1. Japanese Society and Culture

2. Symbols of National Identity: Japan’s Flag Hinomaru

3. Japan’s National Anthem: Kimigayo

4. Population Size 127.6 million (October 2003) ninth largest national population in the world 2.1% of the world’s population projected to decline: 104 million by 2025

5. Japan’s Rank in World Population

6. Core Japanese Values and Behaviours Group Consciousness “A protruding nail gets pounded down” –Be part of the group ( family, work/school, team, community, “Japanese”) reflected in definition of “Japanese”, architecture, language, non-verbal communication, dress (uniforms!), and group activities –Reciprocity –Avoid confrontation –“Culture of shame”

7. Core Japanese Values and Behaviours Respect –for Authority low crime rate –for Traditions traditional dress, ancient celebrations, “national treasures” –for Hierarchy deference to the elderly and authority figures language and non-verbal communication “modesty ”: ‘Nani mo arimassen ga’ (It’s nothing but...)

8. Core Japanese Values and Behaviour Achieve (or at least endure) “Ganbaru” and “Ganbatte!” (Carry through with your task, put up with difficulties and strive to overcome all hardships) -Be disciplined -Work hard -Persist -Don’t let down the group -Don’t complain

9. Minority Groups in Japan Ainu (less than 0.05% of population) Koreans (about 0.5% of population) Okinawans (about 1% of population) Burakumin (about 2% of population) An Emerging Minority Group?: Foreign Workers ( about 1.5% of labour force)

10. Demographic Trends in Japan : Like Canada, Japan has: Delayed Marriage Delayed Motherhood Declining Household/Family Size Declining Population Growth Challenge of Caring for the Elderly

11. Delayed Marriage (Especially Among Women)

12. Delayed Marriage Increasing mean age at first marriage: 29.4 for men, 27.6 women (2003) Most noticeable among women: of females under 16 today, 1 in 7 will be single lifelong

13. Why delayed marriage for women? higher levels of education higher commitment to labour force and increased opportunity for employment Is remaining single a viable (or even an appealing) option for Japanese women? Divorce is very rare!

14. Women as Percentage of Japan’s Labour Force

15. Female Labour Force by Marital Status

16. Sex Differences in Domestic Labour

17. Delayed Motherhood

18. Aging First Time Mothers

19. Declining Household Size: (Average Household Size: 2.67 persons)

20. Declining Population Growth

21. Caring for the Elderly declining dependency ratio rising age to collect national pensions more seniors remaining at work after 60 more employed women more elderly living at home alone or in couples (these households increased 37%, 1995-2000) more home care services to care for frail elderly and “old old”

22. Education in Japan

23. Japan’s Education System one to three years of private kindergarten compulsory free public education beginning at 6 years of age: six years of elementary and three years of junior high school juku (“ cram schools”) to prepare for entrance exams to high school, college and university higher education choices: two or three year junior college, five or six year technical college, four-year university or six year professional (e.g. medicine, dentistry) programs graduate (masters, doctorate) degree programs

24. Employment in Japan

25. Employment by Industry

26. Labour Force by Sex and Age

27. Sex-Typed Employment about two-thirds of Japanese women work in clerical positions men are employed across a broader range of industries, occupations and levels of authority women (especially middle-aged or older) are more likely to work part-time/casually

28. Sex Segregation: Female “Flowers of the Office” and “Tea Ladies” Work for Male Managers

29. Salaries in Japan Average salary (2003): 342,000 yen/month –279,000 yen in "contractual wages" plus 63,000 yen in "special wages" (overtime, two annual bonuses annual, wedding gifts) Salaries are determined by occupation, size of firm, tenure with employer, age and sex

31. Less Time at Work Steady decline in time spent at work since 1988 In 2003, the average worker worked: 19.7 days per month and 152.3 hours per month (about the same as American workers)

32. Less Time at Work Means... More Time for Leisure

33. Sports are Popular!

36. Popular Culture

37. Popular Leisure Activities Reading Karaoke Watching Television Playing Video Games (children and teens) Surfing the Net (teens and young adults) Gardening (older people) Travel (especially for young women) Gambling, especially pachinko and betting on horse races, which generate over one-third of all leisure revenues

38. Feeling lost in all this culture? You can always ask for help...