Japanese Vs Australian Culture Essay
Introduction to Japan
Japan is a country in the Asian-Pacific region. While the islands belonging to the nation are only 377 944 km2, Japan is home to more than 127 million people. In Japan the culture is fascinating, their rich heritage somehow blending with their role as global leaders in technology. This unique country is an excellent tourist destination, but before you pack your bags, it is best to be able to understand and communicate with the people there.
Japan and Australia
When travelling to Japan, an understanding of the differences and similarities between Japanese and Australian cultures is vital.
Power and Authority
The person in the highest position of both power and authority within Japan is the Prime Minister, Kan Naoto. The Emperor, Akihito, is a religious and authoritarian figure but holds no real power over the lives of those residing in Japan. The police are in positions of influence, with a force of more than 280 000 police officers, with 10 000 specifically for riot control. Sometimes this power is abused; Japanese police have been known to force confessions from innocent suspects. Japan has a very low homicide rate, but whether this is due to police proficiency or the peacefulness of the country is unclear. …show more content…
While more Westernised cultures tend to give straight answers such as ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, people in Japan prefer to not to give a negative answer directly. Instead, they conventionally give an ambiguous reply such as ‘Probably’ or ‘Maybe’, relying on contextual clues to relay their answer.* The Japanese also use pauses and silence as a means of communication within commonplace situations. Their succinct style of speaking is confusing for some visitors to Japan, who are accustomed to silences being a sign of uncomfortable awkwardness or disinterest. The focus in Japanese conversation is often not what the speaker is saying, but how the listener interprets what they don’t
Japan is a country in the Asian-Pacific region. While the islands belonging to the nation are only 377 944 km2, Japan is home to more than 127 million people. In Japan the culture is fascinating, their rich heritage somehow blending with their role as global leaders in technology. This unique country is an excellent tourist destination, but before you pack your bags, it is best to be able to understand and communicate with the people there.
Japan and Australia
When travelling to Japan, an understanding of the differences and similarities between Japanese and Australian cultures is vital.
Power and Authority
The person in the highest position of both power and authority within Japan is the Prime Minister, Kan Naoto. The Emperor, Akihito, is a religious and authoritarian figure but holds no real power over the lives of those residing in Japan. The police are in positions of influence, with a force of more than 280 000 police officers, with 10 000 specifically for riot control. Sometimes this power is abused; Japanese police have been known to force confessions from innocent suspects. Japan has a very low homicide rate, but whether this is due to police proficiency or the peacefulness of the country is unclear. …show more content…
While more Westernised cultures tend to give straight answers such as ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, people in Japan prefer to not to give a negative answer directly. Instead, they conventionally give an ambiguous reply such as ‘Probably’ or ‘Maybe’, relying on contextual clues to relay their answer.* The Japanese also use pauses and silence as a means of communication within commonplace situations. Their succinct style of speaking is confusing for some visitors to Japan, who are accustomed to silences being a sign of uncomfortable awkwardness or disinterest. The focus in Japanese conversation is often not what the speaker is saying, but how the listener interprets what they don’t