What We Can Learn From Japanese Culture

In one of my regular classes we've been spending a couple of weeks talking about culture. This week we focused on the five stages of culture shock (http://moving.about.com/od/internationalmoves/a/culture_shock.htm), which got me thinking about how much I have changed since moving to Tokyo. I'm not actually going to talk about my process of adjusting to a new culture this time, but when I was reflecting about my process of acclimating to Japan I spent a little time considering some of the things that I like most about Japanese culture. What first came to mind was gift-giving.

The reason I thought of this first is because in recent weeks there have been a number of occasions when I have been both the giver and the receiver. But it's not the same in Japan as in the culture I come from. It's so much more complicated here! Before I lived in this country, I had never imagined such an elaborate system for what and when gifts are appropriate, how to respond properly to a gift, etc. (I can only cross my fingers that I get these things right most of the time...)

But in spite of the sometimes frustrating process that this can be for both foreigners and Japanese alike, it's one of my favorite parts of the culture. I like it because it reminds us to take time to consider others. It reminds us to be grateful. It, hopefully, reminds us of the importance of generosity. When done with the right attitude, there are a lot of ways that this exercise can develop us individually not only when it comes to etiquette but also when it comes to cultivating characteristics of thoughtfulness, selflessness, and sympathy in ourselves.

However, this issue of attitude makes all the difference. If we merely follow the cultural conventions or if we give begrudgingly, none of the aforementioned qualities would be relevant. A generous and unselfish attitude is admirable, and something that I think the world needs to see more of. So, traditions and rules aside, I'm so glad I've had the chance to learn this for myself from what I have experienced by the Japanese people in my life.
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・【My Spring Holiday】2010.04.23 (Fri)