Difference between other Asian countries and Japan (3) – Asian Identity -

( The U.S. in 1998 )

During the time I lived in Cerritos and attended the adult school, I began to feel that Japan’s idea of Western culture was much different from that of other Asian countries, which were once colonized by the Western world. Japan welcomed Western culture, introducing it positively and becoming westernized in many ways. Other Asian countries on the other hand, strongly identified with their Asian culture. People from these countries seemed to be very interested in Japan since it was the only economically developed Asian nation, and the only member of the G8 in an Asia. They didn’t seem to realize just how westernized the Japanese lifestyle is. I felt the other Asian people thought Japan had developed some secret means of becoming rich while keeping an Asian identity.

Prior to WWII, Japan adopted the slogan, “Japanese soul and Western technology.” This slogan came to be held as a policy in Japan. I’ve noticed a similar mentality present in other Asian countries today. Nowadays, Japanese try to understand Western mentality in order to excel in business, politics, education, etc. This is reflected in the Japanese language where you can see countless words adapted from the English language, without translation into Japanese. While living in the United States, I felt I was being introduced for the first time to the Asian mindset.