Western Imagery
and Social Roles and Boxes
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The Problem of Jiko-chû

One of the things I appreciate most and least about Japanese society is the Japanese sense of togetherness. When I am feeling Japanese the word most applies; when I am being made to feel something other than Japanese the word least is more appropriate.

In Japan you are free to do what you want, so long as you do not disturb others, and you desist doing what disturbs others when it is brought to your attention. In this regard Japanese society is probably little different than societies the world over. What makes Japanese society different is the way in which disturbing members of a group are dealt with. Few Japanese are willing to bring another's disturbance to his or her attention directly, and would rather feign indifference than report the disturbance to their group leader. The underlying assumptions appears to be: one, if the leader of the group is not disturbed than neither should the group's members; and two, if what you are doing is ignored, than probably you should not be doing it.

With regard to the first assumption reporting to one's group leader can back easily backfire on the disturbed member, if the group leader is him- or herself  not disturbed. This is because the one who does the reporting becomes the first source of disturbance to the leader. With regard to the second assumption, indifference can be easily found just about anywhere in Japanese society. One joins a group in part, so as not to be treated indifferently.

As group membership in Japanese society does not come easily and individual identity is often defined by the group or groups to which one belongs, a show of indifference from other members of one's group is a powerful incentive to stop whatever you are doing and reestablish communication with other members of your group. As obtaining acceptance in a Japanese group is primarily a matter of learning what is and what is not acceptable behavior, most members never need to be told what is correct and incorrect behavior, because everyone knows to follow those who came before them.

Nevertheless, with modernization individual Japanese have become increasingly isolated, and old traditions are breaking down. Younger Japanese and even many older Japanese are aware that group discipline has weakened, and some of these are taking full advantage of the changing times to enhance their own lives at the expense of the group. Japan's social watchdogs have a name for these people; they are called ­ jiko-chû.⁴⁶

These jiko-chû often seek to justify their actions in the name of modernization, and as a result often hide their recalcitrant deeds under the guise of Western custom. Most of the ever increasing litter in Japanese streets has Western labels. This is of course unfortunate for Japanese residents from Western countries, because Japanese seeking to maintain group discipline tend to blame jiko-chû behavior on the Western presence as a result. This is, of course, misdirected anger. The Westerner should not be held to blame for Japan's own inability to cope with modernization -- ­ a thoroughly internal social phenomena related to industrialization and commercialization, aspects of the West that most Japanese appreciate and Japanese have worked very hard to make a part of their own society.

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⁴⁶ In Japanese jiko-chû is redendered as 自己虫 -- a self-concerned pest. The word jiko-chû can be used in either the singular or plural. (text | the problem of wabi-sabi)