Japanese Culture
Work
The Japanese culture used to be one of obsessing, so much so that children and adults suffered. Pressure is still high, but the rate of suicide is down from previous years. So what caused all this hullabaloo? Impression upon others that you and your family are prestigious. Belonging to one of the bigger name firms was a mark of honor and working for them brought pride. This trickled down into the schools (and still does) where working hard and passing exams to get into college shows that you are going to be a boon to your future generations and your parents, grandparents. Brag-worthy. So, while we sometimes pressure our children here to go to Yale, Harvard, MIT and other Ivy League type schools so we can tell our friends and co-workers that, "My son or daughter goes to Muckity-Muck U," Its usually ten times more so in Japan.
Dating
PDAs (public displays of attention) are an acute No-no. Don't draw any attention or make a spectacle of yourself when out and about.
What to do: If you wish, eating out is common and accepted as are movies and group outings. Karaoke is an accepted way to get your clown out and still be considered a good-guy or gal.
In general be yourself, but remember that people appreciate politeness being applied to them, so open doors, talk out who wishes to pay and pour their beverage for them and allow them to do that for you.
What to do: If you wish, eating out is common and accepted as are movies and group outings. Karaoke is an accepted way to get your clown out and still be considered a good-guy or gal.
In general be yourself, but remember that people appreciate politeness being applied to them, so open doors, talk out who wishes to pay and pour their beverage for them and allow them to do that for you.