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"At international sports activities, one must cheer loudly for Japan."
Oh really? Sez who?
The above is one example extracted from a four-page article in Jitsuwa Bunka Tabuu (January), which purports to challenge the "mystifying peer pressure-driven behavior that makes Japanese appear as fools."
With regard to the item shown above, the magazine comments, "The kind of people in the crowd who love to do this tend to gird their shoulders and bellow out loud. And if you don't follow suit, they'll snarl at you, "Hey, what are you doing here?" To this, you can simply respond by saying, "I came to watch the game."
The magazine acknowledges that in the past, some accepted that caving in to peer pressure was a matter of good manners, with people telling you, "Don't be silly -- it's just a matter of common sense and natural manners. But actually, it's dumb.
"Why? In the first place, Japan is a society that cares too much about what others think, which makes it easy for peer pressure to take root. To avoid succumbing to such a society, then, let's take a look at behavior driven by this unintelligible peer pressure."
The following are some of the 62 other examples listed in the article.
- It's unacceptable to express fear over vaccination.
- A citizen is obliged to vote in elections.
- One shouldn't depart from the workplace before one's boss.
- One shouldn't blurt out an opinion concerning a sudden turn of events during meetings at which one's boss is present.
- It is unacceptable to fail to attend a company nomi-kai (informal drinking get-together).
- Smacking one's lips noisily while eating is unacceptable.
- When a hostess at a girls' bar or cabaret club asks you to buy her a drink, it's improper to decline.
- One should not put on street clothes but remain clad in a yukata while eating breakfast at a ryokan.
- In a public lavatory, one should make an effort to suppress noises emitting during defecation.
- A driver should not dally at low speed on an expressway.
- On nearly empty trains, one should not sit next to another passenger.
- While on the shinkansen, one should not set the seat position to the maximum reclining position.
- On a crowded train, one should yield one's seat to an elderly person
- One should not carouse noisily in a public place.
- It is unacceptable to peruse pornographic books or comics in public.
- Staring at fellow passengers on an elevator is unacceptable.
- The person on the elevator who holds the doors open by pressing the "KAI" (open) button must be the last one to disembark.
- One must wash one's body before entering the bath at a hot springs or public bath.
- Returning to one's hometown to observe Obon is obligatory.
- One must always wear a business suit when attending celebratory events or funerals.
- Shaving is obligatory.
- It is unacceptable for females to refrain from wearing a bra, or a blouse with thin material that allows nipples to protrude through the material.
- It is unacceptable to inquire concerning a woman's age.
- One should refrain from affixing one's view at a woman's décolletage or bustline.
- Cheating on one's partner is not okay, even if not legally married.
- One need not request a performer for an encore at sub-par performances.
- One need not feel obliged to applaud the vocalist at karaoke sessions.
- One should not discuss religion or politics with a person one does get along with.
- People living in Osaka should not belittle Tokyoites.
- It's okay to mess with a chubby person, but not with a balding person.
- Primary school children should not carry around Nintendo Switch games.
- It's OK not to make a purchase from the women who peddle Yakult beverages at one's workplace.
- Female celebrities should not be seen wearing pricy brand items.
And finally...
- It's all right to make disparaging remarks concerning Kei Komuro, but not about his spouse, former Princess Mako.
12 Comments
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garypen
While the gist of the article is correct, some of the examples are not "mystifying peer-pressure-induced behavior". They are the behaviors of civilized people existing in a society. One cannot simply "do what they like" at all times, in all situations.
2 is the duty of every citizen. Of course, people are free to avoid that duty, if they so wish. But, they shouldn't. 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24 is a matter of good manners and consideration of others. Not abiding them is, quite simply, rude and selfish. 18 is a very important matter of hygiene, as well as good manners and consideration of others. I don't want to soak in your bacteria tea. 25 is a matter of trust and commitment, unless both parties are in agreement. (But, then, it wouldn't be "cheating", would it?)Addfwyn
Like garypen said, a lot of these are just hygeneic or good manners for co-existing in public. Sure, none of them are strictly necessary, but it can be good to follow.
I would say: 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 24, 25, 26 all make sense and should generally be followed. Either just to be considerate of others or to actually practice good hygiene. Driving slowly on expressways (10) can actually be dangerous in some situations.
The others definitely strike me as excessive but up to the individual. Many I follow but I wouldn't care if others do/don't.
Flute
Is the one writing about these rules actually living in Japan ?
Some of these so called rules are non existent in Japan.
Several, as pointed before, have nothing to do with Japan but hygiene and co-existence so you can find them everywhere.
We also have stuff which are in direct relation to law or place regulation.
garypen
That goes without saying.
CKAI
Whats this about No vaxx and No votes.
Missed one. "34. No agenda to see here"
Gaijinjland
Peer pressure... Yeah I learned not to give into that in preschool. Sad that Japanese adults need to be told this.
shogun36
This was pure comedy.
So we are supposed to do the OPPOSITE? OK.
Well, once every boss in Japan gets this memo through their thick skulls, it can be a thing. Unfortunately one must do these things to continue getting their paychecks.
In a room full of guys, what else would you do? That's the first thing most of these deadbeats do in there. I mean besides spitting in the urinal. Believe me, people do this on the regular already.
So it is ok to watch and peruse it? See, so I was right! I am ahead of my time!
It is, if you're not slick enough to use your peripherals.
Now this is fact. The biggest jackhole that blocks the most space in front of the door expect others to go first. You DO see my large bags and such that I'm carrying, right? MOVE, ROADBLOCK!!!!
So it's ok to NOT wash..............that would just be disgusting. Have you seen the unkempt units that enter some of these places? No, WASH first!
I never understood this one. But then again, I wasn't raised in this country.
Yes. Sports jerseys, shorts and low cut tops are acceptable........who wrote this?
We talking face or otherwise?
In other words, if you got it, flaunt it. I guess I can live with that one. But I'm pretty sure at least 50% of the population won't appreciate it.
Never understood this one. Who cares? You can easily make a guess within 10 years of anyone. What's the difference?
But like the bosses, this is a rule you have to go by until the people in question get the memo.
So go ahead and cheat............no comment needed. You're on your own with that one, buddy.
Oh believe me. If they deserve negative feedback, they will hear it. LOL
uhhhh
uhhhh
This is just dumb. Clearly the writer was never a Primary School Child.
I can't really tell if this is serious or satire.
Ahh yes, end it with a contradiction.
Seriously, where do you people find this nonsense?
Capuchin
I was on board with this article and then saw the list. Most of it is basically not being a perve, being hygienic or being a compassionate human being. The not leaving before your boss one was about the only one I agrees with.
On that list should be
Thank you money. Large stacks of un-taxed cash given to doctors, estate agents and the like for doing their job.
Ridiculously expensive weddings that fleece the couple and all of their friends and family simultaneously. $200 just to attend a wedding?
It being a basic expectation that you will work unpaid overtime without question.
Working full time hours whilst the company will only hire you part time.
Switching the heating or cooling on at a specific date rather than basing on the temperature that day. It's September we need to turn the heating on even though it's still 26 degrees.
That also extends to how people dress. It's September so I have to wear a scarf.