 Independence: Individual achievement is valued over group achievement and people are

encouraged to rely on themselves rather than on others.

 Privacy: While Americans are welcoming of others, they also value their privacy when it
comes to personal information. Sharing salary information, for example, is not common
practice.

 Equality: Americans believe that everyone is entitled to equal rights. No one group or person
shall enjoy rights that are not extended to everyone.

 Timeliness: Being on time is crucial, and being late is generally frowned upon. To Americans,
time is money.

 Informality: American behavior tends to be casual rather than formal. Formal titles such as
''Sir'' and ''Madam'' are seldom used in daily life. This informality is extended to clothing and
greetings as well as conducting business.

 Achievement: Americans believe in working hard and playing hard. There is a general
acceptance that the harder one works, the more they will be able to enjoy their free time.
Success is valued.

Millicent Kelly

American Culture & Lifestyle Today: Values & Characteristics. (2020, July 2). Retrieved from
[Link]

Small talk

Eye Contact: During a conversation, the speaker looks briefly into the listener's eyes, briefly away, and
then back at the listener's eyes.

Touching: Touching people often makes them uncomfortable. Men are especially nervous when touched
by another man.

Space: You do not have to touch people to make them nervous. People expect others to be at least an
arm's length away from them. If you get closer than this, people will move away from you; they do not
dislike you; you are "in their space." Also, you will hear people say, "Excuse me," although they have not
actually touched anyone. No matter where you are, give people plenty of space.

Equality: You can see equality in such common practices as "waiting in line." When you go to the bank,
to the post office, or to immigration, you will be asked to take a number and wait. Regardless of how
important or trivial your need is, you will be treated like everyone else; first come, first served. You can
also see equality in the classroom. All students should be the same in the eyes of professors, and many
professors view students (particularly graduate students) as their equals. Professors may ask students to
call them by their first names.
Informality: Although equality is ignored in some parts of life, it is followed closely in others. For
example, people treat one another very informally, even in the presence of great differences in age or
social status. This is not a "lack of respect," this is the custom in the United States.

Punctuality: Many people in the US are very punctual and organize their activities around schedules.
Being late is rude. If you cannot be on time, tell the people who are waiting for you. For business
appointments, you should always arrive a few minutes early.

Materialism: Success in the United States is often measured in dollars. Many people think about money
and material possessions as much as time. As a result, you may think that people ignore more important
things in life, like love and friendship. This is not true; like people in every country, most people in the
US value friendship more than wealth.

Clocks are very important to American life. "Wasting time" or not doing anything, is considered a bad
thing, although many people still do it. As someone observed, "When people are not busy working, they
are busy relaxing."

“friend" are different in different cultures. The majority of friendships in the United States tend to be
shorter and shallower than those of other cultures. People have different groups of friends: "work
friends," "school friends," "family friends," etc.

Source: University of Arizona's CESL program website.

American Culture: The Basics

Western Illinois University 2019

[Link]

In Japan, some of the core values are thinking of others, doing your best, not giving up, respecting your
elders, knowing your role, and working in a group. Japanese children are taught omoiyari (to notice and
think of others). Students must pass difficult entrance examinations to move to the next level of
education, and in the process, they learn that ganbaru (effort) and gaman (enduring) are more crucial in
reaching their goals than innate ability.

identity and status are largely determined by age, gender, sibling rank, and your year of entry to the
group—which are also cues for the appropriate thing to say (or not) to each other. Having clear social
roles provides a sense of security and comfort, but it can also feel binding. For those coming from a
Western culture with a strong sense of independence, work situations where interactions are based on
age or seniority, rather than talent or ability, may feel confining and frustrating. Greater awareness of
cultural differences and values is helpful in understanding such situations.

everyone will look the same, dress the same, live the same, and talk the same.

not calling attention to oneself in public, especially among the older generation.

By Ruthy Kanagy, author of Moon Living Abroad Japan; Cultural Values of Japan; Moon;
[Link]
A Japanese person may prefer not to interact with a stranger, to avoid potential errors in etiquette. The
business cards or calling cards so frequently exchanged in Japan are valuable tools of social interaction
because they provide enough information about another person to facilitate normal social exchange.

Individualism, however, is viewed negatively, for it is equated with selfishness, the opposite of the
empathy that is so highly valued

Source: U.S. Library of Congress

Belonging

Harmony

Group orientation

Politeness

Modesty

Gentleness

Patience

Formality

Japanese culture is multifaceted and very distinctive, having evolved rapidly in the past century. The
advancements of technology, the government’s adoption of democratic rights and the country’s
population boom have introduced new lifestyles to its people. These modern developments can often
seem inconsistent with the traditional virtues of Japanese culture. For example, while Japanese culture
classically emphasises a patient, gentle and harmonious way of life, today it is normal for people to be
packed into Tokyo trains like sardines and work long hours with little rest. Nevertheless, many
traditional values of Japan still underpin the culture.

For instance, harmony remains a guiding philosophy in Japan that affects many features of society –
especially that of family and business. Working in harmony is viewed as the crucial element for
productivity; thus, the Japanese have a predisposition to be indirect, gentle and courteous even if they
disagree with what you are saying. This ethos of cooperation is impressed upon Japanese children at
young ages. The educational systems stress interdependence over independence. Such sensitivity to
respecting one’s relationships in the community manifests into many of the behavioural attitudes
foreigners observe of the Japanese (such as their emphasis on politeness and teamwork). It is rare for
Japanese people to disagree openly or voice any opinion that could create friction. However, shyness is
starting to be considered less of a virtue and more of a limitation to some of the younger generation.
The importance of harmony in Japan also means that emphasis is put on modest and gentle
interpersonal relations. As such, the concept of face has remained very central to Japanese
communication. Face is the quality embedded in most Asian cultures that indicates a person's
reputation, influence, dignity and honour. By complimenting people, showing them respect or doing
something to increase their self-esteem, you give them face. Similarly, people can lose face and save or
build face. Therefore, individuals in Japan usually act deliberately and with restraint to protect their self-
worth and peer perception. Conservative conduct is the norm, as people don’t want to stand out and/or
risk losing face by doing something inappropriate. For many Japanese, the fear of letting down family or
society dominates almost everything else. However, for the younger generation, a person’s social media
profile has now become a significant way of maintaining face and gaining status in one’s social
hierarchy. As a result, some Japanese are becoming less concerned with the importance of their
behaviour during interactions in person.

Japanese culture is also very collectivistic. Individuals often perceive themselves to be members of
'groups' rather than autonomous actors. These groups reflect or come to define who its members are
and often implicitly demand a high degree of loyalty. In return, an individual gains a sense of belonging,
protection and unity. It is important to note that over 98% of Japan shares the same Japanese ethnicity,
making it one of the most homogeneous societies in the world. There tends to be an automatic and
unique sense of group belonging to the nation itself. Sharing a common heritage, history, culture and
identity, people in Japan broadly anticipate their perceptions to be consistent with the other Japanese
people around them.

The Japanese language itself also influences people’s perception of situations and one another. The
language is very formal and observant. It diverges into different styles of speech for people depending
on their status. For example, natural speech changes to be more respectful when people speak to
someone older than them. This distinguishes distinct hierarchies in society as deference and adherence
to societal roles is naturally implied through the language.

Japanese culture puts heavy emphasis on participation, diligence and performance in people’s
professional lives. The workforce is extremely dedicated and there is much pressure to strive for
excellence and perfection. This has led to a disturbing trend in Japanese society; many Japanese (men, in
particular) work to the point of utter exhaustion or even sometimes death. Japanese youth can feel a
sense of trepidation as they grow up, foreseeing the day they too will have to join the workforce. They
are conscious that it will likely involve giving up many of the luxuries they enjoy as minors. Japan is
extremely productive and technologically advanced, yet it is one of the most sleep-deprived countries in
the developed world.

As a reminder, this general summary does not necessarily apply to all Japanese people. Japan
accommodates many different microcultures that contribute different characteristics to both rural and
urban society. A diversity of lifestyles are also emerging as people reevaluate their goals and values in
the modern age. However, modesty, honour and ultra-politeness are generally valued by most. The
Japanese are largely private, patient and thoughtful people.

Evason, Nina. (2016). Japanese Culture. Retrieved