The country is very self-contained and seems uninterested mostly in integrating culturally with others, as if it's unnecessary. Famously they were isolated for hundreds of years by force. Sure they have regional differences within their nation, and sure folks from other cultures live, work, integrate and become part of Japan, sort of...but... homogenous monoculture comes to mind, too. I don't think this aspect of the Japanese psyche is in dispute...what I'm curious about is: why is Japan like that?
"We don't need anyone else, we are complete unto ourselves, we are better than others"-- is it ? "It's just how we do things? No one will understand us?" -- is it? Is this a unique thing or are other cultures very much the same in their insularity just less well known for it?
Strangely I don't think Japanese people will take offence at my question.
I've lived in East Asia (but mostly the Sinosphere) for 10 years, so I have a fair understanding of that culture, but pretty much zero in-depth about other East Asian cultures. I'm very curious
Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33153297
Points: 10
# Comments: 14
Continue reading...
"We don't need anyone else, we are complete unto ourselves, we are better than others"-- is it ? "It's just how we do things? No one will understand us?" -- is it? Is this a unique thing or are other cultures very much the same in their insularity just less well known for it?
Strangely I don't think Japanese people will take offence at my question.
I've lived in East Asia (but mostly the Sinosphere) for 10 years, so I have a fair understanding of that culture, but pretty much zero in-depth about other East Asian cultures. I'm very curious
Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33153297
Points: 10
# Comments: 14
Continue reading...
