2118 culture(japan)
DESCRIPTION
Japanese cultureTRANSCRIPT
HTM 2118 – Hospitality & Culture Group Project
JAPANGroup Member - Cheris Cheung
Willa Yip
Charlie Lau
Athena Chan
Bobo Lee
Location East Asia
four largest islands HonshuHokkaidoKyūshūShikoku
Population 128 million
Economy(nominal GDP)
Second in the world
Climate Oceanic climate
Political Democratic Party
Basic information of Japan
Japan is a strong culture-tied country
Japanese is an official spoken and written language in Japan but not other countries
written language is the combination of modified Chinese characters and two syllabic scripts : hiragana and katakana
Language
History
Since 15 century, the Tokugawa Shogunate adopted SAKOKU POLICY
No foreigner could enter nor could any Japanese leave the country on penalty of death.
Until 1893,the coming of Perry
USA forced Japan to open for trade
USA started her influence on Japan since 17 century till now.
USA-Japan relation
Open of Perry in 1893
Continuous trade between USA and Japan
Both joined the “Allied Power” in WW I
SCAP period after WWII
Being USA back-up during Vietnam War
Until now, the USA-Japan “Alliance”
Close relationship between USA and Japan
Douglas MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito.
Japan admires USA
Due to the strength of USA and the development after WW II in Japan done by USA
Japan hates USA
The unforgettable insult done by USA
Sino-Japanese relation
Culture borrowing from China
Eg: Chinese words, Festival, Religion etc.
Since Anglo-Chinese War, Japan uses China as a “model”
Japan: I don’t want to be defeated by the European as China!!!
China was the major victim under wars and imperialism of Japan from 1868 to 1945
Japan’s long chain of invasions and war crimes in China between 1894 and 1945
modern Japan's attitude towards its past are major issues affecting current and likely, future Sino-Japanese relations.
From 1850s
To 1900s
During World War I, the Japanese attacked and occupied Qingdao.
After World War I, China was an Allied nation (Victory)but was forced to give territory in Shandong to Japan(Victory) and accept the Twenty-one Demands.
Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937
Modern
Conflict over Yasukuni Shrine
more than 2,466,000 divinities are enshrined here at Yasukuni Shrine. They are the Japanese soldiers
involved in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, World War I, the Manchurian Incident, the China Incident and the Greater East Asian War (World War II).
All involved China, the divinities in Yasukuni Shrine kills many Chinese during the WARS
• Therefore, protests
Nationalism
• promote national unity and patriotism of the Meiji government
• turned into a struggle to attain equality withzthe Great Powers.
Militarism
• Japan wanted to dominate the world during WWII.
Undeniable truthComfort women =forced prostitution that occurred during World War II.
They are between 14 and 19 years of age
All were unmarried and countless were virgins at the time of their capture
Till now, the comfort women from Asian countries are still asking for apologies and compensation
Japan is a constitutional monarchy.
Japan has a royal family led by an Emperor, but his power is very limited. He is basically a figurehead but one who receives a great deal of respect.
Japan's Government
Executive power : exercised by the government
Legislative power:vested in the Diet, with the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors
Judiciary: an independent entity
Japanese politics uses a
multi-party system
Education System
Follow the US syastem
After WW II ,Japan controlled under SCAP
Lead by US General
Education Level
age Remarks
Kindergarten(optional)
3-6
Elementary school
6-11
Junior haigh school
12-14 Started to learn English
High school 15-17 Private High School is better than public High School
University 18-21
public universities are better than the private universities
Many students go to Tokyo /Kansai district for better universities
Public examination
To enter the university
OR
Through AO entrance exam
get the principal nomination and write an essay and have the interview in universities instead of taking the examination
Real case - Daijiro
The recent trend in Japan
More and more students enter the universities through the AO Entrance Examination Instead of the public examination
I succeed!!!
Yutori education (ゆとり教育 )
is a Japanese education policy
reduces the hours and the content of the curriculum in education.
Fear of Religion
Shintoism One of the oldest religion in Japan
Emperor is the son of Sun God
Japanese should obey the emperor
It results in : loyalty of Japanese in their own culture in many aspects
However, most of the young generation in Japan do not know what Shintoism is.
Buddhism – Culture borrowed from China
But it does not affect Japanese culture much
Some Japanese even asked: Is mid Autumn Festival a Buddhism festival?
Christianity – not popular in Japan
Reasons: • Lots of wars caused by religions in Europe• Abortion issue
• According to the Bible, Jesus says: we can’t kill.• But the Japanese may ask: If someone rape me,Do I still have to give birth to
the baby? how come?
The major “religion”Believe in spiritual
thingsThe ancestors
Code of conduct
Japan does not have “religion” but “code of conduct”
To define what is good and what is bad
Bushido
Confucianism
Impact on Hospitality
Less Chinese residents who have undergone the WWII are willing to travel to Japan
Because Japanese start to learn English in their Junior high school
Their spoken English is not good.
Foreigners will choose Hong Kong or Thailand as their destination rather than Japan when they decide to travel in Asia.
Steep culture of Loyalty
• associates are willing to work in one hotel for life long period
• greater sense of belonging• better service quality
Culture borrowing
• festivals in China• - Mid Autumn Festival • - Dragon Boat Festival
• Western culture• Although Christianity is not popular in Japan, but
they still enjoy some western festivals like Christmas.
• Many celebrations = BOOST TOURISM
Japan territory is long and narrow .
The temperate difference between the northern and the southern part can be more than 30 .℃
The climate difference of Japan facilitates the domestic travel.
Economic Structure2nd largest economy of the world
• Agriculture: (1.6%); Industry: (25.3%) Services: (73.1%) (research in 2006)
GPA as sector:
• self-sufficient built up the manufacturing and processing industries to convert raw materials imported from abroad.
Inadequate natural resources
Sense of insecurity
Agriculture
Small sector of agriculture Only 15% of land is suitable for cultivation. However, Japan is usually self-sufficient in agriculture.
The reasons are: 1. A system of terraces is used to farm in small areas - high crop yields per unit area
2. Highly subsidized and protected by the government3. Practice small-scale cultivation risk of loss↓4.Use of agricultural technology genetically engineered seeds
Services
three-quarters of its total economic output
Including Banking, retailing, real estate, telecommunication and insurance etc.
Major industries: Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho, TEPCO, Tokyo Marine and Japan Airlines etc.
Example: Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd. (JAL) is one of the largest airlines in the world.
Slogan :"Dream Skyward“
Airlines for international and domestic services provides great service to every passengers around the world
JAL is one of the largest airline in the world
Industry
manufacturing : diversified highly successful in the advanced industry
1> Motor vehicles and machinery Honda, Mitsubishi , Toyota, Suzuki etc.
2> Electronics Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Fujitsu, Sony, Sharp etc.
3> Aerospace
Employment Structure
In 2008, Japan's labour force consisted of 66 million workers 40% female / 60% male• Primary industry – 5.0% • Secondary Industry – 29.5%• Tertiary Industry – 64.3%
The no. of employment structure:
The unemployment rate for June 2009 is 5.2%
One major long-term concern for the Japanese labour force is low birth rate
Permanent employment
practice of Lifetime employment
• common in the Japanese working environment• usually common in big companies
feeling of job security as part of Japanese management culture
• also show the loyalty of one’s company
However, due to long recession of 08-09 economic crisis, many companies have discontinued the practice
Karōshi
Means “death from overwork”, “occupational sudden death”
major medical causes : heart attack and stroke due to pressure and stress.
Impact on HospitalityThe number of international arrivals of Japan in 2007- 8.3 million of , which is ranked the 28th in the world
the developers of the high-technology industry may hold the conference/meeting/exhibition business travel
Growth in economy standard of residents ↑ the total expense on tourism ↑
progress in technology get high reputation attracts tourists
Growth in economy infrastructure, hotel, attractions, theme parks expand improve attracts tourists
capitalism country Attract business travelers.
People’s mindset
Traditional thinking
• respect the seniors, elderly.• daily deed is restricted • (e.g.) neat and tidy attire• (e.g.) give weight to courtesy all the time
Japanese follow a series of rule in terms of social contact like eating habit and Tea lore
Japanese sex culture
• Although Japanese think in a traditional way, the majority of them actually have open mindset towards sex industry.
Adult Video Industry
• The major industry in Japan, reportedly worth about ¥400 billion per year.
Prostitution
• Tokyo's prostitution trade is well regarded for its high • class of services and large customer base.
In-group VS outside-the-group boundaries
• Interact with people in that boundary rather informally and intensely
• Interact with people outside that boundary in a more formal, distant and hierarchical way.
Cultural sensitivityImpact on Hospitality
Gift giving
• black > funerals • purple > sadness • green > ill-omened• Chrysanthemum patterns > symbol of the royal
Japanese usually prefer to:
• Food• Ties• Handkerchiefs
Japanese give so much weight to gift giving and it makes significant impacts on the business protocol
• Symbolizes the depth & strength of the business relationship
• Gifts are typically exchanged at the first meeting, and should be wrapped in soft-color paper or fabric
Courtesy• Japanese value courtesy as a virtue. When talking to
others, they
• avoid staring at people• bow to show self-effacement• use polite wording verbally
Greetings
• Bow• shake hands
Dining Concerns
• Except eating noodles, noisy eating is considered rude & offensive.
• Generating noise when eating noodles shows respect to the cook.
• Japanese prefer to quite and unobtrusive public dining environment.
Therefore, associates should not seat Japanese in the center of the restaurant
• A Japanese lunch invitation is to meant to discuss a problem; A dinner invitation is to celebrate
FOOD - O-sakeName : o-sake
Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice
Japanese like drinking wine after work especially for the businessman
It is a kind of negotiation techniques in Japanese business
They will take their clients to a bar such as a karaoke-bar, and let them drunk and relax resulting to make a good relationship
There is a increasing trend in America and Europe to drink o-sake because they like eating sushi and sashimi together with it
the largest fast food chain in Japan
established over a century (founded in 1899 )
famous for Japanese beef bowl
Current :
has over 1100 branches around the globe eg . Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore ,California, US and Malaysia etc
provide Japanese style quality food and services to customers around the world.
YOSHINOYA
Impact on Hospitality
As Japanese food is very popular among the world, it can attract tourists to try in Japan.
As well as the o-sake, the wine-lovers from other countries may go to Japan and have the wine-testing.
Table setting
• restaurants and private homes have low tables and cushions on the floor rather than Western style chairs and tables
• found on tatami floors
Japanese table manner
Sitting technique
• It is common to sit upright on the floor in many situations But westerners will not
• Casual sitting• - men usually sit cross- legged• women with both legs one side• both are exclusive to men and women
Seating order
• Most important guest sits on the honored seat and is located
• farthest away from the entrance• The host and least important sit next to the entrance
Drug problemDrug use among Japanese has hit a new peak of about one and half percent of the population
Drug users : roughly 2 million Japanese
Drugs mostly come from China and North Korea due to the increasing sophistication of drug smuggling operations
A hot sell point in Japan : Shibuya
Example: Japanese artist, Sakai Noriko, who has begun using drugs since 1995, was arrested since the police found drugs on her in early August in 2009.
Family Structure
Past • There may be three, four, and conceivably even five generations of a family living together.
• All of the rights and duties and obligations are expected to go from father to son
• The eldest son, inherits the family, everything to do with the family, and the rest of the children have to find their own way in the world. The master of the household : The husband
The woman is the undisputed
In modern Japan
Roles in Japanese families• Father:
• goes out to a job. • Since the company demands on them are so great,
they often really have very little time or energy to spend with their children.
• The absolute authority of the head of the house is over
• Mother: • responsibility for raising children, overseeing the
education and managing the family's finances • but more Japanese women now have a career and
a family.
Social Stratification
Three main classes:
• Affluent class• Middle class• Freelance
Racism
Japanese use the term Gaijin, which means the outsider, to describe the non-Japanese.
Clear division of Japanese and non-Japanese
RacismTokyo Keishicho, or Metropolitan Police, published a web page on do's and don'ts in an earthquake.
Rumor is from black man, information is from white man.
Please mind the black man on the Tokyo Underground.
Impact on Hospitality
Foreign travelers will not choose Japan as their preference as they may get unfair treatments by the Japanese.
Affect the reputation of Japan as well as the hospitality and service industry
Fear
Natural hazards
• Frequent
• earthquakes• volcanic activities• typhoon
Uncertainty avoidance:
To prevent the loss caused by the natural hazards, they will adopt some solutions like frequent drills, well-developed prevention system, earthquake-proof buildings and so on.
1st September - Natural Disasters Prevention Day
Fear
Financial Burden
• Unemployment• Bankrupts• Loans• Economic downturn• And other financial crises
Uncertainty Avoidance:
Seldom change their jobs. Most of them will only work for one company in their entire life.
Tight self-behave, to avoid any fault that may cause being fire.
Always work over-time, seldom relaxed and have vacations.
How Safe Is Japan?
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. The numbers of crimes happened in Japan is low when comparing with the other countries.
Impact on Hospitality
Japan has a well-developed prevention and prediction system on earthquake and volcanic activities.
Less number of crimes occurred in Japan and regard as one of the safest places in the world.
These factors can attract tourists to travel their without any concerns.
Sapporo Snow Festival ( February )
Hinamatsuri --- Japanese Doll Festival ( 3rd March )
Cherry Blossom Festival (April)
Tanabata --- Chinese star festival (7th July)
Ban Festival ( 13-15 August )
Jidai Matsuri --- Kyoto Japan Festival of Ages ( 22nd October )
‘’7-5-3 ‘’ Festival --- traditional festival day for children ( 15 th November)
Japanese Festivals
Largest festival of the year in Sapporo
Began in 1950 when high school students build snow statues at central Sapporo
Large and commercialized event
Attracts over 2 million people all over the world to boost the tourism economy in Japan
Activities :
About 1 dozen large sculptures are built
with 100 smaller snow and ice sculptures
several concerts and events are held
Sapporo Snow Festival
most popular events in Spring
celebrate the entire season of cherry blossoms from mid January to early May
Hokaido , Kakunodate --- famous places to see the Sakura
Japanese continue the tradition of gather friends to have a professional walk under the cherry tree through the park
Attract tourists from over the world e.g Taiwan ,Hong Kong to come and see the cherry Blossom
Cherry Blossom Festival
The strongest and successful football team among Asia
Japanese believe that football can build a sense of belongings and cohesions a way to show how much they love their country
Honors:
three time winners of the Asian Cup
Qualified for the last four consecutive World Cup finals
Famous football players :
eg. Hidetoshi Nakata , Junichi Inamoto , Shinji Ono
Sports & Martial arts Football
First baseball team in Japan: Shimbashi Athletic Club
Introduced from the United State
Play in junior and senior high school
There are two competitions in May to August for the senior students to join
Baseball
Competitive combat sport
A modern martial arts
Originated in Japan
the only country that practiced it professionally promote sumo culture across the world
e.g build a Sumo school in Hawaii
Sumo
A modern martial art and combat sport
• - Has been spread worldwide and become one of the competition in Olympic game
originated in Japan
Focus on skills ,techniques and timing rather than brute strength
Judo
the young ,traditional female entertainers
good at classic music and dance
the geishas are attractive and beautiful
they wear dresses with various traditional colors
attracts a large amount of foreigners to come and experience the Japanese culture and find the interesting side of Japan e.g France
Geisha
Japanese music industry is the second largest in the world just behind the United State
Modern music : J-pop (Japanese pop)
Famous rock band : X-Japan
Famous Japanese pop singer :
e.g. Hikaru Utada , Ayumi Hamasaki
- There are increasing number of audiences come to Japan and see the life performance
Music
Impact on Hospitality
International concerts festivals
• e.g. concert on the rocks (established in 2004)
Fuju Rock Festivals
• largest outdoor music events• features more than 200 Japanese and International musicians• More than 100,000 people to come
Summer sonic festival
• features major bands in Japan
One of the sub culture in Japan
the combination of costume and play
imitate the characters of comics and computer games
this is not only the hobby but also to gather with friends who share the common interest
cosplay has been spread wide around the world e.g. Hong Kong , Europe
Teens culture - Cosplay
Japanese government promotes comics development actively a major part of publishing industry in Japan
• - romantic , fantasy , horror etc.
Japanese read comics regardless of their ages
different types of comics:
have a large international markete.g US , Europe
Comics
describe the people who are addicted to the comics ,anime or game, people usually think negative towards this term .
• those otaku are passive• not welcome by girls
However , one of the professor disagree with them. They think they are actually the one who promote comics culture
they have advanced knowledge about comics
Otaku
a rapid development of blog in Japan in recent years
The table shown the increasing trend of Japanese using blog
Year No of people
2005 33.5 million
2006 253.9 million
2007 78.2 million
Blog
the primitive nature of blog is to open and share with others
However ,Many Japanese do not want to make it public an therefore produce SNS (only allow a few no. of friends or relatives to see)
In this way , it is exactly violate the nature of Blog and hence is this is the special culture of using blog in Japan
Special Culture of Blog in Japan
1. Cosplay
• Comiket (comic market) ---- the world largest handmade comic books fair
• Held twice a year in Tokyo • There are 35000 stores with million people to come
2. Newly Japanese subculture (otaku & blog)
• Has a great influence around the world• People like to use blog to share their trips and give
recommendation on travel tips.
Impact on Hospitality
Famous in Japan because of its advantage natural location
Japanese have enjoyed hot spring for centuries and they go there throughout a year
uses : relieve stress and promote blood circulation
Attract people all over the world to try
The most qualities of hot spring in Japan: Jozankei-onsen Hot Spring in Hokkaido
it contains clear and colorless water of a mild salty taste
Hot spring
Disneyland
Tokyo Tower
shopping centers
Impact:
Attractive more tourists
Boots the economy
Conclusion
Japan is full of attractiveness and uniqueness.
8 million tourists visit Japan per year
Tourists want to experience the Japanese culture in their journey
Reference
Japan,its history and culture Morton, W. Scott (William Scott)
The political structure of Japan 許介鱗 , 楊鈞池著 2006
欄遠眺日本的威脅 / 李國強著
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