Anna+2.doc

☆Jpanese Culture☆
There are some differences between America and Japan, of course there are a lot of differences between Japan and another countries, but I have not been to another countries except the United States, so I ‘m sorry that I can only compare the United States with Japan about the differences on role of culture. First, Americans clearly have the own opinion, and Americans insist on their opinion. The other hand, Japanese have own opinion, but Japanese don’t want to make things worse, so they often say “Tatemae”. “Tatemae” is used when Japanese want to hide their opinion. To say “Tatemae” isn’t to tell a lie. Surely, “Tatemae” is a lie, however not a lie. For example, the divorce rate of the United States is higher than Japan. In Panel Discussion, I had lesson of Panel Discussion when I went to the United States, I asked Mary “What do you feel about divorce?” she said, “Divorce is a step. My ex husband and I had different opinion, and we didn’t suit each other.” Americans have own opinion and they can divorce after talking about own divorce face to face. In the other hand, I think, some Japanese don’t want to divorce, because we think “divorce is bad”. Japanese like keeping their harmony, so Japanese persuade themselves “We mustn’t divorce because we have children”. Or “I’m a housewife, so I can’t divorce, because I don’t have a job”. I think Japanese wives tolerate their situation, so Japanese wives should insist on their opinion to their husband.