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The “group” in Japan

The “group” in Japan. What do we mean when we say Japan is a “group society”? Nakane: “ frame ” and “ attribute ” A group by “frame” is one based on organizational affiliation. Examples: Employees of a company or U of I students

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The “group” in Japan

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  1. The “group” in Japan • What do we mean when we say Japan is a “group society”? • Nakane: “frame” and “attribute” • A group by “frame” is one based on organizational affiliation. Examples: • Employees of a company or U of I students • A group by “attribute” is one based on shared characteristics. Examples: • Members of a profession, members of a hobby club

  2. Frame and Attribute • In general, “frame” is more important in Japan, whereas “attribute” is more important in the US. • This can lead to confusion • What’s so great about a Harvard Ph.D.? • Where does the “frame” orientation come from? • ie家(household) system • More on this to follow

  3. “Frame Orientation” in Language • Example: the self-introduction • Hajimemashite. watashi wa mitsubishi jidosha no Tanaka desu. • Hello, I am Tanaka of Mitsubishi motors. • Hi, my name’s Chuck Jones and I’m an engineer at Ford.

  4. Group Cohesion • How does the group hold itself together? • “attribute” groups tend to hold together based on what they have in common • eg. US Protestant denominations • “frame” groups, lacking such homogeneity, must be held together by other means, including • Promotion of a feeling of “one-ness”: “us” vs. “them” • Development of explicit ties among members • multi-generational cohabitation; Company housing • Moral injunctions: “The employee is the enterprise”

  5. Regulating interpersonal relationships • On恩 and giri義理 • On is a debt of kindness requiring repayment (but which can never be repaid) • Giri is “socially contracted dependence” (Moeran); a general sense of obligation to the community. • Ninjō人情: “spontaneously arising feeling” • the desire to express one’s individuality

  6. Frame-Attribute Model Weaknesses • How do we account for extra-group interactions/exchanges between individuals? • eg. The use of tsukiai付き合い, or “social connections” for individual advancement • Or, how do we account for conflict in Japan? • seishin精神, or “spirit” as a central virtue • Appeals to seishin in times of change • kokoro心 –“ya gotta have heart”

  7. Summary • “Frame” type social organization is relatively more important in Japanese society. • The web of social relationships at play in Japanese society can be seen in part in the word-concepts on, giri, and ninjō • The frame/attribute model doesn’t explain how intergroup relationships function

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