5 ms·

In Japan perfectionism is not encouraged. The rough translation kanpeki shugi (完璧主義) will bring up more ways to fix it than become it on the first page of googl

by unabst 10y ago

In Japan perfectionism is not encouraged. The rough translation kanpeki shugi (完璧主義) will bring up more ways to fix it than become it on the first page of google. What the Japanese culture and other Asian cultures similarly encourage however is discipline (majime, まじめ), and the proper way (matomo, まとも）. This means parents instill time management (basically they force kids to take the time to study) and procedure (study environment, tools, focus, resources). This is the true cultural advantage. With regards to suicide, this too can be correlated to culture with statistics, but it has nothing to do with perfectionism. I would attribute it more to their naivety when it comes to mental well being, and to self sacrifice. In other words, they think it's okay to suffer and sacrifice their mental health far past the safe line, and fare more than most would permit in the west. In Japan, your "self" takes a back seat to the onus of being the majime and matomo Japanese citizen. The answer is to learn time management, discipline, and procedure, but while staying healthy, both physically and mentally. That's what OP's father did. He made sure his daughter's mental health was okay. That's what parents ought to do, and he deserves all the credit in the world.

cJ0th 10y ago
> This is the true cultural advantage. But is it? I admit, eastern cultures are fascinating to study but I believe if you pick an average citizen of Japan and compare him/her with an average person of some western country you'll find both persons despite their different backgrounds surprisingly similar. You may criticize how math is taught in the US and argue how, for example, Korea does a better job but in the end both countries excel at delivering high tech goods. Overall, there is not so much difference here. So I wonder whether we just create differences by looking for them.
teek 10y ago
I'm not so sure what you're defining is completely different. Doing things the "right way" in Japan and other east asian cultures has more or less the same effect as trying to be "perfect" in American culture. The effect is both cultures encourage the individual to act in a manner they may not accept themselves. The difference being that in a conformist culture the avenues for self expression are limited by culture and society. In an ambition oriented culture the concept of "failure" has the same damaging effects. This isn't to say that both traits, conformity and perfection are inherently bad, instead we should be teaching the purpose or reason to do so rather than blindly require the behavior without justification.
- unabst 10y ago
  Conformity and perfectionism is the western translation, but they are inaccurate, for the same reasons most translations are inaccurate. They are translations by appearance only. As a culture perfectionism is shunned, and individuality is encouraged. The translation would have you believe the opposite. The cause lies in their extremely specific moral values as a society. They call it the Japanese spirit (nihon no kokoro, 日本の心) and it embodies discipline, proper procedure, mastery, sacrifice for the greater good, among other things. A good member of society is one that aspires to be an iconic Japanese. And when an entire culture behaves in this manner, they do appear to conform, and to value perfection, and to even act as one. But they're aligned only because they uphold similar values and share common goals. The Japanese are conformist as much as a good Christian wants to be a good Christian. Christians don't conform to Christianity. They embody it, and hence become similar as a result, not as their motivation. They are perfectionist as much as an aspiring athlete wants to be like Mike. They aren't looking to master Perfect or become Perfect. They just want to be like Mike. And we don't say kids playing basketball are conformist for all wearing Jordan or Steph Curry gear, nor do they wear it to conform. They do it because they love those players (just as the Japanese love their country). Another great Japanese word is kodawari (こだわり). It's the obsessively picky and uncompromising soul of a craftsman. This too could easily be translated as perfectionism, but "perfection (kanpeki)" is not their goal. "Ideal (risou)" is their goal. And kodawari is an emotion, whereas perfectionism is not. And "ideal" is a dynamic and personal target, where as "perfection" is not. Perfection is for amateurs.
jandrese 10y ago
I'm not sure I want to look to Japan for healthy school/life balance tips, at least for middle and high school kids...

by unabst 10y ago

cJ0th 10y ago

> This is the true cultural advantage. But is it? I admit, eastern cultures are fascinating to study but I believe if you pick an average citizen of Japan and compare him/her with an average person of some western country you'll find both persons despite their different backgrounds surprisingly similar. You may criticize how math is taught in the US and argue how, for example, Korea does a better job but in the end both countries excel at delivering high tech goods. Overall, there is not so much difference here. So I wonder whether we just create differences by looking for them.

teek 10y ago

I'm not so sure what you're defining is completely different. Doing things the "right way" in Japan and other east asian cultures has more or less the same effect as trying to be "perfect" in American culture. The effect is both cultures encourage the individual to act in a manner they may not accept themselves. The difference being that in a conformist culture the avenues for self expression are limited by culture and society. In an ambition oriented culture the concept of "failure" has the same damaging effects. This isn't to say that both traits, conformity and perfection are inherently bad, instead we should be teaching the purpose or reason to do so rather than blindly require the behavior without justification.

unabst 10y ago
Conformity and perfectionism is the western translation, but they are inaccurate, for the same reasons most translations are inaccurate. They are translations by appearance only. As a culture perfectionism is shunned, and individuality is encouraged. The translation would have you believe the opposite. The cause lies in their extremely specific moral values as a society. They call it the Japanese spirit (nihon no kokoro, 日本の心) and it embodies discipline, proper procedure, mastery, sacrifice for the greater good, among other things. A good member of society is one that aspires to be an iconic Japanese. And when an entire culture behaves in this manner, they do appear to conform, and to value perfection, and to even act as one. But they're aligned only because they uphold similar values and share common goals. The Japanese are conformist as much as a good Christian wants to be a good Christian. Christians don't conform to Christianity. They embody it, and hence become similar as a result, not as their motivation. They are perfectionist as much as an aspiring athlete wants to be like Mike. They aren't looking to master Perfect or become Perfect. They just want to be like Mike. And we don't say kids playing basketball are conformist for all wearing Jordan or Steph Curry gear, nor do they wear it to conform. They do it because they love those players (just as the Japanese love their country). Another great Japanese word is kodawari (こだわり). It's the obsessively picky and uncompromising soul of a craftsman. This too could easily be translated as perfectionism, but "perfection (kanpeki)" is not their goal. "Ideal (risou)" is their goal. And kodawari is an emotion, whereas perfectionism is not. And "ideal" is a dynamic and personal target, where as "perfection" is not. Perfection is for amateurs.

jandrese 10y ago

I'm not sure I want to look to Japan for healthy school/life balance tips, at least for middle and high school kids...