Japanese Society the Typical Japanese

Japanese Society

The typical Japanese is a woman, working for a small company without the guarantee of a permanent job. She would not belong to a labor union, nor would she have a university education.

The religions of Shintoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are intertwined in Japan's culture. Many Japanese belong to more than one of these religions at the same time, and the three make up a foundation of festivals and folk celebrations in the country. Buddhism is not as important as the other two, but still plays a part in some activities, such as funerals.

Yes, a country, such as Japan, can be democratic and still have authoritarian tendencies. Japanese society is very authoritarian and rigid, and yet they enjoy many of the freedoms associated with democracy. However, the author notes, "[T]here lingers a suspicion that the Japanese system is not really arranged to give first priority to the human rights that are regarded as the cornerstone of democracy" (Sugimoto 272). Thus, the authoritarian tendencies of society could someday outweigh democratic tendencies.

The unofficial curricula of schools in Japan subtly teach uniformity and conformity at a young age. They also are very regimented and take away the individual identities of the children. They also regulate the children heavily. All this prepares them for a regimented and authoritarian adult society.