Lecture 6 - Nakane, Doi, and the 'Kinship Model' of Japanese Society

Question 1

How does groupism function within the primary education system?

Answer 1

• most teaching done in groups rather than directly to students.
• teacher sets a problem, tells group leaders what they are expected to do, group comes up with a solution
• nobody is finished until everyone in the group has done so. Only as good as your weakest member.
• if someone in the group does something wrong, whole group is convened, child tells the group what they have done wrong, group gives advice
• leader of group constantly changes, if you do not support leader when you are non-leader then same thing will happen to you

Question 2

What theory did Tsunoda Tadanobu come up with to explain Japanese ‘uniqueness’?

Answer 2

Suggests that because of the vowel-based nature of the Japanese language, this has impacted Japanese brain function so the left becomes creative and the right becomes rational. Idea that Japanese who speaks good English is not real Japanese - something different about their brain. Learning foreign languages gets in the way of creativity of Japanese brain.

Question 3

What is the Japanese stance on adult adoption and how does this benefit companies?

Answer 3

Firms run by adopted heirs outdo firms run by blood heirs. Adoption is good for the family line - about continuity not the person being adopted.

Question 4

What is a classic example of adoption in Japanese society?

Answer 4

Imperial line. ‘Unbroken line’ but many adoptions.

Question 5

What is ‘amae’ and what is significant about it?

Answer 5

‘Dependency’. Psychological glue that holds the inverted V model of Japanese society together. Positive connotation in Japanese (co-sleeping with parents, etc.).