Parenting in Japan and the World

Parenting in Japan and the World

This week's lesson examined how cultural values shape how families raise children. In Japan, parenting practices are strongly guided by traditional values such as Ikuji, which highlights the importance of nurturing. As Davies and Ikeno (2002) explain, in the Japanese perspective, "cooperation was emphasized rather than individualism, and because people were protected within the group, self-assertion was considered a form of disobedience" (p.135). This approach is reflected in the daily lives of Japanese families; it's also shown in the video "A Day in the Life of a Japanese Working Mom," where teamwork and group harmony are the main things in family routines.

When I compare this to my own culture, there are both similarities and differences. Like Japan, my Arab culture values the family as a whole unit and prioritizes respect for parents and elders. Growing up in Canada, independence and expressing one's opinion are encouraged. I find that all cultures share the belief that parenting is a profound responsibility, but the way in which these different cultures approach parenting is different. 

Refrences

Davies, R. J., & Ikeno, O. (Eds.). (2002). The Japanese mind: Understanding contemporary Japanese culture. Tuttle Publishing.

Comments

  1. ZimnakoNovember 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM

    Nice blog Nora, interesting to read about the Arab culture values.

    ReplyDelete
  2. WilliamNovember 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM

    Nice and interesting comparisons between your different cultures

    ReplyDelete

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