Japan and Germany, two of the most powerful nations in the world, are strongly connected, but still the people in these countries know very few about each other. In this work the reader should get an overview about both countries so that somebody who doesn’t hava a good knowledge gets an impression of these countries.
In interviews people from both countries were asked what they think about each other, what prejudices they have, how they see the relationship between their countries and which experiences they have made in their own countries.
For sure, this can not be seen represantative for all inhabitants, but it gives an impression of the thoughts of younger people in a world, which becomes closer and closer and in which no country can stand isolated. A generalization e.g. “The Germans, or the Japanese do…” isn’t adequate, because the scientists cannot say that a whole country behaves equally.
Because of the process of globalization it is essential for politicians and managers who work in Japan and reversly to know about the customs in the host country. That is the point, where the work of a modern cultural anthropologist is useful and needed.
Imagine a business man from Germany to be in Japan and not knowing why the Japanese bow to greet. Maybe he thinks, the Japanese wants to attack him by running into his stomach?
It is difficult to write about a country you have never been to, so the sources are based on the interviewed people, facts written in books and another useful medium is the internet.
In order to compare the two countries it is indispensable that the reader knows some facts about the countries. So, in the first part of this paper the aim is to inform the reader about the geographical situation, the political system and the religion in the two countries.
Then a historical overview about Japan and Germany, considering their similarities, will be given.
In the third part of this paper stereotypical images which people in both countries have from each other will be examined. Maybe some prejudices turn out to be true, and some people in the concerned country behave in the way they are expected to.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Facts about Japan and Germany:
- Germany:
- Political System
- Geographical Situation
- Religion
- Japan:
- Political System
- Geographical Situation
- Religion
- Germany:
- History of Japan and Germany (under special attention of similarities)
- What is a stereotype?
- Stereotypical Images of Japanese towards Germany
- Stereotypical Images of Germans towards Japan
- Collectivistic culture or individualistic culture
- Conclusion and Outlook
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to provide an overview of Japan and Germany, focusing on their political systems, geographical situations, religions, and historical similarities. By comparing these two powerful nations, the author seeks to illuminate the perceptions and prejudices held by people from each country about the other. The work also explores the cultural differences between Japan and Germany in terms of individualism and collectivism.
- Cultural comparison between Japan and Germany
- Analysis of stereotypes and prejudices
- Exploration of historical similarities and differences
- Understanding the political systems of Japan and Germany
- Examination of the impact of globalization on cultural understanding
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of cultural understanding and the importance of understanding different cultures in an increasingly interconnected world. It highlights the need for cultural anthropologists in globalized business contexts.
- Facts about Japan and Germany: This chapter provides factual information about both countries, including their political systems, geographical situations, and religious practices.
- History of Japan and Germany: This chapter examines the historical relationship between Japan and Germany, focusing on any commonalities and similarities that may exist.
- What is a stereotype?: This chapter defines the concept of stereotypes and discusses their potential impact on cultural understanding.
- Stereotypical Images of Japanese towards Germany: This chapter explores the stereotypical images that Japanese people hold about Germany.
- Stereotypical Images of Germans towards Japan: This chapter examines the stereotypical images that German people hold about Japan.
- Collectivistic culture or individualistic culture: This chapter analyzes the cultural differences between Japan and Germany in terms of individualism and collectivism.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this work include: Japan, Germany, cultural comparison, stereotypes, prejudices, political systems, geographical situations, religion, historical similarities, individualism, collectivism, globalization, cultural anthropology, intercultural communication.
- Quote paper
- Georg Fichtner (Author), 2005, Japan and Germany - A comparison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/49879
