Cutting the stereotypes of Japan

Stereotypes are like a well-spun spider web: its threads are countless and are difficult to break. People from every race or country have stereotypes towards each other. Even within one country, stereotypes towards certain states, cities, and groups (ex. Mormons) lurk around every corner. In this article, I will attack certain prevailing stereotypes and proffer more accurate stereotypes.

Not all Japanese men are ninjas

1. People who practice and sustain the equally intriguing and deadly traditions of ninjitsu, the art of stealth and combat, although extremely few in number can be found all over Japan. However, most Japanese do not know ninjutsu or a practitioner of it. Despite what you learned from 3 ninjas, 99.999999% of Japanese do not have a secret ninja Grandpa hiding in the tree. For those interested in watching an expert practitioner of ninjitsu, though. I recommend the ninja show at the ninja museum in Iga Ueno city, Mie Prefecture. The museum’s site can be found here

2. Most men in Japan have dabbled with Karate, Judo, Kendo, Sumo, Jujitsu, etc., during their P.E. courses, however, most are in no shape or form proficient in it. Many Junior High Schools offer Kendo, or another martial art as a club activity, but modern sports like soccer, basketball, and baseball brings in Kenji. On the other hand in Korea; for example, most men know Taekwondo because they are trained in it while serving mandatory military service.

3. Not all salarymen wear glasses and have cameras. Like a bag of M&M’s, Japanese businessmen come in many flavors – some are dull, short, and geeky; others are handsome, bald, and mysterious.

More accurate stereotypes

1. Most Japanese people do know an exercise warm-up routine known as rajio taiso (radio calisthenics). All Japanese public elementary school students learn it and are required to do it during Monday morning assemblies. Click here for a video on rajio taiso.

2. All Japanese — excluding 6-month-old babies and those with physical or mental ailments — can use chopsticks.

3. Most Japanese can do origami, and can at least fold one object using those chromatic sheets of joy – cranes being the most popular.

4. Almost all Japanese have no middle name. The reason is because Japanese are unable to register a middle name in the family registry. Nicknames are quite common though.

5. Almost all Japanese like drinking tea. Warm, hot, cool, or cold, the Japanese love their healthy beverage.

Good news:

The good news is that at least nowadays, the myth of modern Japanese women walking down the street in Kimonos and men sporting their chonmage like a crotch rocket is over. Unfortunately, it has been replaced by the myth of the black hair, glasses wearing, dark-colored suitcase carrying, and weary-eyed businessman. Nonetheless, any improvement is an improvement. For those interested in the foreign fantasy of an Edo period Japan, the modern Japanese do continue to wear kimonos and other traditional clothes, although only during special events.