American_Japanese_Culture_Comprison

There are a vast amount of similarities and differences between the American and the Japanese cultures. They are apparent through the different stages of life, from infancy through late adulthood. There are similarities in the choices of how and where to give birth in both cultures. Choices can vary from hospitals to mid-wives. Most commonly child birth takes place in a hospital. Each culture has different beliefs on the use of medication though. In the United States, women can choose to have an epidural or painkiller to help with the pain, or natural childbirth, in which no pain medication is used. The Japanese are not liberal with pain medication during labor and delivery. Epidurals and narcotics are not usually used and c-sections are extremely rare. In the United States cesarean births increased from 20.7% in 1996 to 31.1% in 2006. Cesarean rates increased for women of all ages, race/ethnic groups, and gestational ages and in all states. Both primary and repeat cesareans have increased. (www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pubmed/18456070) In Japan, “mothers and children co-sleep fpr several years- longer on average, than other world cultures. The long period of infant co-sleeping seems to match with the high degree of social connectedness of Japanese culture,” (Miller, 2007). Another similarity is the amount of sleep young children get. “Children in Japan who are 3 or younger sleep for an average of 11 hours and 37 minutes, while those elsewhere in Asia average 12 hours and 16 minutes and tots in the United States, Europe and South America get 13 hours,” said Jodi Mindell, psychology professor at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, at a news conference in Tokyo. Education starts at a young age. Both cultures have preschools in which children begin learning by social interaction. There are many different types of early childhood centers in America. They vary from daycares to preschools. They can be run at churches, or through government departments such as Head Start or 4C. It is preferred that teachers have a degree in early childhood education, or a state certificate, but not always required. In Japan, preschools are predominantly staffed by young female junior college graduates, and are supervised by the Ministry of Education, but are not part of the official education system. In addition to preschools, a well-developed system of government-supervised day-care centers supervised by the Ministry of Labor. There are numerous fundamental differences in education. Schools in the US are comprehensive, but not in Japan. In the US students attend schools based on where they live and are zoned to attend. In Japan, students attend schools based on their performance and are required to take entrance exams. Curriculum in the US is controlled by each individual state or county. In Japan, it is controlled by the National Ministry of Education. “Math and reading levels have always been constant with the Japanese scoring the highest, and America scoring the lowest.” (Lynn, 1998). In Japan, elementary school students study an average of four hours a day, while junior high students average five and a half. “A typical Japanese student spends 6 hours every night doing homework during a school year that is 60 days longer than America's. At the age of 18, 98% voluntarily seek higher education in a university. In early adolescence, Japanese students are 2 to 3 years ahead of their American counterparts and by the age of 18, 98% of Japanese students far surpass that of Americans of the same age. It's no surprise then that a 10th grade Japanese student is envious of the leisure time enjoyed by American college sophomores, his academic counterpart.” (Trudeau, 1992). Marriage in both cultures is similar. In Japan and the US, men and women date and decide to marry. Traditionally, in the US, the bride wears a white gown on her wedding day. The couple exchanges vows and typically has a reception afterwards. “In Japan, the bride also wears white, sometimes a white kimono, but goes through several “costumes. She will arrive at the reception in a multicolored kimono, and then after speeches and toast, changes into a Western-style gown and veil. The groom changes from a ceremonial robe into t tuxedo or suit.” (Heinrichs, 2006) Life in both countries varies greatly. In urban regions, life is fast paced, congested with heavy traffic and both men and women are focused on their jobs and careers. There is also quiet country areas found in both where life is simple and slower paced. In both cultures many young, single people live at home with their parents. Women share the traditional roles of wife, mother and homemaker, as well as having jobs and careers. Living arrangements for the elderly vary between cultures. In Asian cultures such as Japan, filial piety is common. Filial piety is the belief that children have duty to take care of their elderly parents. “In Japan, only one third of older adults live alone or with a spouse. Most of the remaining two thirds live with their children. Many Asian countries have no formal employer or government sponsored pension programs for the elderly.” (Boyd, 2006). While this type of custom is also practiced in America, it is base more on a feeling of affection, than a sense of duty. The culture in Japan and the culture in America share many similarities on the surface. Both countries have a governmental constitution and three branches of government; legislative, executive and judicial. Both countries have strong educational systems and children start their education at a young age. There are similarities in marriage, traditional family values and the nuclear family. Each country is industrialized and economic leaders. There are additional differences between the Japanese and the Americans. The Japanese bask in their culture more than Americans. One possible reason is because there are so many different nationalities in the US. The Japanese are more respectful than informal as are Americans. While education is an integral part of each culture, the Japanese make it a much higher priority and spend a lot more time studying than Americans. In comparing both cultures, Japanese is a more formal, and respectful while Americans are more informal and casual.