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Symphany · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 117

It has occurred to me that bullying is a problem in every society, although it seems to happen in a unique way within Japan. Nearly every day one of the major papers has a story on bullying. Almost always the papers refer to bullying in highschools. The papers seem to almost deliberately ignore the other kinds of bullying that exist -- mainly in the office. As it relates to the EFL industry, the Web is rife with stories of bullying within the Eikawa industry -- notably within the Big Four companies. In many of the cases, it would seem that authorities are non existent, and where they are they merely tell people to suck it up and deal with it themselves -- as seen in the media and on the Web, including this board -- a famous nonsympathetic --Tokyo Mayor Ishihara actually called bullying victims "weak". What I would like to know is, what is it that seems to encourage and enable bullies to do so much damage here? Why does it seem to occur here more than anywhere else?

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well you have sempais and kohais.
Sempais can get away with stuff, sometimes too much.

There is a lot of intolerance in society. Conformity has a real strong pull.
And there is a lack of decent communication between people.
People get frustrated but they have to suck it up and at some point they want to take it out on someone.
But on the other hand, there are people who bully themselves - those that commit suicide.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Brooks's post is spot on and I might add that popular Japanese culture in the form of television has a lot to do with it; young people imitating what they see everyday on the tube.
Enjoy,
s

Venti · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan

Japanese society is still one where there is an accepted hierarchical structure. Not everyone is considered equal. There are roles, such as server and customer, but it goes further than that. So-called "half" children are often bullied for their lack of "purity". Even a family name can be a source of trouble. You know, the nail that sticks up gets hammered down, and all that.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Bullying in Japan

Venti · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

[quote="Venti] Though xenophobia and class discrimination exist on various levels in other developed nations, they're definitely put into a very negative light when exposed in places like the US, the UK, etc... Xenophobia and all sorts of discrimination seem to be par for the course here in Japan, or at the very least, not very off-putting to your average Japanese citizen. How else would you explain an outwardly racist bigot like Shintaro Ishihara getting elected twice as Tokyo's Governor?[/quote]

I'd say that the spin machine here on issues such as xenophobia and other types of discrimination is less sophisticated than it is back home.

Anyhow, I'm sorry to hijack this thread a little, so back to the question.

I think this is a bit of a media beat-up. I also think that a couple of the kids that did commoit suicide were copycats rather than kids that had come up with the idea themselves. Maybe a there is a link with the traditional attitudes to suicide and the prevalence of it among teens here. In the US the kids seem to prefer to take an assult rifle to school....