HTM 2118Hospitality and Culture

Japan日本（にほん NIHON ）

Christy 09232967DJacqueline 09218686D

Hei 09178654DPhoebe 09242986D

General Information

Flag• official name in Japanese is Nisshoki ( 日章旗 , "sun flag")

• more commonly known as Hinomaru ( 日の丸 , "sun circle")

• white = holy, peaceful, pure and just

• red =sincere, passionate, power and universal love

HistoryWWI• World War I enabled Japan joined the side of the victorious Allies expand its influence and territorial holdings e.g. occupying Manchuria in 1931

• As a result of international condemnation for this occupation Japan resigned from the League of Nations in 1933

• In 1937, Japan invaded other parts of China, precipitating the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945)

after which the United States placed an oil embargo on Japan

• Influence: devote lots of money in military development ,but poor living among people

HistoryWW2• On December 7, 1941, Japan

attacked the United States naval base in Pearl Harbor and declared war on the United States and the United Kingdom

• Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945

surrender of all Japanese forces on August 15

• The war cost millions of lives and left much of the country's industry and infrastructure destroyed

• Influence : historical ruins left behind can boost historical tourism

Fire of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

57th anniversary

HistoryPost-war• 1947 adopted a new pacifist constitution

emphasizing liberal democratic practices• 1952 The Allied occupation ended by the Treaty of

San Francisco• After 1952 , respect and love American products

and have good relationship with America as they regard Americans are superior after they defeated Japan

• 1956 granted membership in the United Nations

• later achieved spectacular growth to become the second largest economy in the world, with an annual growth rate averaging 10% for four decades

• economic miracle ended in the mid-1990s when Japan suffered a major recession

Geography• over three thousand islands

extending along the Pacific coast of Asia

• main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu

• About 70% to 80% of the country is forested, mountainous and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial or residential use

• extremely high population density located in coastal areas

Geography• Located on the Pacific Ring

of Fire• Frequent low-intensity

vibrations and occasional volcanic activities

• Destructive earthquakes• Tsunamis• Influence:

Costs--death , property loss

Benefits--beautiful scenery (volcanoes , hot spring) create tourist spots and boost environmental tourism

LanguageVerbal• written with a combination of

three different types of scripts

1. modified Chinese characters called kanji ( 漢字 )

2. hiragana ( ひらがな or 平仮名 )

3. katakana ( カタカナ or 片仮名 ) OR Latin alphabet, romaji ( ローマ字 )

LanguageVerbal • Vocabulary heavily influenced by other languages

• Different regions may have different accents

• Shorten the form of greetingsExamples:

Good morning --- 「おはようございます」「おす」 Thank you --- 「ありがとうございます」「あざす」

Language Non-Verbal • Bowing

– boys and men :back straight and hands at the sides

– girls and women : clasped in the lap

– with the eyes down– the longer and deeper the bow,

the stronger the emotion and the respect expressed

– most respectful bow saikeirei ( 最敬礼 ): a kneeling bow is performed; this bow is sometimes so deep that the forehead touches the floor

LanguageNon-Verbal• Harmony

- children are taught to act harmoniously and cooperatively with others from the time they go to pre-school

- harmonious relationships between people is reflected in much Japanese behavior

- e.g. facts that might be disagreeable in a gentle and indirect response

Visual Arts

Japanese painting ( 絵画 Kaiga)

Sculpture

Ikebana ( 生け花　 , arranged flower)

Syodou （書道 , ‘the way of writing or calligraphy’ or more commonly known as ‘Shuji’ (習字 ) ‘learning how to write characters’ ）

Performing ArtsKabuki ( 歌舞伎 , "the art of singing and dancing") • sing ( 歌 ), dance ( 舞 ), and skill ( 伎 )

Tokyo Kabukiza Kyoto Minamiza

Performing ArtsNoh ( 能 No, or Nogaku ( 能楽 ) is a major form of classical

Japanese musical Drama)

•A Noh performance often lasts all day

•Emphasis on tradition rather than innovation

Performing Arts

Bunraku ( 文楽 ), also known as Ningyo joruri ( 人形浄瑠璃 )• a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Sadou （茶道 , the way of tea） • Chakai -simple course of hospitality that includes the service of conf

ections, mild tea, and perhaps a light meal • Chaji -more formal gathering usually including a full-course meal cal

led kaiseki, followed by confections, strong tea , and mild tea. A chaji may last up to four hours

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Sumo ( 相撲 ) • considered as national

sport

Judo ( 柔道 , meaning "gentle way“)

• originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Kendo ( 剣道 , meaning Way of the sword)

• a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana

Karate ( 空手 , a martial art)

• from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese kenpo and further developed in Japan

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Influence• Japanese culture is pure ,not affected by changing of

time• Japanese place high priority on cultural conservation and

appreciation• Japan absorbs other countries’ traditional cultures ,

maximizes their value and preserves these uniqueness ,makes them popular and spread around the world

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Animation and Comics • a manga superpower• the world’s largest exporter of comics and animation• very popular and influential from the 1980s to the

present in Asia• almost all Asian nations have their own editions of

Japanese comics and their televisions show Japanese animated series on a daily basis

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

• comic café (manga kissha), comic rental, dojinshi (amateurish manga) and cosplay (costume play), have penetrated the consumer culture in major Asian cities.

• Asian businessmen also make use of Japanese cartoon characters e.g.Hello Kitty, Doraemon to promote their products or services.

• Japanese manga has played a role in changing the youth culture and the people’s perception of Japan in Asia

• Hong Kong and Taiwan, two consumption centers of Japanese comics and animation in Asia

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Akihabara ( 秋葉原 ) ("Field of Autumn Leaves")• known as Akihabara Electric Town ( 秋葉原電気街

Akihabara Denki Gai)• a major shopping area for electronic, computer, anime,

and otaku goods, including new and used items• presence of “Maid Cafe” ,girls wearing costumes of maid

and serve in a café

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Japanese dramas ( テレビドラマ terebi dorama, television drama), also called dorama ( ドラマ )

• stories of teenage violence, child abuse, and modern family life

• Famous Japanese television station based in Daiba known as Fuji TV

• Daiba in the late 1990s became a tourist and leisure zone after Fuji Television moved their headquarters to the island

• then transportation links improved, and thus the establishments of several large hotels and shopping malls

Traditional/Popular Culture and Entertainment

Influence• Making cultural pilgrimages to Japanemergency of pop-culture tourismJapan travel boom -visit famous places featured in dramas -buy latest fashion, ACG products -attend live concerts, Comic Market

• The rise of self-guided tourismgreater flexibility

• Changing itinerary of package tours in Japanpast: major attractions were historic and natural sites e.g. mountain,

temples, shrinesnow: major attractions are places e.g. theme parks, shopping

arcades

Etiquette

• governs the expectations of social behavior in the country

• considered very important

• some customs may be very regional practices

• may not exist in all regions of Japan

• Some customs have changed over the course of history

Etiquette

Visiting Someone’s House• an honor to be invited to one's home• wooden geta are provided for short walks outside when

entering the house• polite to wear shoes instead of sandals, but sandal wearers

may carry a pair of white socks to put over their bare feet or stockings

Etiquette• shoes are turned around so that the toe faces the door

after taking them off• take off hat or coats before the host opens the door• when guest is leaving, he or she does not put on the

coat or hat until the door has closed

EtiquetteMobile Phones• very common in Japan• use of mobile phones on public transport is not allowed

– cannot make calls and have to switch their phones to silent mode

– made e-mailing from cell phones (SMS) extremely popular among people of all ages

EtiquetteTrains• cannot talk too loud• should turn the phone on silent-mode• women-only cars are available in rush-hour• courtesy seats are very common ie. give seat to old

people & handicapped people is highly encouraged• putting on make-up is not allowed

CuisineDining Etiquette• meals is traditionally begin with the phrase itadakimasu

( いただきます ) (I humbly receive)• upon finishing a meal, the Japanese also use the polite

phrase Gochisosama-deshita ( ごちそうさま - でした ) (Thank you for good meal)

• it is considered polite to clear one's plate, even to the last grain of rice

• impolite to pick out certain ingredients and leave the rest

ClothingClothing and Events• informal clothing:

used as daily wear, for bath houses or informal friend and family visits e.g. yukata (wear in firework display in summer)

• formal clothing:

wear when having formal visits, funerals , weddings or formal functions e.g. Jinbei (wear during summer festivals) , Furisode (worn by unmarried women in formal social functions)

ClothingLolita• a fashion subculture• mainly 4 types of Lolita (Gothic, Sweet, Classic and Punk )• Lolita fashion is mass-marketed and has wide visibility

particularly in the streets of Tokyo and Osaka, on television in animation e.g. Paradise of Love

• some of the tourists may like to go to Japan to wear and buy the Lolita clothing

ClothingCosplay• short for ‘costume role-play’

• wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea

• characters are often drawn from popular fiction

• experience growing popularity in foreign countries

• tourists would like to buy and dress up cosplay clothing in Japan

Holidays1. Japanese New Year

• the first day of January

• one of the most important annual festivals

• celebrated for centuries with its own unique customs

HolidaysPostcards• Japanese have a custom of sending New Year's Day

postcards ( 年賀状 , nengajō) to their friends and relatives• original purpose is to tell others whom they did not often

meet that they were alive and well• not to send these postcards when one has had a death in

the family during the year

HolidaysHatsumode• the first trip to a shrine or temple• many people visit a shrine after midnight on December 31

or sometime during the day on January 1• wear kimono

Holidays2. Coming of Age Day• on the second Monday of

January• to congratulate and encourage

all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year

• coming of age ceremonies ( 成人式 , seijin-shiki) held at local and prefectural offices

• after-parties amongst family and friends

Holidays3.Children’s Day ( こどもの日 , Kodomonohi)

May 5• respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness• to express gratitude toward mothers• before this day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags

– overcome all difficulties– clear up all dooms– grow favorably– one for each boy (or child)

FestivalsBon Festival• a Japanese Buddhist custom to

honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors

• has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves

• lasts for three days• participants traditionally wear yukata,

or light cotton kimonos• include a huge carnival with rides,

games, and summer festival food like watermelon

Holidays and FestivalsImpacts on Hospitality• boost local tourism as Japanese prefer travelling during the

holidays• respect so much about the holidays ceremonies e.g. Coming

of Age Ceremonies• may visit friends or families in Japan or other countries to

come and join the ceremonies• festivals promote community sense and develop local pride• treasure a lot family tree as people (children, youngsters and

adults) all join the festivals and make efforts to make it runs smoothly

SportsFootball• Japan is one of the most successful soccer teams in Asia,

winning the Asian Cup three times• establishment of the Japan Professional Football League

in 1992• was a venue of the Intercontinental Cup from 1981 to

2004• co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea

SportsBaseball• the most popular spectator sport in the country• one of the most famous Japanese baseball players is

Ichiro Suzuki, who, having won Japan's Most Valuable Player award in 1994, 1995 and 1996, now plays for the Seattle Mariners of North American Major League Baseball

SportsOlympics• hosted the Olympics in

Tokyo in 1964• has hosted the Winter

Olympics twice, in Nagano in 1998 and Sapporo in 1972

• helped to boost Japan tourism by attracting tourists to come and watch the competitions

Education• one of the world's best-educated populations• with 100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy

the well-educated people can favor the hospitality industry as these people are usually more polite and nice to the guests

• the education system was reformed mainly according to the German and French model

• 9 years compulsory education– includes six years of elementary school and three years of

junior high school– less focus on language training e.g. English, some cannot

speak well English

may affect serving international guests

Group work and its influence on Japanese people

• Group membership provides enjoyment and fulfillment• But , causes tremendous tension• An ideology of group harmony does not ensure harmony in

fact• Japan is an extremely competitive society, yet competition

within the group must be strictly regulated• Minor issues are sometimes dealt with by appeals to

higher authority• Major problems may be denied, especially to outsiders• This burden of these interpersonal tensions is reflected in

high rates of alcohol consumption

Many Japanese cope with these stresses by retreating into the private self or by enjoying the escapism offered by much of the popular culture

M

ConclusionHospitality and Culture• Power distance-Great

-Respect the elderly

-use of formal language (keigo けいご敬語 )

-use of formal body language (bow , kneel)

to communicate with senior people , boss and customers

• Uncertainty avoidance-high

-one employer for entire career

Conclusion• Collectivism-Group interest prevail over individual

-Personal identity is achieved through group participation

e.g. collective effort to make different OMATSURIs (festivals お祭り ) run smoothly

• Masculinity

e.g. women making greater use of polite forms of language

Conclusion• Confucian and Dynamism-hybrid

• Confucian

-able to keep traditional culture e.g. Sadou (way of tea)

• Dynamism

-fashion hub is Asia

-latest trendy Japanese hi-tec. electronic product

ReferenceInternet• Culture of Japan (2009). Retrieved October 19, 2009

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan• The Impact of Japanese Comics and Animation in

Asia (2005). Retrieved October 22, 2009 from http://www.cuhkacs.org/~benng/Bo-Blog/read.php?478

Books• Allen, M. & Sakamoto, R. (2006). Popular Culture,

Globalization and Japan. : Routledge.• W. Scott Morton, J. Kenneth Olenik. (2005).

Japan : its history and culture.New York : McGraw-Hill .

• Cochrane, J. (2008). Asian Tourism-Growth and Change. Hungary: Elsevier.

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