Ritual Man: The Continuing Tradition in Human Relationships Among Japanese Youth (From Perspectives on Contemporary Youth, P 177-192, 1988, Janusz Kuczynski, S N Eisenstadt, Boubakar Ly, and Lotika Sarkar, eds. -- See NCJ-124226)

• NCJ Number: 124234
• Author(s): K Miyanaga
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations University
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

By focusing on such central traditional values among the Japanese as "giri" (moral obligation)/"ninjo" ("natural" human feelings) and "on" (ontological basis of being)/"ho-on" (gratitude), this paper discusses the continuing tradition in Japan, captured in terms of "ritual" interpersonal relationships.

Abstract

The continuing tradition in one-to-one human relationships in Japan has been discussed in terms of "giri" acts and "giri" relations. The term "giri" has been conceptualized as a technical term from an anthropological perspective and is used differently from the indigenous Japanese word. Although the older generation believes that Japanese youth has given up "giri," this anthropological examination of youth behavior indicates that "giri" continues in actions and human relationships. The supporting ideology for "giri," however, has weakened significantly. Youth join the tradition as they age; they train themselves to be "ritual men," accepting that the mastery of ritual interaction in one-to-one human relationships is the way to maturity. This illustrates the general rule that some basic structural aspects of a society, which may be called "tradition," are transmitted from one generation to another in spite of superficial social changes. 25 notes.