Us & Them
In Japan the group mentality is very much alive, and is visible in many aspects of Japanese culture. They even have a special term for it - ‘Uchi-Soto’, literally inside-outside. There are many groups and sub-groups within Japanese society itself such as in workplaces, schools and social groups.
Often seen as overlapping circles, those that are inside the group are humbled and those outside the group are honoured and respected. This can be seen in the Japanese language’s concepts of politeness, something that can take many years for a foreign learner of Japanese to master correctly and tactfully.
If you are interested in studying Japanese, although it can at times seems difficult it can be very rewarding. However, in order to fully understand the intricacies, you must also take the time to learn kanji, the cornerstone of the Japanese language. The deeper meaning of the kanji symbols can often give subtle clues to the history behind the language and the true meanings behind the words.
TAGS: BOWING, JAPANESE GREETINGS, COMPANY, SOCIAL GROUPS, JAPANESE SOCIETY
