2025 Hayden's Blog

Business Culture in Japan and the World Overview      This week’s lesson focused on Japanese business culture, including conventions, expectations, and traditions in the workplace. Many features of Japanese business culture relate closely to the cultural dimensions of power distance and individualism versus collectivism. Japanese business ethics are deeply rooted in Japanese history; Yamamoto and Lloyd (2019) suggest that Japan’s work-centric business culture stems from spiritual beliefs that promote working for the collective good as a way to develop one’s meaning of existence and become closer to kami (a godlike state), achieved through “tireless practice and mastering a skill” (p. 115). In other words, work in Japan is often seen as a means of reaching spiritual enlightenment (Yamamoto & Lloyd, 2019).      Garcia (2016) explains that some of Japan’s cultural traditions may also be tied to its geographical circumstances. Since Japan is a small, densel...

Parent-Child Politics Survey Analysis Overview Research Topic: Parent-Child Politics and Parental Relationship Strength Target:  Japanese and International University Students Number of Respondents:  15 International Students and 16 Japanese Students Summary Students answered questions concerning their   own political views, their perception of a selected parent or guardian’s views, and the nature of their relationship with them. Results (International Students) Graph #1 shows that 60% of international respondents selected their father as the individual they are most familiar with their political views, and 40% selected their mother. With a bigger sample size it would be helpful to see if this trend amplifies (more people selecting their father) or balances out. #1 Graph #2 shows that i nternational students are more likely to align closely with their selected parent's or guardian's politics than not align with them. Given the frequency of answer in the middle of the dis...

Masculinity and Femininity Overview     This week's lesson discussed a subject which, on the surface, is somewhat divisive: ideas of masculinity and femininity. As it relates to culture, a masculine society endorses stereotypical gender roles (men being tough, assertive, competitive, etc., and women, the opposite/complement) whereas a feminine society partially supersedes these binaries, being more emotional and sympathetic, and accepting of equality between genders  (Geert Hofstede, n.d.). The femininity-masculinity dimension was recently revised "to reflect changes in our understanding that gender is not binary" (Worthy, Lavigne, & Romero, 2025) ; it was renamed to motivation toward achievement and success . Similarities and Differences Between Japan and Canada     According to Hofstede's website , Japan has a masculinity score of 95 and Canada has a masculinity score of 52. This implies that Japan, for example, holds a great "admiration for the strong,...

Parenting Overview      In this week’s lesson, we discussed parenting, including methods of parenting, opinions on parenting, and some related concepts important in Japanese culture. A concept I found particularly interesting is the idea of the “Baby Emperor,” where children between ages 0–5 are treated, as the name suggests, like an emperor. During this period, babies receive extra care intended to support their development. In what follows, I describe some similarities and differences between child-rearing in Japan and Canada. Similarities and Differences Between Japan and Canada          In Canada, based on observing my own relationship with my parents and reflecting on my friends’ families, I have generally noticed that the father often assumes the role of family authority, while the mother tends to be the caregiver. Children sometimes have a more horizontal relationship with their mother and a more vertical relationship with their...

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