The Mainstream of Society: Being a Normal Japanese

Abstract

There is a widespread perception among western visitors to Japan that Japanese children are spoiled and ill-disciplined, especially the boys. Unchecked by their parents, children point and giggle at the funny foreigners. They butt into adult conversations. They queue-jump blatantly at bus-stops. Once on the bus they remain seated while infirm elderly people stand swaying precariously next to them. They are five times less inclined to help around the home than American children. They go to bed late, with young junior high students of 13 or so commonly staying up beyond midnight and even preschoolers often staying up beyond 10 p.m.¹ And they have every latest gadget and toy, with cost seemingly no object.