegal are part of everyday life.  \n\nCommunal baths for instance.  In our society, bathing with children is outrageous and often cause for alarm.  But in Japanese society it is commonplace for families to bathe together, there is nothing sexual about it.\n\nAlso, the human body is not as demonized in Japan as it is in the US.  A naked body in American culture is lewd even pornographic.  But in Japan, nudity is not a big deal.  \n\nNot that I'm saying it's okay to throw what you would consider pornographic in front of your children.  It's simply not acceptable and can even be damaging in our culture.  But ours is not the ONLY culture in the world.