People can know their own country and culture deeper than before by knowing other cultures.

There are a lot of cultures and customs that people do not know in the world. Many Japanese are surprised when they visit other country such as the United States. Because Japan and the United States are different cultures and origins, there’re some different notions which look like opposite positions.
The most obvious difference between Japan and the United States is whether individualism or not. In general, Japanese focus on a group because it is the most respectful thing for Japanese to keep a harmony among people. In the past, Japan based on societies of agrarian and Samurai. By 17th century, Japan had many wars and there were many Samurai that had to battle with enemy. The most important thing in the war is cooperation and trusts each other. In the village, people shared farms and many things. Therefore, a group is more important than personality in Japan. It is said that Japanese are weak in discussion because they aren’t accustomed to insisting their own ideas. Sometimes it can be rude in Japan. On the other hand, Americans focus on personality. Because Americans think they have rights to decide something on their own life, they are educated that they consider themselves as individual since they are children (Althen.3). While Japanese tend to treat individualism as negative meanings, Americans treat as positive meanings.
The other difference of behavior is formal or informal. Basically, Japanese think that older people are as valuable as they respect, so they express respect such as bowing, averting eyes from eyes of older person, or using respectful expression. In particular, their behavior is formal in public. On the other hand, American behavior is informal. The Unites States is the symbol of freedom. Originally, they think that they are equal, so they feel uncomfortable when someone shows obvious respect (Althen.19). Therefore, Japanese respectful expression doesn’t make sense for Americans who don’t know about Japanese custom. Their concept of equality leads their informal behavior. For example, Americans say to anyone, “How are you?” It reflects on the friendliness of America (Althen.21.25). It is so strange for Japanese, and anyone doesn’t do that in Japan.
Even though it’s the same action, it can be both rude and polite depends on cultures because they have different environment, society, and origins. It’s important to know other cultures for understanding each other. Egoism is the most dangerous to misunderstand. In other words, there’re so many culture in the world, which is so interesting. When people go to foreign country, they can feel other cultures. In addition, people can know your own country and culture deeper than before by knowing other cultures.
Works Cited
Althen. American Ways. 2003