The Existence of Common Asian Values in Japan and

The Existence of Common
Asian Values in Japan and
China: Myth or Reality?
Yuri Sato
B11612



Asian Values was an idea or concept that
became common in the 1990s to justify the
powers of Asia
1995 idea recommended by the prime
ministers of Malaysia and Singapore
Asians wished to create their own identity as
a counterpart to the identity of the West.
(Wikipedia:2012)
The Existence of
Common Asian Values in
Japan and China: Myth
or Reality?



Asian Values: Personal qualities embodied
in a Confucian ethic- “ those of a hard
working, responsible, skillful, ambitious,
member of society who would contribute to
the group rather than pursuing individual
selfish interests” (Michael Hill 2000: 179)
Myth: A widely held but false belief or idea.
Reality: The state or quality of having
existence or substance.(Oxford: 2010)
2.1 Hours spent on studying
and working
2.2 Food safety incidents
2.1 Hours spent on studying
and working
2.2 Food safety incidents
Which country studies longer hours?
Which country work longer hours?

Jr. High School/High school
日本の中高校生の勉強時間は、中国の中高校生
のほぼ半分しかないことが２４日、財団法人日
本青少年研究所のまとめた調査で分かった。韓
国の中高校生と比べても少なかった。それでも
日本の高校生の約８割は学校の勉強が「きつ
い」と感じており、学力低下の一端をうかがわ
せる結果となった。(msn経済ニュース：２００９）
Figure1: 学校以外での勉強時間（高校）
(Youth study: 2004)
Figure2: Working Hours Around the
World
CHINA: 2,200
40 Values:“
PER WEEK
Asian
those of a hard working,
(ECNS:2011)
responsible, skillful, ambitious, member of society
who would contribute to the group rather than
pursuing individual selfish interests” (Michael
Hill: 2000)
2.1 Hours of studying and
working
2.2 Food safety incidents
2.1 Hours of studying and
working
2.2 Food safety incidents
Chinese milk scandal in 2008
⇒ more than 300,000 children ill
⇒860 hospitalized
⇒13 deaths

・2007 段ボール肉まん
・2008 中国製冷凍餃子中
毒事件
・2012 冷凍イチゴ
(Wikipedia: 2008)

CHINA:

JAPAN:
(Ministery of Health Labor and Welfare :2009pd
(Aseanfood:
てあ
どな
のた
程は
度普
意段
識、
し食
て品
いの
ま安
す全
か性
？に
つ
い
(NetMile:2011)
3.1 Family Attitudes
3.2 Buddhism Values
3.1 Family Attitudes
3.2 Buddhism Values
China: nuclear family reaching 50%
Japan: Extended family 56%
United States: Extended family 16%
(HONG, Chuan/ZHU, Yan:2010)
Asian Values:“ those of a hard working, responsible,
skillful, ambitious, member of society who would
contribute to the group rather than pursuing
individual selfish interests” (Michael Hill: 2000)
Both China and Japan’s family Tradition
Extended family has provided an
economic unit where each member takes
on some responsibility.
(IPS Worldwide: 2010)
(HONG, Chuan/ZHU, Yan:2010)
3.1 Family Attitudes
3.2 Buddhism Values
3.1 Family Attitudes
3.2 Buddhism Values
Buddhism beliefs
(1) to lead to true happiness,
(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts
and actions
(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

Figure 4: Spread of
Buddhism around Asia
Table 3: Top 10
National Buddhist
population
Spreads in
Northern
Asia
(BDEA/Buddha net:2012)
(Adherents: 2005)
⇒ Mahayana Buddhism: no existence of their
own and take identity only in relation to other
beings and phenomena
⇒Loyalty towards family ancestors
Asian Values:“ those of a hard working,
responsible, skillful, ambitious, member of society
who would contribute to the group rather than
pursuing individual selfish interests” (Michael
Hill: 2000)
Mahayana Buddhists belief

Very similar Buddhist festival/holiday in
Japan and China
・Ghost Festival in China
・Obon
? in
? Japan
?
Family reunion holiday, visits and cleans
their ancestors grave
(Kotaro Suzuki:2007)
2.1 Hours spent on studying and working
日本の東京大学は、人口1億3000万人のうちの
3000人。これに対して中国の清華大学は、中国13億
人のトップクラス2500人が入る超難関だ。勉強量も圧
倒的に多いので、「これでは日本がかなうわけがありま
せん」という。
(日経ビジネス：２０１２）
5
(Young Study: 2009
2.2 Food Safety Incident
Larger
population=More
incidents, More
deaths
Japan also has
numbers of incidents
4
2000雪印集団食中毒事件
2006 不二家期限切れ原材料使
用問題
2011 ユッケ食中毒
(Wikipedia:2010)
3.1 Family Attitudes
But the percentage of extended family is
decreasing: Japan 56% to 29.7%
China 50% to 32%
Shift of family structure extended to nuclear.
Weakened responsibility of ancestors
(Jeffrey Hays: 2009)
3.2 Buddhism Values
⇒ Mahayana Buddhism: No
existence of their own and take
identity only in relation to other
beings and phenomena
⇒ respect their ancestors
BUT
2
Buddhism
(Japan-Guide: 1996-2012)
Asian Values:“ those of a hard working,
responsible, skillful, ambitious, member of society
who would contribute to the group rather than
pursuing individual selfish interests” (Michael
Hill: 2000)
Mahayana Buddhist belief: respect their ancestors
9
6
Common Asian Values do NOT exist

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