Japanese Culture and the Nature of Knowing

This article is third in a four-part series based on interviews with Japanese unbelievers about Japanese culture.

In my interviews, I asked two questions to explore this aspect of culture:

1. Who taught you when you were young, and what did they teach you?

2. How did you know if they were telling the truth?

Almost all of them spoke of learning from family (parents, grandparents), from school (teachers, books), from friends, and from media (television, Internet). Some talked about stages of life and how the source of knowledge shifts as they grow up. One woman is now learning from her children. Another woman said that the Internet has largely replaced the library as a resource for knowledge.

One man said that his mother and grandmother taught him manners. For example, “hoka no hito ni meiwaku o kakenai” or “don’t bother other people.” Family also taught Japanese legends and skills, such as how to grow flowers. One woman said she learned a great deal from her mother about life, as her mother modeled it.

Some of my contacts said they never questioned what they were taught when they were young. “I am simple and so I always believed” is how one woman worded it. This same woman said Japan was very peaceful so there was no reason to be skeptical. She was stunned to discover as a 25-year-old traveling in America that many people in China hated Japan. For the first time she heard about bad things Japan did during WW2. Feelings are also used for distinguishing truth. One woman stated, “I don’t often determine if it’s true or not; I just feel. If I make a mistake with my feelings, it is my fate.”

Three young mothers stated, “There are different ways to heal a cold.” In other words, there is more than one truth. Several of those I interviewed said experience isn’t just a good teacher; it also corrects misinformation. One businessman working in America said he learned a great deal about America before going, but once he actually worked there, he was able to determine what was fact. Another woman added that the closer you are to a source of information, the easier it is to believe. The youngest man I interviewed said, “people with good personality” give good advice. He defined “good personality” as those who are “generous with knowledge” and who “help you see things from a different point of view.” Another man said that if many people believe the same thing, it is probably correct. One woman said if it is a matter of life and death, seek an expert.

My biggest surprise in learning about how the Japanese know came from a young mother. Looking at her three-year-old son’s toy, she said, “If my son says this (a toy car) is a snake, then it is a snake for him.” She added, “I don’t want to challenge other’s claims, as I might hurt their feelings.”