No two cultures differ quite as much as American and Japanese culture. But why do Americans have such a difficult time adapting to Japanese culture? This presentation, based on a brilliant but not widely known book, attempts to explain the root of the issue. My Powerpoint notes are missing - I thought they would be there when I uploaded the file. I'm going to have to figure out where I went wrong...sorry if some things don't make perfect sense without the notes. This is my first draft and incomplete work. There are other "polite fictions" that I want to illustrate but I wanted to get what I had out there to get feedback from my peers. Finding the right images to use has been tedious - we need more Creative Commons users on Flickr! Thanks to the great photographers I did find on Flickr who are willing to share their photos with others. I can't say how much I appreciate you folks! Please give me some creative feedback and I hope you enjoy my slideshow. Todd

1. Polite Fictions:
The Real Reasons Foreigners
Can’t Seem To Fit In Japan
By Todd Fong
Photo by Danny Choo /Flickr

2. Polite Fictions
Why Japanese and Americans
Seem Rude To Each Other
Nancy Sakamoto
Reiko Naotsuka

3. Photo by Shihchun Yen/Flickr
To the foreigner,
JAPAN can seem like
a world apart…

4. Extraordinarily
MODERN yet steeped
in tradition…

5. …a beautiful
but alien culture.

6. 外人
JAPAN
In Photo by schwong/Flickr
every non-Japanese person is a “gaijin”: a foreigner.
外人

7. Perhaps it’s because the Japanese see their culture as
Unique.
In many ways,
it is.
Photo by zero_point/Flickr

8. Every culture has its “polite fictions”, a set of
culturally-centric beliefs of how people should interact.
Many of the Polite Fictions of American culture are in direct
opposition to the Polite Fictions of Japanese culture.

9. 日本人
AMERICAN
“You and I are equal.” “I am your inferior.”

10. Obviously, Japanese people are not actually
inferior, but Japanese culture dictates that
it is polite for them to act as if they are.
Not all Americans believe everyone else
is their equal, but it would be perceived
as impolite to treat others as inferior.
By now, you’re starting to see the problem.

11. The Japanese greet one another with a bow:
 Little eye contact
 Submissive posture
 Unassuming

12. While Americans greet one
another with a handshake:
 Direct eye contact
 Firm vigorous grip
 Assuming friendship

13. 日本人
AMERICAN
:-( orz
(I have failed you)
(Sorry)

14. “My wife is an excellent cook.”
The
AMERICAN
Thinks…
“My wife is a better cook
“Please come over and my
than yours.”
wife will make us dinner.”
The
JAPANESE
Hears…

15. SENPAI
先輩
後輩
KOUHAI

16. Junior / Senior relationship
The
is nurtured in the education system, but can last a lifetime.