U.S. and JapanU.S. and JapanHistory/Psych Collaborative 4History/Psych Collaborative 4thth

Quarter ProjectQuarter Project

Cultural Differences Between Cultural Differences Between the U.S. and Japanthe U.S. and Japan

► United StatesUnited States Individualistic cultureIndividualistic culture Flexible ties to family and Flexible ties to family and

groupgroup Respect immediate familyRespect immediate family Individual decisions Individual decisions

valuedvalued Behavior ruled by self-Behavior ruled by self-

interestinterest Individual Individual

accomplishments valuedaccomplishments valued

► JapanJapan Collectivistic cultureCollectivistic culture Strong ties to family Strong ties to family

and group/countryand group/country Respect family Respect family

(especially elders)(especially elders) Group decisions Group decisions

(consensus) valued(consensus) valued Behavior is governed Behavior is governed

by social normsby social norms Team Team

accomplishments accomplishments valuedvalued

Cultural Differences Cultural Differences (Continued)(Continued)

► Here are several Here are several noticeable cultural noticeable cultural differences between the differences between the US and Japan:US and Japan: The traffic lights in Japan are The traffic lights in Japan are

horizontal instead of verticalhorizontal instead of vertical In Japan, citizens do not In Japan, citizens do not

make appointments to see make appointments to see the doctor/dentist but, they the doctor/dentist but, they are made on a first come are made on a first come first serve basis.first serve basis.

In schools, the academic In schools, the academic year begins in April, during year begins in April, during the spring, instead of the fall the spring, instead of the fall in the US.in the US.

In restaurants, it is not In restaurants, it is not Japanese custom to leave a Japanese custom to leave a tip or pay at the table.tip or pay at the table.

Historical DifferencesHistorical Differences►By: Carey PriceBy: Carey Price►Differences in Fighting Differences in Fighting

Historical Differences Historical Differences (Continued)(Continued)

► By: Carey PriceBy: Carey PriceWork EthicsWork Ethics

► The U.S. citizens work for vacation and a luxuriousThe U.S. citizens work for vacation and a luxurious life style. life style.

► The Japanese people work themselves to The Japanese people work themselves to death for perfection. Their economy puts pressure on death for perfection. Their economy puts pressure on families to work long hours in order to keep up with paymentsfamilies to work long hours in order to keep up with payments.. ► Typically, the Japanese worker stays at the office forTypically, the Japanese worker stays at the office forlonger hours and has lower wages than the American worker.longer hours and has lower wages than the American worker.

► Furthermore ,Japanese products are better made than Furthermore ,Japanese products are better made than American products.American products.► http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/2/8/6/p102860_index.htmlhttp://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/2/8/6/p102860_index.html

► http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=american+business+men&form=QBIR#focal=267391bae7f2c74bf9dbc10dcd677272&furl=http%3A%2Fhttp://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=american+business+men&form=QBIR#focal=267391bae7f2c74bf9dbc10dcd677272&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.haloimages.com%2Fimgs%2FMK00161_FPO_PREV.jpg%2Fwww.haloimages.com%2Fimgs%2FMK00161_FPO_PREV.jpg

► http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=japanese+workers&form=QBIR#focal=158c539b72878c4404e2831582c893f3&furl=http%3A%2Fhttp://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=japanese+workers&form=QBIR#focal=158c539b72878c4404e2831582c893f3&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Folmedia%2F1480000%2Fimages%2F_1483839_japan_workers_bbc_300.jpg%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Folmedia%2F1480000%2Fimages%2F_1483839_japan_workers_bbc_300.jpg

Social ConversationSocial Conversation► Americans love to talk. We Americans love to talk. We

talk constantly to fill in talk constantly to fill in awkward silences that can awkward silences that can happen in a conversation. happen in a conversation. Japanese people are quite Japanese people are quite different. They believe different. They believe actions speak louder than actions speak louder than words and prefer the silence words and prefer the silence in a conversation to random in a conversation to random babble. babble.

► Japanese people also like to Japanese people also like to “beat around the bush” and “beat around the bush” and talk indirectly so that the talk indirectly so that the listener can come to their listener can come to their own conclusion. Americans own conclusion. Americans just want to get the point.just want to get the point.

Matt P. SlideMatt P. Slide

CitationsCitations► Slide 2:Slide 2:

Gaumer, C., Shah, A. (2004, January). Television Advertising and Child Consumer: Different Gaumer, C., Shah, A. (2004, January). Television Advertising and Child Consumer: Different Strategies for U.S. and Japanese Marketers. Strategies for U.S. and Japanese Marketers. The Coastal Business Journal. Volume 3, Number 1The Coastal Business Journal. Volume 3, Number 1. . Retrieved May 27, 2008, from Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://www.coastal.edu/business/cbj/pdfs/articles/spring2004/gaumershah.pdfhttp://www.coastal.edu/business/cbj/pdfs/articles/spring2004/gaumershah.pdf

► Slide 3:Slide 3: Cultural Differences in Life Between Japan and the US. Ball State University. Retrieved May 27, Cultural Differences in Life Between Japan and the US. Ball State University. Retrieved May 27,

2008, from http://www.bsu.edu/web/clubjapan/learning/culture_files/frame.htm2008, from http://www.bsu.edu/web/clubjapan/learning/culture_files/frame.htm► Slide 5:Slide 5:

Pic.- (2007, November 1). Pic.- (2007, November 1). Quality Assurance Management & Technologies ConferenceQuality Assurance Management & Technologies Conference . Retrieved . Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://www.bbjtest.com/qamt/people_talking.jpgMay 27, 2008, from http://www.bbjtest.com/qamt/people_talking.jpg

Info.- (2004-2007). Info.- (2004-2007). American-Japanese Communications 101American-Japanese Communications 101. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from WIN . Retrieved May 27, 2008, from WIN Advisory Group, Inc.: http://www.winadvisorygroup.com/AmericanJapaneseComms101.htmlAdvisory Group, Inc.: http://www.winadvisorygroup.com/AmericanJapaneseComms101.html