Japan SAC- Intercultural Communication

1.
In Japan, people will greet and farewell with a bow. In Australia, people will greet and farewell
with a handshake or a kiss. The depth of the bow in Japan will eventually reflect the amount of
respect required to be shown according to the other persons status.

2.
Japan is a collectivist society due to the importance of the group, as individuals in japan, they
must respect group values. Closeness of others is emphasised-team/family ties. It also has a
significant group decision making, as well as its sense of identity which is focused on the
community. Japan also has a correct form and politeness indicating a calm, stress-free lifestyle.
The present in Japan is a real concern as people always come before plans. High context
communication in Japan is used due to the sender of message expects the receiver to know what
is on his/her mind so there is no need to be specific. They will talk around the points without
actually mentioning that most important piece of information. It is also the task of the receiver to
put that piece of information into place. Moreover, the groups interests overside personal
freedom and privacy. This concludes the fact that Japan is a collectivist society.

3.
The Japanese educational system was reformed after World War II. The old 6-5-3-3 system was
changed to a 6-3-3-4 system (6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high school, and 3
years of senior high school and 4 years of University) with reference to the Australian system.
Gimukyoiku (compulsory education) time period is 9 years, 6 in shougakkou (elementary school)
and 3 in chuugakkou (junior high school).
Japan has one of the world's best-educated populations, with 100% enrolment in compulsory
grades and zero illiteracy. While not compulsory, high school (koukou) enrolment is over 96%
nationwide and nearly 100% in the cities. High school dropout rate is about 2% and has been
increasing. About 46% of all high school graduates go on to university or junior college.
The Ministry of Education closely supervises curriculum and textbooks, and classes with much
the same content are taught throughout the country. As a result, a high standard of education
becomes possible.
Australian Education
Schools have existed in Australia for more than 200 years, beginning in NSW and expanding
across the country as other settlements started. Public School systems did not begin until
considerably later than this, beginning with primary level schools, then expanding into the
secondary area beginning in the 1880s. Universities first arose in the middle of the 19th century,
with early childhood education in the form of kindergartens and preschools lagging well behind
all other sectors.
Schooling in Australia has always served a variety of purposes, including those that might be
termed public and those that are more private. The two purposes are not incompatible. Schools
also have been formed into systems that have a variety of manifestations and these systems and
the diversity across and within them are expressions of the sets of purposes. The rights of the
child to a quality education, the capacity for children to maximise their life chances, the education
of a responsible and contributing citizenry and the foundations for a cohesive and moral society
are all ideas that are expressed across school systems. In a proper and harmonious balance they
can contribute greatly to the common good of a society and its individual members. However,
there has been contestation over the principle of choice and the idea of the common good as a
purpose of schooling. Parental choice and the common good in schooling are enduring claims. A
healthy school system needs to find ways of reconciling them.
4.
A research paper on Women Educators and the Confucian Tradition in Meiji Japan (1868-
1912): Miwada Masako and Atomi Kakei made comments that identified the tendency of
historians of the womens movement in Japan to equate the movement with opposition to the
state and with Western liberal thought. Among the first to promote education for girls, via the
establishment of private schools in Tokyo (which still exist today) as well as womens rights,
were two women educated in the Confucian tradition, who helped redefine the role of women
without fighting in opposition to the state or being led by western ideas, but rather linking it to
the well-being of the nation. This change can be attributed to the increased number of Japanese
girls receiving an education, which ultimately allowed them to question the status quo and strive
to make further changes to better their situation. Furthermore, the Meiji reforms saw widespread
changes to the education system by making it accessible to all. This created intense competition
for placement in academic schools offering good prospects for entry into a noted university and
ultimately enhancing employment opportunities and chances of success, in turn reflecting
positively on the ie. In traditional society , the ie. had the role of instilling cultural values,
whereas in modern Japan, the education system is now charged with that task, teaching junior
students the importance of continuity and group identity within an hierarchical context.
Change is a constant element in social life and involves a significant alternation in the patterns of
culture and social structures that are reflected in social behaviour. The concept of change is
inevitable, particularly as Japan becomes increasingly westernized, being influenced by forces of
modernization and globalization. One area that has been subject to considerable changes over
Japans history, is the traditional gender roles and the status of men and women. Prior to World
War II, women were firmly situated in a patriarchal system, taught to, firstly obey their father,
then husband and later, their sons. The few women working outside the home in the pre-war
period, worked almost exclusively in professions considered appropriate for women such as
teaching and nursing, however, the new post-war democracy introduced the ideal of equality of
the sexes, which was written in the Japanese constitution in the form of voting rights, education
and equal opportunity employment, ultimately leading to a dramatic change in the status of
women.
In contemporary Japan, women have their career paths interrupted by marriage, childbirth and
child rearing; however, they are choosing to undertake such roles in life, later than their
predecessors- with a longer life expectancy, of approximately 82 for women and 76 for men,
thought to be a key factor. Statistics also show that one third of Japanese women are entering
institutions of higher education and re-entering the workforce as their children enter school. On
the contrary, women only constitute for 8% of upper management positions, which are still
dominated by men.
Furthermore, the role and status of men in Japan are no longer sacrosanct; with the concept of
change moving them away from being the dominant figure in earning to provide for the family
and leading them towards sharing common household duties. Traditionally, men were in control
of the decision making process within the family, however change has meant that they no longer
have absolute control, with women being able to make independent decisions free from family
interference. This has not been the case for all Japanese men and women, with some considering
the concept of change to be negative, believing that it eradicates traditional Japanese norms and
values as they attempt to cling on to the past, and rejecting any form of change that arises.
(Leigh)
5.
It is important to note that no society and culture is static. They are constantly in a state of flux,
changing and evolving. An increase in the level of influence of forces of globalization,
modernization, westernization, industrialization and urbanization have led to many changes in
Japanese society. Social change occurs when forces from within or outside society act to modify
existing social structures, institutions or established social behaviors. Japan, in its attempt to
achieve certain goals, can adopt many strategies for change e.g. Japan helped bridge the gap of
gender inequality via the creation of an increasingly expanding space for women to actively
participate in society, in turn providing increased educational opportunities thus improving their
status. Furthermore, constitutional changes resulting from the Meiji reforms, saw widespread
changes to the education system by making it accessible to all, creating intense competition for
placement in academic schools offering good prospects for entry into a noted university and
ultimately enhancing employment opportunities and chances of success, in turn reflecting
positively on the ie. In traditional society, the ie. had the role of instilling cultural values, whereas
in modern Japan, the education system is now charged with that task, teaching junior students the
importance of continuity and group identity within an hierarchical context.
In addition, traditional Japan saw a much different curriculum from present day Japan who
attempts to teach not only the fundamental basics of life, values and traditions, but also
incorporates a syllabus focused on making students gain an awareness of the global environment,
in turn leading to increased levels of social literacy as well as an understanding and acceptance of
the inevitable concept of change. This new found understanding and acceptance of change can
lead to a much more globally integrated Japan, which values change rather than resists it.
On the social side, there was a conscious step made by the Japanese government to remove
discriminatory practices with the introduction of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law 1986,
which made it illegal to discriminate (particularly against women) in employment opportunities,
training and education. In reality, however, discrimination still exists in Japanese society
particularly against women in the workforce, for example, who only constitute for 8% of upper
management positions, which continues to be an area dominated by men. This discrimination
causes gender inequality, which may lead to the emotional suffering of those involved, who feel
they cannot pass through the glass ceiling that is restricting their opportunities for succession.
6. Misunderstandings can be very common during cross-cultural interactions, the best strategy to
avoid and misunderstandings would be to research about the certain culture and their society. For
example if you were going to visit Japan, research about their background a little and see if you
can figure out how they use body language and certain hand gestures to communicate, what
stance you should have when you talk to people of certain hierarchical position. Or if a Japanese
person was to visit Australia they would have to research about the way Australians communicate
and that they wouldnt really appreciate looking down when talking to them because in their case
they see it being disrespectful and uninterested.
Understanding the deep roots of cultural difference allows us to see why travelling across borders
can be such a challenge, even as the visible signs of industrialization and globalization spread
throughout the globe. Unfortunately, those working internationally often arent posted in the
same place long enough to fully come to grips with the deep cultural patterns of the host country.
This tendency is made worse, ironically, by globalization itself, since we can often find the
comforts of home when abroad and may not be forced to learn the ropes of our new home.
Research of long-term expatriates finds that theres one final risk associated with deep culture
difference. Since it is most often felt at the intuitive or unconscious level, expatriates may end up
making ethnocentric or critical judgments about their host community without even recognizing
that cultural difference was the source of their negative reactions. These negative attitudes can
harden with time, creating a cynical expat phenomenon.
Conversely, however, people who gain an appreciation of the depth of cultural difference take
this attitude everywhere they go. They ask more questions, spend time learning local conditions
and work better with local partners. They understand that what we see when we arrive abroad
whether traditional temples or modern skyscrapers is just the surface. Theres a whole world of
meaning waiting to be discovered deeper down, provided we have the patience to look, The
Japanese value patience and appreciate he who applies it to his harmonious life.