Japan 1

Japanese Spirit, Western Thinks

Tammy Watson

SOC 315

Dr. Lestine Shedrick

May 11, 2008

Japanese Spirit, Western Thinks

150 years ago Commodore Perry landed in Edo Bay, with orders to deliver a letter

from President Fillmore to Japan’s ruler. This was to open up Japan for trade. Japan and

America have worked together to build Japan’s economy.

In 1945, Japan surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur. Japan finally decided

to open up for trade under its own rules.

 Japan 1

Japan has taken in some of the United States businesses, such as, McDonalds,

Burger King, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Such western things as beer, cinemas, and

newspaper were also adopted and implemented in Japan.

According to Soe (2007), Japan “has shown clearly that you do not have to

embrace “western” culture in order to modernize your economy and prosper.”

Requirements for Modernization

There are minimal requirements of modernization. These might be illustrated by

the following: industrialization; urbanization; complex and diverse occupational

structures; economic enterprises based on rationality and efficiency; technically rational

modes of thought; mass education; mass communications; a centralized nation - state;

and institutions that participate in global economic, social, and political systems.

Especially western values and institutions would include such things as individualism,

liberty, equality, constitutionalism, human rights, and free markets.

Japan has met the minimal requirements for modernization and then some.

Industrialization, Japan became the first Asian country to become industrialized.

Industrialization also helped with economic reform. A unified currency, on the yen,

banking, commercial and tax laws, stock exchanges, a communications network, and the

establishment of a modern institutional framework conducive helped the economy.

The urbanization of Japan has continued throughout the years. Japan is one of the

most densely urbanized nations in the world; this is according to Mohr (2007).

Complex and diverse occupational structures, this refers to the aggregate

distribution of occupations in society, classified according to skill level, economic

function, or social status. The occupational structure is shaped by various factors: the

structure of the economy (the relative weight of different industries); technology and
 Japan 1

bureaucracy (the distribution of technological skills and administrative responsibility);

the labor-market (which determines the pay and conditions attached to occupations); and

by status and prestige (influenced by occupational closure, life-style, and social values).

It is difficult to attach causal primacy to any one of these factors; moreover, their role in

shaping the occupational structure changes over time, as society changes. For example,

during the early phase of European industrialization, the dominance of manufacturing

made for a preponderance of manual occupations, while in recent times the shrinking of

this sector, together with the growth in services, has made for an expansion of white-

collar occupations. The distinction between manual and non-manual occupations has also

become blurred. (Marshall, 1998).

The occupational structure is described and analyzed by means of various classificatory

schemes, which group similar occupations together according to specific criteria such as

skill, employment status, or function. Such classifications are also used as a basis for the

empirical analysis of economic and social class (Marshall, 1998).

Economic enterprises based on rationality and efficiency means increased

authority of market forces. Management has become the prevailing norm which has

defined rationality and efficiency.

There are also technically rational modes of thought. Mass education means to

educate the people of Japan including higher education. Mass communications uses every

means possible to communicate with the Japanese people and others

The western values and Institutions that Japan has not embraced fully are they are

working toward:
 Japan 1

Individualism - Americans emphasize the individual. They link true democracy

with concern for individual choices. At its best, this concern for the individual can lead to

superior education; but in excess it can depress the quality of mass-education and, in

extreme cases, make it chaotic. It can also lead to selfish disregard of the common good.

Japanese reliance of feelings of guilt for letting the group down, obviously make

it is easier to run orderly schools which impose requirements on students (Hechinger,

1987).

Liberty, equality, constitutionalism, human rights, and free markets are being

continually improved upon.

Problems

An unforeseen problem that Japan and the Unites States could face. War between

the two countries is one thing. This could put a hamper on economic prosperity and trade

embargoes.

Conclusion

Japan has become an outstanding example of modernization without

westernization. Japan was able to keep its own culture and continue to prosper.
 Japan 1

References:

Hechinger, F.M. (1987, February 3). About education; some of the lessons from Japan

and Russia. New York Times, Retrieved May 11, 2008, from

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEED8173EF930A35751C0

A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all.

(2004). Japan: Urbanization since 1950. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from Demographia

Web site: http://www.demographia.com/db-japanurban1950.htm.

Marshall, G. (1998). A Dictionary of Sociology: occupational structure. Retrieved May

11, 2008, from HighBeam Encyclopedia Web site:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-occupationalstructure.html.

Mohr, M. (2007, January 24). Asian Program: More Than a Concrete Jungle:

Urbanization in Japan. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from Woodrow Wilson

International Center for Scholars Web site:

 Japan 1

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1462&fuseaction=topics.event_

summary&event_id=213928.

Soe, C. (2007) Annual Editions: Comparative Politics. Iowa: McGraw Hill