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"We Japanese" -- that's the key phrase that indicates this is the latest in a long line of Nihonjinron (Japanese people theories), about how 110m people all sha

"We Japanese" -- that's the key phrase that indicates this is the latest in a long line of Nihonjinron (Japanese people theories), about how 110m people all share an ineffable characteristic that makes them oh so very different from the rest of the world. I really didn't expect this from Joi Ito though... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonjinron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonjinron

gerdesj 8y ago
... and not a particularly good one either: Followers of Shinto, unlike Judeo-Christian monotheists and the Greeks before them That's a funny way to divide up the world into us and them. It looks more like us == Japan and them == US. The writer seems to miss out the Roman influence that might traditionally be shoehorned into the "western" God Squad history. Not to mention a dalliance with dollops of assorted "pagan" traditions and mythology. To be fair, I consider this sort of thing as a form of national pride which should be respected when listened to but needs careful consideration. Bear in mind I come from the country that can play "Land of Hope and Glory" or "Jerusalem" without flinching.
- empath75 8y ago
  Not to mention the Greek influence on Buddhism and vice versa. They were entirely isolated from each other.
GuiA 8y ago
Fantastic comment. The feedback loop between some Japanese people arguing that Japanese culture is unique in some fundamental and unique way amongst all other human culture, and non Japanese people lapping it up, is a little insane.
- luckydata 8y ago
  yes, however... have you seen Japan? It's not that hard to believe there's some insane cultural trait that's fundamental to Japan since their society is so inscrutable and profoundly weird. p.s.: I used to work for a Japanese company, I have first hand experience :)
  - GuiA 8y ago
    I have lived intermittently in Japan, and grew up between French and US cultures. Their society is inscrutable and profoundly weird to you, (I presume) an anglophone westerner. To a Chinese, Thai, or Korean, their society isn’t that inscrutable or weird. The French culture I grew up in is as inscrutable and weird to the Japanese as the Japanese culture is to you, I can guarantee :)
    - luckydata 8y ago
      First of all, not anglophone by birth. Second, my Asian friends (mostly Viet and Chinese) also find Japan inscrutable and weird. I've traveled to China multiple time for business and while it's not exactly my favorite place I get pretty easily why folks behave the way they do, I actually noticed that beyond some cosmetic differences the culture is very similar to southern Europe (everything is negotiable, highly transactional relationships based on feigned goodwill...). When I go to China or Korea it just feels like a different part of the world, when I go to Japan it feels like a different planet.
jayd16 8y ago
Even that isn't unique. The US has the concept of American exceptionalism. Everyone is the protagonist of their own story.
- wavefunction 8y ago
  Of course many citizens of the United States don't subscribe to that notion or actively reject it. You're right that it seems to be a common human tendency!

gerdesj 8y ago

... and not a particularly good one either: Followers of Shinto, unlike Judeo-Christian monotheists and the Greeks before them That's a funny way to divide up the world into us and them. It looks more like us == Japan and them == US. The writer seems to miss out the Roman influence that might traditionally be shoehorned into the "western" God Squad history. Not to mention a dalliance with dollops of assorted "pagan" traditions and mythology. To be fair, I consider this sort of thing as a form of national pride which should be respected when listened to but needs careful consideration. Bear in mind I come from the country that can play "Land of Hope and Glory" or "Jerusalem" without flinching.

empath75 8y ago
Not to mention the Greek influence on Buddhism and vice versa. They were entirely isolated from each other.

GuiA 8y ago

Fantastic comment. The feedback loop between some Japanese people arguing that Japanese culture is unique in some fundamental and unique way amongst all other human culture, and non Japanese people lapping it up, is a little insane.

luckydata 8y ago
yes, however... have you seen Japan? It's not that hard to believe there's some insane cultural trait that's fundamental to Japan since their society is so inscrutable and profoundly weird. p.s.: I used to work for a Japanese company, I have first hand experience :)
- GuiA 8y ago
  I have lived intermittently in Japan, and grew up between French and US cultures. Their society is inscrutable and profoundly weird to you, (I presume) an anglophone westerner. To a Chinese, Thai, or Korean, their society isn’t that inscrutable or weird. The French culture I grew up in is as inscrutable and weird to the Japanese as the Japanese culture is to you, I can guarantee :)
  - luckydata 8y ago
    First of all, not anglophone by birth. Second, my Asian friends (mostly Viet and Chinese) also find Japan inscrutable and weird. I've traveled to China multiple time for business and while it's not exactly my favorite place I get pretty easily why folks behave the way they do, I actually noticed that beyond some cosmetic differences the culture is very similar to southern Europe (everything is negotiable, highly transactional relationships based on feigned goodwill...). When I go to China or Korea it just feels like a different part of the world, when I go to Japan it feels like a different planet.

jayd16 8y ago

Even that isn't unique. The US has the concept of American exceptionalism. Everyone is the protagonist of their own story.

wavefunction 8y ago
Of course many citizens of the United States don't subscribe to that notion or actively reject it. You're right that it seems to be a common human tendency!