good night , wasn't it?
For a little over a month I have been training for the upcoming 52nd Nagashima Circuit Ekiden Tournament. Last year I ran for the town office team and really enjoyed it because it allowed me the opportunity to get to know some of my co-workers for the first time. Even though many of my teammates were men I encountered at the office on a daily basis I rarely ever spoke with any of them. It was practicing for the marathon together and then going out for dinner and drinks afterwards that finally provided us the forum to actually open up to one another.
In Japan, the roles that groups play in society are extremely important for the Japanese. Being a member of a group suggests that one can relax knowing they are amongst similar and likeminded individuals. It is interesting however that the type of group is far less important as is the serenity of knowing that one is viewed as an accepted member of the group. In an unfamiliar group many Japanese will often be either too embarrassed or quickly confess to being too shy to openly socialize.
The distinction between one’s personal group affiliations and private group affiliations are also very important for the Japanese. Behavior thought of as suitable for one’s private life is vastly different from that which is deemed acceptable for one’s daily work life. At an office party, for example, it isn’t out of the ordinary to witness senseless and oftentimes childish behavior from the same grown men that will be working nonstop with a straight face behind a pile of papers during the day. At one party, Curtis even had a conversation with one man who explained every single explicit detail on what he considered to be the benefits of visiting the soapland, a type of illegal Japanese brothel. In the office, however, this same man rarely, if ever, acknowledges either Curtis or I. So what’s it all about?
During the day, my Japanese co-workers strongly believe they are working for the group," Japan" as members of Japanese society. My boss has actually said to me, “Spencer, I don’t want work overtime. I want to go home, but I have to work a little longer because Japan is machine and I am a gear for this machine.” If it’s one thing this Japanese are good at, it’s working together. The Japanese have the ability to bind themselves together, whether they want to or not, and as a result the nation of Japan is perhaps the most efficient nation in the world. Working long overtime hours, oftentimes without compensation, is viewed as an expression of loyalty to the nation and by societal standards this is the duty that the men in my office are expected to fulfill each day.
Japanese must maintain a delicate balance between their public and private lives. A “group think” mentality is normal for the Japanese during work hours, but this changes when outside the office. After work these men are ready to let loose, get drunk, and stay up early into the morning relaxing comfortably as a member to a different group than the ones they are members of during the day. Even though I may witness a co-worker drunk and dancing naked on a Friday night come Monday morning when I see him again in the office as much as I should ever say about the incident is “good night, wasn’t it?” to which he will reply, “yes, good night, wasn’t it?” Besides, we both know we can't waste time chatting for there is work to be done.
