Examination and Highlighting the Japanese National Character in the Coronavirus Pandemic

Examination and Highlighting the Japanese National Character  in the Coronavirus Pandemic

～The Japanese National Character as Captured by the Senior Generation～

Kobe City Silver College, International Exchange and Cooperation Course, 26th term

Group Name: Japanese Who am I?
Members : Soe Itakura Motoshi Ohara Mitsuo Okada Yoshiki Yao
Teaching Professor： Judy Noguchi

Table of Contents
1 Purpose of the study

 a. The five major characteristic elements of national character
(political views, feelings of anxiety, medical thoughts, crisis awareness,
and personality)
  b. Among the "views on health," "views on public health,"
  and "views on vaccines,"

2 Survey Method
3 Results of the Survey
4. What I learned in the group study
5. Consideration of other specific elements ofnational character                   

   Study and Concl usi on References
6. What do the Japanese want to be in the future?
7. We compared Japan with island countries, Taiwan, NewZealand, and the

   United Kingdom, and the U.S.A

1 Purpose of the Study
We began our investigation with the hypothesis that we might be able to express and convey Japanese national character in the wake of the behavior of Japanese people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and their reactions to COVID-19 measures.
In the beginning, when we had just started with our group research, we were curious about the following behaviors:
Why do so many Japanese wear masks?
Why do the Japanese refrain from going out only with a request for self-restraint?
Why is there the uproar over the panic buying of toilet paper and masks?
And why is the Japanese personality different psychologically and behaviorally from the rest of the world?
As our research progressed, we became more and more interested in why the Japanese government did not declare lockdown. Despite the intense distrust of many Japanese with vaccines, why did vaccination rates increase?
And why was the ratio of infected patients and the dead in the population so low?
This study aims to examine and highlight the national character of the Japanese people during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, one research team member was interested in the roots of the Japanese; another compared other island nations' COVID-19 countermeasures. We decided to study these aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Survey Method
We collected the information COVID-19 pandemic from mass media (newspapers, T.V., magazines, the Internet, etc.).
And we got the public's reaction to the Japanese government's COVID-19 countermeasures,　
starting from the Diamond Princess incident in February 2020 to the House of Representatives
election in November 2021. The specific elements of Japanese national characters were then
analyzed using the matrix diagram method.
(1) We developed the definition of "national character" based on the three elements, namely: behavioral patterns, values, and temperament, as defined by Kojien (Iwanami Shoten) and Daijirin (Sanseido).
Kojien: A characteristic common to a nation in general. It refers to the values, behavioral styles, and temperaments unique to a country.
Daijirin: Characteristics commonly found among a nation's people concerning values, modes of behavior, temperament, etc.
(2) The specific elements of national character analyzed using the matrix diagram method were selected based on existing surveys conducted by the Institute of Statistical Mathematics and others. (See Figure 1)

Figure 1　　Specific Elements of National Character　

(3) The matrix diagram shows topics on the vertical axis (Figure3) and specific elements of national character on the horizontal axis. The matrix diagram method (Figure 2) configures the two aspects of the search in rows and columns. By displaying the degree of relevance of each intersection, it is possible to find the point of interest and derive the result.

Figure 2 The matrix diagram






Figure 3 Topics





3 Results of the Survey
The results were analyzed using a matrix diagram method to extract five major-specific elements that were common to many of the specific elements of national identity that emerged from each topic. (Figure 4)
1st: political views (46 topics), 2nd: the feeling of anxiety (45 topics), 3rd: medical views (30 topics), 4th: crisis awareness (24 topics), 5th: personality (21 topics)


4 Study and Conclusions
(1) We examined them from three perspectives (behavioral pattern, values, and temperament) and concluded each.
a. The five major characteristic elements of national character (political views, feelings of anxiety, medical thoughts, crisis awareness, and personality) common to several topics were compared and examined based on various overseas data.
b. Among the "views on health," "views on public health," and "views on vaccines," specific elements closely related to the COVID-19 pandemic were further examined by tracing back the history of Japan.
c. We compared Japan with island countries, Taiwan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, which have similar geographical conditions to Japan. Then, added the United States, which has many infected people.
We examined the differences between COVID-19 countermeasures and Japanese national character.

（2） Consideration of the five major-specific elements of national character
The following is a summary of the results of the survey.
a. Political views
Number of topics 46
Topics applicable to the above
Mask measures, COCOA failure, payment of benefits, aid, request for voluntary restraint (no lockdown)
Government support declines as the number of COVID-19 cases increases and the Japanese government's corona response is highly rated by other countries but not by the Japanese public.
Data for Consideration
The political view of the Japanese people is that "the government should be responsible for a safe life." It is the same for other countries but only ranked 5th out of 77 countries. On the other hand, "It is good that (national) authority and power are respected" is extremely low, ranking 77th out of 77 countries.
In terms of public trust, for the Self-Defense Forces 80.6%, police 78.6%, courts 77.9%, universities 56.3%, administration 44.6%, elections 41.4%, and government 39.8%, the Diet 31.1%, political parties 25.6%.
World Values Survey (2021.3, published by Dentsu Research Institute) ("WVS").

Sub-Conclusion.
Japanese people tend to seek "safety and security" from the state.
Though Japanese people view government and public administration as not reliable, trust in the Self-Defense Forces, police, and courts is high because they guarantee the safety and security of the people in natural disasters and public safety. However, there is a great deal of resistance to the state having too much power.

1. Feeling of anxiety
(including feelings of worry, nervousness, depression, loneliness, etc.)
Number of Topics 45
Topics applicable to the above
Mask/toilet paper panic buying, voluntary restraint in going out (people flow), distrust of vaccines, vaccine anxiety, vaccine adverse reaction anxiety, increased vaccination coverage, opposition to holding Olympic/Paralympic Games, benefit savings, etc.
Data for Consideration
There is a neurotransmitter called "serotonin" in the brain. When there is enough of it, people feel a sense of security and mental stability. The serotonin transporter is a protein that regulates the amount of serotonin. However, Japanese people have the lowest number of serotonin transporters that regulate serotonin in the world.1999—Department of Clinical Medicine, Tottori University et al.
The "serotonin transporter gene" determines the amount of serotonin secreted. Human being has two types of this gene." S-type" with low serotonin secretion and "L-type" with high serotonin secretion. Depending on the combination, there are three types: "SS-type," "SL-type," and "LL-type. Those born with the SS-type gene are more likely to feel anxiety, those with the LL-type gene are more optimistic, and the SL-type is somewhere in between, to some extent, whether one is prone.
to stress is determined by birth. Research shows that many Japanese are of the SS-type.
Takashi Maeno, Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University
According to a genetic survey of 50,135 people in 29 countries (2009), East Asians have a high percentage of S-type genes (70-80%), almost double the 40-45% rate in Europe.
Japan has the highest percentage of S-type gene carriers at 80.25%, followed by South Korea at 79.45%, China at 75.2%, Singapore at 71.24%, and Taiwan at 70.57%.
The U.S. at 44.53%, the U.K. at 43.98%, Germany at 43.03%, and Spain at 46.75%, indicating that Asians are most likely to feel insecure compared to Europeans and Americans.
The lowest percentage is 27.79% in South Africa, indicating relatively less anxiety. Incidentally, only about 3% of Japanese people seem to be LL type, which is less likely to feel fear.
2009 Research by Joan Chicano & Katherin Blizinsky
Many Japanese respondents answered that "safety" was more important than "freedom" ("safety" > "freedom") when asked whether "safety" or "freedom" was more important. Other countries show similar trends. However, when compared individually, "safety" ranks 11th out of 48 countries in importance, while "freedom" ranks 42nd. (Indonesia and China ranked first and second for "safety," and the U.S. and Serbia ranked first and second for "freedom" in the World Values Survey.
Sub-Conclusion.
The actions of many citizens in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic (wearing masks, self-restraint, mask/toilet paper panic buying, vaccination, etc.) were mainly due to the intense anxiety of the Japanese people. We think that fear was more contagious than the COVID-19 infection.
In addition, compared to other countries, Japanese people consider safety to be more important than freedom, which indicates their intense feelings of anxiety.
This high anxiety is due to the low number of serotonin transporters, which regulate serotonin.

Medical Views
Number of topics 30
Topics are Vaccinations, fewer infections and deaths by international comparison, Critical care patient stand, domestically produced vaccines, etc.
Data for Consideration
Overall satisfaction with the medical system was 47.0% (with "very satisfied" and "somewhat satisfied"), which is less than half of the total.
Relatively high were "freedom to choose medical institutions" at 53.7%, followed by "quality of diagnosis, treatment, and other techniques" at 52.9%, and "medical safety (prevention of medical accidents)" at 48.3%. The lowest was "degree of public participation in system decisions (whether the system reflects public's voice)" at 21.0%, followed by "fairness of the system decision-making process (transparency of the process of creating the system)" at 21.8%.
Japan Health Policy Organization (NPO)
Since the medical system plays a significant role in our view of medical care, we also compared this medical system with that of other countries.
In Japan, universal health insurance provides access to affordable, high-level medical care and allows people to choose their medical institutions freely. However, while private hospitals account for about 70% of hospitals in Japan (private hospitals account for about 75% in the U.S.), the Public controls most hospitals in Germany, France, and the U.K., managing the healthcare delivery system. Taxes finance healthcare in the U.K., and doctors are civil servants. Japan has a unique situation in the world, where healthcare is funded through a public system, while most hospitals that provide healthcare using this system are private. The management efforts of private hospitals keep Japan's healthcare costs down, making it difficult for the government or the public system to regulate the number of hospitals.
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, "Comparison of OECD Member Countries"
We find the structure of influence, anxiety, and distrust related to COVID-19 in the results of the path analysis (which shows only statistically significant relationships at the 5% level ). Younger people are more likely to be affected by COVID-19 in their health, work, and family. Those affected by the disease, those who are usually more anxious, and those with lower sustained well-being are more likely to have anxiety about COVID-19 (Tension, depression, loneliness, etc. tend to be more significant. These anxieties reduce "trust in government," "trust in local leaders," "trust in the media," "evaluation of others' behavior," and "trust in medical professionals.
Results of the first wave of the Japanese version of the International Survey on Values during the Corona Pandemic, July 28, 2020, Keio University, Nagoya University of Commerce and Business

Minor Conclusion.
One of the reasons for the low number of infected and seriously ill Japanese compared to other countries is the universal health insurance system, which facilitates access to treatment. However, it is undeniable that about 70% of Japanese hospitals are private, which is one of the reasons for the delay in establishing hospital wards and other systems during this emergency. In addition, intense feelings of insecurity are reasons for the low level of satisfaction with the healthcare system, the government, and public administration.

d. Crisis awareness
Reaction to crisis (behavior change)
Number of topics 24
Topics： Vaccine development, securing hospital beds, waterfront operations, etc.
Data for Consideration
Human behavior consists of two behavioral dimensions, assertiveness and degree of emotional openness. We can divide them into four social styles (social-behavioral characteristics) by intersecting them on the two axes. (Figure 5) The percentages of Japanese social stypes(member of society) are 24% for Expressive (upper right), 32% for Amiable (upper left), 30% for Analytical (lower left), and 14% for Driver (lower right). And a large percentage of Non-Assertive (62%) is on the left side. Those on the left are listening to others' opinions before speaking, avoiding risky situations, following others' decisions, being slow to make decisions, and not taking the initiative.

Figure 5: Social style (Japanese data)

 

Social style is a social, behavioral trait developed by David Merrill and Roger Reed in the United States (Source inverted upside down)
See (legally) incorporated educational institution, Sanno Institute of Management Development, Sanno Institute of Management Development for data on the percentage of Japanese.


Response to Stress
People in the left quadrant (62% of the Japanese population fall into this category) are usually inclined to avoid risk, follow others' decisions, be slow to make decisions, and not take the initiative. They also protect their bodies and minds from crises by running away from stressors.
In terms of health, even though 61% of respondents are concerned about their health, 54% of respondents regularly engage in activities to maintain their health (3rd worst among 23 countries), 29% (lowest) in a "healthy diet," and 39% (lowest) in "regular physical activity.
GfK: German Marketing Company
Sub-Conclusion
Japanese behavior is characterized by avoidance of potential risks, following the decisions of others, being slow to make decisions, and not taking the initiative. And when stress arises, such as a crisis, they protect themselves physically and mentally by running away from the stressor (source of stress). Even though they are anxious, they are not good at proactively changing their behavior or taking the initiative in responding to the situation. However, they have experienced crises many times, such as earthquakes and tsunamis; they avoid them logically and scientifically by creating hazard maps (maps with information on disaster risks), building breakwaters and vibration-isolated buildings, and establishing evacuation routes. Still, they seem to have little awareness of crises they have not experienced before.
Currently, there are numerous crises in the environment surrounding Japan, such as the tension between nations, global warming, population decline, and food problems. However, there is a tendency to think that "it is no use thinking about it," "someone will do something about it," or "it will somehow work out.

e. Personality (sub-personality)
Number of topics 21
Topics： Wearing masks, requests for self-restraint, vaccinations, fatigue from being patient (restraint), increase in school refusal, increase in suicides, etc.
Data for Consideration
Roberto Assagioli, an Italian psychiatrist and advocate of psycho-synthesis (integrative psychology)， refers to the various parts that form the personality or personality as sub-personalities (SP). The Japanese's main sub-personalities (SPs) are nicknamed and made into cards called SP playing cards. The SP playing cards have a large number (8 or higher) assigned to what the Japanese value as strengths and advantages, and a small number (6 or lower) assigned to what the Japanese value as weaknesses and disadvantages. 7 is sometimes an advantage, sometimes a strength.
Heart for Expressive, Diamond for Amiable, Club for Analytical, and Spade for Driver.
The inner personality is associated with the outer social style.
(See Figure 6).

Figure 6: SP Playing Cards List and SP Top 10

 

Top10 SPs self-selected by Japanese　　　
The numbers indicate the top 10 SPs among Japanese in Figure 7 (N=1064)

Figure 7: Top10 SPs self-selected by Japanese　

Figure 7 shows the Japanese SPs.1st was "bothersome person, "2nd for being "a worrier "(1st for those over 50 ). 3rd was "not fussy about anything," and 4th for "being moody. "5th for "being serious," 6th for "being cautious, "7th for "being bored," 8th for "being looking around, "9th for "being persevering," 10th for "being strong-willed"; we can see that Japanese people's hearts balance it between SPs with high club numbers and SPs with low heart numbers. And even though they have these in their hearts, especially those with low heart numbers, they feel guilty about acting them out at work and in other social situations, so they suppress them.

SP Mark Characteristics and comparison between Japanese and Foreigners (Figure 8)

Japanese personal SPs often mark most with diamonds (39%) and clubs at work (41.1%). Both on the left side of the diamonds and clubs SPs mark accounted for two-thirds of the total. On the other hand, 66% of the SPs of foreigners (22 countries residing abroad) are heart or spades mark SPs on the right side.


Personal SPs select an unlimited number of SPs that apply to them from 52 cards (self-selection).
Working SP is the total SP mark characteristics with a selection of 10 SPs that appear in the workplace and additional feedback from other members during training (3-5 SPs).

We discussed the four-mark characteristics of SP and different postwar (and some prewar) views of the Japanese
SP Mark Characteristics and Existing Japanese Theories
Figure 9: Personality traits and various Japanese theories

Many Japanese theories are consistent with the SP characteristics of Japanese personal SP diamonds and working SP clubs.
Sub-Conclusion.
It is thought that the response to the COVID-19 disaster also led to actions such as "worriers," "serious," "looking around," "patient," and "cautious," which led to the wearing of masks, self-restraint, and vaccination. However, "persevering," the person who accepts it unpleasant without complaining, also became “run out of patience " after repeated use, leading to an increase in the flow of people and a decrease in the percentage of teleworkers. Compared to foreigners, Japanese SP characteristics tend to be passive and inward-looking. In the past discussions of Japanese people, this worry, seriousness, patience, and prudence have supported Japan's economic society. These SPs have endorsed the quality of made-in-Japan products.
However, when parents are asked what traits they want in their children, the active and outgoing SPs of the heart and spades are rising, such as creativity, creativity, and decisiveness.
（3）Conclusion of the Study of the Five Major Concrete Elements of National Character
We summarized and concluded the five major-specific elements of national character (political views, feelings of anxiety, medical opinions, crisis awareness, and personality) from the three perspectives of national temperament, values, and behavioral patterns. (Figure 10)


Figure 10: Summary of Japanese National Character and Considerations

One of the Japanese temperament characteristics was an anxious temperament due to the low number of L-type genes in the serotonin transporter (transporter of serotonin), which stabilizes the mind, and the high number of S-type genes. The common traits of many Japanese people were worrywart, serious, cautious, and competitive. These are not active, outward-oriented personalities that challenge or achieve something but passive, inward-oriented characters formed to reduce or eliminate anxiety in daily interpersonal relationships and social and economic activities.
Regarding values, the Japanese consider "safety" to be more important than "freedom. They strongly demand that the state, government, and medical institutions guarantee this "safety. Therefore, other countries have a high evaluation of the Japanese government and medical services in the COVID-19 pandemic but have low trust in the government, administration, and medical personnel in Japan is thought to reflect people's intense anxiety about safety and security. It is also linked to reducing points for themselves and others.
. It links to reducing points demerit (demerit system）for themselves and others.
Japanese people's behavior toward crisis (risk) characterizes a tendency to "avoid risky things," "follow other people's decisions," "slow decision making," and "not taking the initiative. Even though they are anxious, they are not good at proactively changing their behavior or taking the industry in responding to a crisis.
Finally, we investigated why people with the S-type gene (anxious temperament gene), which is a nervous temperament, are more common among Japanese people. There are several theories as to why this is so. One of these theories is that of Takanori Arai, a cardiologist. We know from mitochondrial genes that the onset of humanity was in African women. Humans left Africa, passed through Europe and Central Asia, and reached the Far East. They passed through various risks, such as being attacked by ravenous beasts and crossing cold and dangerous mountain ranges before arriving in the Far East. It is an exciting theory because it is consistent with data showing that the S-type gene (anxiety gene) is low in Africa and increases as one moves toward Europe and East Asia.
The other is from brain scientist Nobuko Nakano: "Japan is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, with earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, windstorms, torrential rains, heavy snowfall, floods, storm surges, volcano eruptions, and various other disasters occurring in multiple regions. The land area of Japan is only 0.28% of the world's total land area. However, 20.5% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude six or more significant occur in Japan, and 7.0% of the world's active volcanoes are located in Japan. The theory is that "these environmental pressures may have eliminated people with optimistic genes, L-type genes, and people with many anxious temperament genes (S-type genes) have survived. This theory is also interesting because the natural environment has dramatically influenced human genes. We hope that today's rapid progress in gene research will verify those.