Growing up in New York City I learned the hard way to fight for what is mine and always protect my belongings. I learned at a young age that people steal things and if I did not keep my stuff safe than it is my fault if it were ever stolen. New York City was in a lot of ways a concrete jungle. People much like animals fighting for what was theirs with someone always pushing to be the alpha of the group. New Yorkers have a unique culture of their own and it can be seen across different ethnicities in the city sharing some core common behaviors, traits and values. New Yorkers in my opinion are transparent, direct, hard-working, impatient, passionate, and always in a hurry to get to the next place. “Culture gives people a sense of who they are, of belonging of how they should behave, and of what they should be doing” (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 11). So, when I planned my trip to Tokyo in 2009 I quickly realized that this big city was very different than the one I grew up in.
First, Tokyo was a beautiful city. We went in the winter time and upon walking around some neighborhoods and getting some good food we quickly noticed a few different things that were unique to this big city. There were vending machines that served hot green tea in cans. This was a pretty amazing treat in the cold winter. My husband and I laughed that in an American city we would find unhealthy cold soda in a vending machine filled with high fructose corns syrup and all sorts of bad ingredients. Right there we could see a huge cultural gap in between the quality of quick beverages that people consumed. “The manner in which food is selected, prepared, presented, and eaten often differs by culture” (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 12).
Then we noticed something else which was quite different than the environment we grew up in. We walked around the city and noticed that we did not see any homeless people. We figured in a big city such as Tokyo there had to be a large population of homeless people just like New York City. We were so curious about this that we decided to ask some Japanese people that were staying at our hotel. Their reply both shocked and impressed us. In Japan people of the same family take these family bonds so seriously that they would never allow a family member to burden society. If a family member was homeless this would be a dishonor to the family so they would not allow that to happen. They take care of any family members to ensure this does not occur. Therefor the concept of having a homeless population is a foreign idea for a Japanese person. “All aspects of culture are interrelated, and to change one part is to change the whole” (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 15)which is why the Japanese do not allow for this separation to exist.
Last, but certainly not least Tokyo was a beautifully clean city. As we walked around we noticed that the streets were rather clean and the sidewalks were not adorned with colorful wads of gum from passerby’s. This was interesting to see in such a big city. Compared to New York which was very dirty, Tokyo was almost sparkling. We also were quick to notice that the bikes were not tied down to bannisters by lock and key. They were parked on the side of houses and apartments with boom boxes and personal belongings siting in the carrier cases as if no one ever stole anything. This made me incredibly curious. As I mentioned before growing up in New York City I had been the victim of theft more times than I would have liked and in all various degrees of offense. Yet here, it was as if it did not exist. “The values of a culture, or subculture, determine behavior” (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 14). In this moment, I was told by a resident of Tokyo that it would be dishonorable to steal. While it occurred, it was not a frequent or accepted normal behavior in their culture. This was truly astonishing and it became apparent to me that Tokyo was a beautiful city but more importantly it was rich in a culture that was honorable, and takes pride in how they treat their families, their streets and what they choose to put in their bodies.
Works Cited
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences(9 ed.). New York, NY, USA: Routledge.
Hi Nicole,
I absolutely loved reading your post. I definitely want to travel to Tokyo one day and I was intrigued by the differences in culture. I am originally from Maryland and moved to California 7 years ago. I have had my share of walking by a ton of homeless people whether it be in New York or even San Francisco. it breaks my heart to see so many suffer and the fact that Tokyo would never allow such a situation to occur, shows how strongly they value family and that it is such a dishonor. Here, taking in a homeless person to ensure that they are safe and taken care of is not on the top of everyone’s to-do list. We are so focused on a fast-paced lifestyle and making sure everything gets done that we don’t take the time to focus on others. I’m sure there was a lot of culture shock you experienced.
It just comes to show that culture is valued in so many different ways in different countries. By being conscious of all the cultural values, we can appreciate diversity even more. Your post was relatable and convincing. Great job.
Hello Nicole,
I found your article very interesting, mainly because I have also gone to Japan, and experienced a similar awareness, particularly around the aspects of the city being so clean. And, if I think about it, you are right, I don’t recall seeing in homeless people. It was pretty amazing how hospitable people were, quite friendly, and courteous. Being from a large city like New York, I am sure you experience a melting pot of various cultures. I am curious, how to the people of Japan compare to those who reside in America? Do you believe they have maintained their cultural identity?
I to grew up in a large urban center (San Francisco, CA) that thrives with cultural diversity. I have, however, noticed some difference between specific groups of people, from those of their native country. I wonder if the generations of people living in the U.S. have stripped away the traditions of their ancestors? Did you notice any other cultural similarities or different practices than from your community of New Yorker?
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts.