My most recent article on Blogcritics is available here for anyone who is interested. This one is about something I've touched on before about the way in which body language in Japan often emphasizes the differences between Japanese and foreign people, though the article is written in a less personalized and more full-developed way.
This article was actually a rejected submission to another media outlet and I figured there was no reason to let it go to waste. ;-)
Monday, January 28, 2008
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14 comments:
I enjoyed the article very much. Thanks for sharing!
I'm imagining that the lady with the red hair and blue eyes was you, Shari!
Very good article - I can see a book in you.
Emsk and Fuji Mama: Thanks to both of you for taking the time to read the article and comment.
The woman in the story is me, but the original intended outlet wasn't an appropriate place for first person stories. It turned out that the entire article was too personal anyway, but it was fine for Blogcritics as they showcase blog-style pieces.
Great article! I can see where this would be problematic if they are to get an influx of foreign visitors for the Olympics.
There again, it is a almost completely different culture. Just as you said, incidents like this are viewed as taboo in the West...but are seemingly par for the course in Japan.
Being a person with red hair and blue eyes, I'm sure that you stick out like a sore thumb! :) That certainly doesn't make life easier...
It's not a big deal in Japan. Call me an 'apologist' if you will, but they aren't being rude for looking at foreigners. If kids point their parents scold them with, "指をさすな!"
There's also a different perception of what we refer to as "personal space" in the West, and this isn't limited to Japan. It isn't uncommon for the same-sex to even touch each other in situations that Westerners wouldn't feel comfortable in. You touched on this in your post about girls holding hands.
To tell you the truth, I was a little disappointed in this article after being initially intrigued by the short write-up you had on your blog here. I thought it would be an explanation of various, culturally-different body language signs. For example, a smile in Japan is a sign of embarassment. And, whereas in the West we might consider direct eye-contact from a stranger as a threat, in Japan it's simply inquisitive.
Personally, I don't like being stared at, but I don't think it's an overt act of prejudice.
For argument’s sake, why is it rude to stare a person in the face?
Is it a universal taboo, or a custom accepted by a group of people in a specific culture?
Alex: Yes, you are an apologist. You're exactly the sort of person who excuses any bad behavior on the part of the Japanese even though you know it's inexcusable in other cultures. Personally, I've never witnessed a parent scold a child for such behavior. While some might, it's relatively rare.
If you read the comments on the Blogcritics page, you'll see that you're in the minority on this issue. And, if you're disappointed in my article, you can always write your own for Blogcritics.
Mike: Thanks. :-)
Anonymous: It's only rude if it isn't the norm for the culture you're in and it is so not the norm for Japanese culture. Japanese people don't treat each other this way because it would be considered rude in this culture.
Also, staring at people, particularly strangers, and especially right in the eyes is an overt act of aggression or contempt. It's that way among animals and it's that way among humans.
Generally speaking, you can easily discern what is rude and what is not by asking one question:
Would it be rude if the people who are indigenous to this culture did it to each other? If the answer is "yes", then it is bad behavior. If the answer is "no", then it's a cultural difference.
Same anonymous as above.
Do you mean "staring at people, particularly strangers, and especially right in the eyes is an overt act of aggression or contempt" in Japanese culture?
Staring could mean aggression or contempt as well as curiosity, admiration, affection, love or nothing.
Let me propose one exercise. Go out, stare at a Japanese stranger not angrily for good 10 seconds and see what happens. I bet he will not get offended, and you will find what it means to stare at people in Japan.
anonymous: No, I mean that among all creatures, staring into the eyes of another is considered aggressive. This is opposed to making eye contact as a part of communication.
If you don't believe me, make it a habit to stare directly into the eyes of any strange dog you meet and then offer your hand to it.
A good example of how staring and aggression are related in Japanese culture is the practice in sumo. Part of sumo involves a "stare down" in which the participants look each other in the eye for an extended time as a form of psychological battle. Staring is aggressive behavior, even in Japan.
I've also been told that Japanese people keep their eyes lower than western folks in friendly and business conversation. I've been told that they look around neck level whereas direct eye contact can be seen as disrespectful.
I wouldn't be so rude as to go stare at a person for a few seconds, let alone 10. If I went and stared at Japanese person as you say, that person would get uncomfortable and look away in most cases because many Japanese are intimidated by foreigners. In some cases though, particularly with men, it could elicit an aggressive response depending on the person.
If your intent is to imply such behavior as staring, pointing, and talking about people in a gossipy and derogatory fashion when they are standing right in front of you is not offensive, then you are simply wrong. When I tell my students that other Japanese people stare at me, they apologize for the behavior of their countrymen who do so and are embarrassed. Also, students who have traveled abroad and experienced the same treatment in the West (staring, whispering, pointing) have been bothered by it.
Well, ten years ago if you stared at somebody on a New York subway for more than 10 seconds, you could wind up getting shot to death.
This still goes the same for parts of Wash. D.C.
I have never really been cognizant of any incidents where I saw any Westerner (at least in the US) staring at a foreigner for an extended amount of time. I think it is because we are so used to people of different types being around. Children will do it, certainly, and innocently out of curiosity, but parents (those that actually pay attention to their kids) will generally scold them. I don't think this is just foreigner vs. "native", but anyone that looks sufficiently different. Public transit is a great place to check this out.
It seems in Japan that since there are comparatively fewer foreigners, this would be something to be expected...even if it is perceived as rude by the person on the receiving end of the stare.
Anyone that wants to stare at me can go right ahead and do it. I hope they like what they see! LOL!
As far as other gestures, I remember years ago in a study I did on Japanese culture that if you are gesturing to your self by pointing...i.e. "Me?"...the Japanese would not point at their chest (heart), but at their nose. It seems not to be isolated to Japan, but most Asian cultures.
I have, unconsciously, started doing it! I must be turning Japanese...
Shari,
You are spot-on!
I get a good laugh reading the "Japan-Sugoi" types making excuses for rude behavior.
Pure comedy in a pathetic kinda way.
By the way I'd like to add you to my blog roll (do you have an icon in .png for maybe?
Thanks to everyone for adding their comments.
I've since started asking about this issue (as has my husband) and the response from everyone has been an overwhelming 'staring is unequivocally rude behavior in Japan'. I even asked a student if she stared at people sporting Mohawks in Harajuku and she said that she would never do that both because it would be rude and because she'd be afraid of pissing the person she was gawking at of (which shows that it can elicit an aggressive response and it's one of the reasons people don't do it to each other here).
Chris: I would very much appreciate being added to your blogroll, but I'm afraid I don't have a .png file. I only have a scan.
Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting.
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