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[Black_Beer_Man]

I've learned a lot about how to live in Japan, but one gap in my knowledge of this culture is philosophy.

What philosophies have you heard from Japanese people?

I only know that they view the short cherry blossom season as a metaphor for the shortness of human life.

I suppose there is no national philosophy in Japan like there is in South Korea. In Korea, everyone says "Balli Balli" which means something like "Let's go. There's no time to waste." This expression is applicable to the daily lives of Koreans as they're always trying to accomplish a lot in a little time. It also applies to the national development of the country as it tries to catch up to Japan.

[PO1]

This may not be a philosophy, but I've heard "shoganai" invoked many times. Basically, "it can't be helped." I guess this is a way to brush off something they don't want to do but they have to do it anyway. Maybe I misunderstand the meaning, but it's often used in situations when I'd say something like, "Oh well."

"Ganbatte" is also other word bandied around. I think Japanese believe in luck a whole lot more than Westerners do. They go to shrines and such to pass tests or for better health. It's interesting to me that there are shrines specifically for one thing, so people travel there if they are in need of a boost, so to speak.

[Black_Beer_Man]

Gambatte is "try your best". I guess it could be read as "good luck". I always thought it was just encouragement. The Japanese got to the position in the world in which they are through hard work, so I thought this expression meant "please work hard".


Koreans are inspired and are trying to catch up to the Japanese, so they have their won "gambatte". They say "fighting" (with Korean pronunciation).

As for "sho ga nai", most people literally translate it as "it can't be helped". I teach it to my students as "Oh, well. What can you do?"

I agree with you that it communicates a sense of helplessness like being forced to go drinking with your colleagues after work when you'd rather just go home.

[Black_Beer_Man]

Another thing I hear Japanese people say (in English) is "I'm so-so." when I ask them how they are.

Most of them don't realize how negative the expression is. However, maybe they do know and are just living an unhappy life everyday. Who knows?

[nightsintodreams]

The longer I live in Japan, the more I've realised that 90% of the time Gambatte's true meaning is more in line with "Gaman shite", only a politer better sound way of saying it.

[The Fifth Column]

"Tabun...deki nai" whenever tasked to do something. Translated roughly to "Perhaps, it can't be done", I take as an out if it ACTUALLY cannot be done. Then, the person tasked escapes culpability due to the "I told you so!" defence.

That being said,, I never noticed someone NOT trying to do his/her level best to complete the task...which was rarely not completed successfully...

[Black_Beer_Man]

Yeah, and this is "dame" country. We are so often told this this behavior or that behavior is forbidden.

There's a real lack of freedom in this country. Usually, there is only one correct way to do something. If you try something else, it is forbidden.

[water rat]

Do they have a philosophy? Or do they just wonder when it will get dark enough to visit the public porn-vending machine?

[TokyoLiz]

Last night at martial training, our Sensei got talking about the advantages and disadvantages of collectivism and groups. He said that Japan's great power of group behaviour has too high a cost.

I mentioned omoiyari and amai. Naturally, he remarked that we can determine something about a person's humanity by how well they give and receive these gestures.

I don't receive dame responses much any more. Maybe I have been here long enough to know how far to push stuff to the edges.

[deadzenpoet]

You might want to study some Japanese history and Zen Buddhism??

[water rat]

[mitsui]

Conform.
Don't question your elders.
Don't learn to think for yourself, just do as you are told.

How much younger people put up with this is what I wonder.
With lifetime employment on the way out, why bother working hard?

[Maitoshi]

[water rat]

Back in the late 1980s there was talk of the new hedonistic "me" generation emerging in Japan. People weren't buying into the cradle to grave corporate 60-hour working week lifestyle anymore. However, absolutely every Japanese told me this phenomena was confined to the popular magazines and had no basis in reality. Still true?

[Maitoshi]