Cultural Observations Part 2

A quick update on a couple other cultural observations of note...

KY (kuuki yomenai)

As I previously mentioned, when spending time with a group of Japanese people, it is very important to be aware of what everyone else is doing. It is very important to NOT do things that will make you stand out or seem like you are being individualistic or attempting to draw attention to yourself. Being a cohesive member of the group is key. The Japanese have a saying about this: kuuki yomu. "Kuuki" means "air" and "yomu" is the verb for "to read". So, "kuuki yomu" literally means "to read the air". In other words, you should be aware of what is going on around you (and follow suit). For instance, if the members of the group are making jokes about a particular topic, you can make your own individual contribution to the joke just so long as you don't attempt to dominate the conversation (doing that would be looked down upon).

The Japanese (especially the youth) have a slang term that they use for people who either don't adapt to the group or aren't able to adapt: KY (kuuki yomenai). Again, "yomu" means "to read". "Yomeru" is the conjugation of the verb yomu that means "to be able to read". Finally, "yomenai" means "to not be able to read". So, "kuuki yomenai" literally means "to not be able to read the air". Often, this will be shortened to just the roman letters "KY".

Let's say that a group of Japanese youth are sitting around and talking. A new person walks over to the group and attempts to change the topic of conversation pre-maturely. There's a good chance that you will hear someone say "KY! KY!" to that person.

Blood Type

Imagine you come to Japan for the first time. You make some friends, and someone asks you during casual conversation, as if it is the most naturally thing in the world, "So, what's your blood type?". Seem a little strange? Not in Japan. It is a very common question.

At the University, the most common questions that I get asked are...

1) What's your name?
2) Where are you from?
(After I answer "America", the next question is always "Where in America?". When I answer "Orange County, California", the response is usually "OH! O.C.?!". This is due to the popularity, in Japan, of the American TV show "the O.C.".)
3) How old are you?
4) What year are you?
(questions 3 and 4 are very common because of the senpai/kohai relationship)
5) What's your blood type?

Asking someone's blood type may seem rather bizarre to Americans, but, in Japan, there is a popular belief that there is a link between personality and blood type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_blood_type_theory_of_personality

For instance, a person who has a blood type of A is expected to be generally kind, honest, attentive to detail, and creative. So, each person pretty much knows his or her own blood type, and many people have thought it bizarre that I don't know mine. Just another difference I guess.