Japanese Reflection

Week 3 reflection

In this week we need to read three articles. Luckily two years ago I was already read the book “Chrysanthemum and the Sword”.

In Japanese "on"（恩）, has many way of uses, but what they mean are common which means that a person or a debt owed ​​by the kindness ,no matter it's large or small all can called "on". An example emperor's "on", Japanese think that they have born in Japan and to live and work, everything are desirable, so it's a "on" of the Emperor.

I think the Japanese people‘s “on” are different between Chinese and Western society. First in china we have “Little help brings much return” means we need to pay more/exceed on the person who gives us “on”. But the Japanese their emphasis is equivalent to the exchange. Finally western people, my personal feeling is they are indifference/individualism, gratitude simply because of obligations.

Nakane’s article mainly talks about the Japanese social consciousness. From the reading I found Japanese has strong sense of belonging of group. Every people have their own group. Only integrated into the group, be in part of the group, and then they would think they find self-location and self-value finally can gain respect from others. As we know Japanese society is a vertical social structure, following by the hierarchy. Therefore, every people are sensitive to know the position of their own in this vertical society. At the same time .I think this is actually a Japanese to define who is one of us, who are not in their group. I remember, my Japanese teacher was always wanted to be the first person into the classroom. Therefore, we will not be in front of him to go into the classroom, otherwise we would be required to clean the classroom. Then one day grade director into the classroom before the Japanese teacher, he was very respectful and passion. I think this story also reflects the hierarchy of Japan.

I did not fully understand Iwabuchi’s article, but I think he is try to discuss how Japanese get...