Cultural Differences Between Japan and America

Last Updated on December 14, 2021 by QCity Editorial Stuff

Japan and America are two very different cultures. Most Americans, for example, do not have a formal hierarchical system of social class while Japanese culture is highly stratified. This blog post will explore some of the cultural differences between Japan and America in terms of hierarchy, language use, etiquette rules, and general attitudes towards work.

Japan and America are two countries that have many cultural differences. The most obvious difference is the language, as Japanese uses different symbols than English. One of the more recent differences between Japan and America is how each country celebrates holidays. A few years ago, Japan switched to using Western calendars, so they celebrated Christmas on December 25th instead of January 1st like before. This switch caused some controversy among citizens who were worried about losing their traditions or who thought it was too late to change things up now. However, there are still a lot of similarities in culture between these two countries – for example, both celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey dinners on November 28th; both use chopsticks, and both love karaoke.

Comparison between  Japan and America

Parameters of ComparisonJapan culture American culture
CultureJapan is a “shame culture,” in which people are embarrassed when they make mistakes and try to hide themAmerica is a “guilt culture,” in which people feel guilty for making mistakes and try to fix them.  
CardsIn Japan, business cards are passed out with two handsIn America, business cards are passed out with one hand
Shaking handsJapanese greetings involve bowing or shaking handsAmerican greetings involve shaking hands only
Food habitHave own food habitHave own food habit
Musiclike musicNot so much

What is Japanese culture?

Japan is a fascinating country with an equally intriguing culture. There are many aspects of Japanese culture that are unique and enigmatic to foreigners, but there are also some elements that are shared by other countries around the world. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most notable aspects of Japan’s cultural heritage. Keep in mind that there is no one answer to the question “what is Japan culture?” as it is incredibly diverse and nuanced. We hope you enjoy getting a little more insight into this amazing country.

When most people think of Japanese culture, they probably think of anime, sushi, and samurai swords. But there’s so much more to Japan than that! This blog post will introduce you to some of the major aspects of Japanese culture. We’ll discuss the history and traditions of Japan, as well as its contemporary culture. So if you’re interested in learning more about Japan, keep reading.

Cultural Differences Between Japan and America

What is American Culture?

The answer to that question can vary depending on who you ask. For some, it’s baseball and apple pie, for others it’s the land of opportunity. But if we were to ask a sociologist or anthropologist what defines American culture, they would typically say America is a society with ties to European settlement and immigration from other countries. It has always been an evolving process.  This blog post will explore how the United States came into existence as well as the different influences that shaped its development over time. We’ll also take a look at where the United States stands today in terms of current events, diversity, and social customs. So let’s dive into this topic together.

Americans are a diverse mix of people, but some common themes unite them. There is no one “American culture.” Instead, American culture is made up of many different cultures. The U.S. Census Bureau found that the most popular ancestry in America was German (27%), followed by Irish (18%). These two ancestries alone make up over 45% of the population! Americans also come from African-American heritage (12%), Latino/Hispanic heritage (17%), and other European roots including Italian, Polish or English/Scottish/Welsh heritage to name just a few. Regardless of where they came from originally, all Americans share customs and beliefs which have been shaped by their own unique experiences as well as those who settled here before them.

Cultural Differences Between Japan and America

10 Cultural Differences Between Japan and America

1. Japan is a “shame culture,” in which people are embarrassed when they make mistakes and try to hide them.

2. America is a “guilt culture,” in which people feel guilty for making mistakes and try to fix them.

3. In Japan, business cards are passed out with two hands.

4. In America, business cards are passed out with one hand.

5. Japanese greetings involve bowing or shaking hands. 

6. American greetings involve shaking hands only.

7. The Japanese use the word “gaijin” to refer to foreigners, which means “outsider”.

8. In Japan, people are expected to take their shoes off before entering a home or business.

9. When eating in Japan, it is customary for diners to share dishes with others at the table.

10. There are no fast-food restaurants in Japan – instead, they have small shops where you can buy hot dogs and other quick snacks on the go.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Japanese culture

1. Japan has four seasons, but unlike the other countries in the world, they are called by their Japanese names – “Haru” (春), “aki” (秋), “Natsu” (夏) and “fuyu” (冬).

2. The official currency of Japan is Yen and its symbol is ¥ JPY or JP¥.

3. The population of Japan as of January 1st, 2017 in 127,872,000 people according to World Population Review.

4. A popular dish in Japan is sushi which consists primarily of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients such as seafood and vegetables.

5. In 2011 there were more than 50 million registered cars in Japan making up for a total percentage of 12% of all vehicles worldwide.

6. There are many different languages spoken throughout the country including the Japanese language being one of them.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of American Culture

1. Americans spend on average 4 hours a day watching TV.

2. The U.S has the most incarcerated population in the world.

3. There are more registered sex offenders than people are living in Wyoming.

4. More than 50% of all adults have some form of debt.

5. Nearly 40% of children live below or near poverty level.

6. 1 out of every 3 women will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives, but only 6% will report it to the police.

Conclusion

Japan and America have different cultures, values, traditions. The way that each culture lives its life is the product of a unique history. One country’s tradition can be another country’s taboo. In this post, we’re going to look at some cultural differences between Japan and America – in particular how these two countries deal with death-related topics such as cremation vs burial or mourning periods for family members who pass away.  For example, Americans generally tend to cremate their loved ones after they die while Japanese people usually bury them in caskets according to religion (e.g., Buddhism). This difference speaks volumes about what kind of society both countries are trying to create; one where you get rid of anything you don’t want (which is good if you’re a hoarder) and the other where bodies are seen as something special, not to be discarded like garbage.

References:

Resource 01: https://www.japan.go.jp/
Resource 02: https://www.usa.gov/about-the-us

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