The Group
As we continue to find out, the concept of the group is very important here in Japan. Although we have only just begun to wrap our heads around this topic, I am able to see evidences of the importance of community to the Japanese in daily life. I must admit this is such a foreign way of thinking to Colby and I since the West tends to value freedom and individuality.
One very prominent group aspect we have seen has been school uniforms worn by students. Every day, kids and teenagers walk or ride their bikes to school; all wearing their school’s designated uniform. This shows everyone what group they belong to.
Neighborhoods are also considered groups. In Japan, houses and location are not demarcated by streets, but rather in increasingly smaller concentric circles. Every city is divided into districts. In Ube, they all have names. Ours is Nohara, which means open field. The districts are divided into neighborhoods or “chome”, each with a number. The neighborhoods are then further divided into numbered blocks. The ministry center is located in Nohara 1-7.
Today, we got a chance to see all the neighborhood groups in action as it was the biannual neighborhood cleaning day. We received a notice in our mailbox a few weeks ago stating that today was the day to participate in “neighborhood beautification”. Around 8 AM, donned in our work clothes with our weed sickles in hand, we headed out to the neighborhood meeting place (located in front of the neighborhood garbage receptacles) and joined our neighbors weeding alongside the road that runs through the center of our neighborhood. An hour and many bags of weeds later, all was considered done, and we all bowed and thanked everyone for “tiring themselves out”. Afterward, we paid our biannual dues (¥2,400 yen – about $24) to the block leader or “han-cho” (yes, this is where the word comes from). She gave us a small gift to thank us for our hard work and for being good participants in the system and we went home and got ready for church.
Theresa (kneeling center) helps weed alongside the road.
Yet another way I have noticed the importance of groups as of late is through how much time some groups seem to spend with each other. There are 2 or 3 Bible studies throughout the week here at church and often the same people attend each of them. What is surprising to me is how long they stay together afterward chatting with each other. The Bible study may start around 2pm and go for an hour or so and the women will usually stay until around 5pm or so! Most of these ladies are housewives and so they don’t have jobs they need to be at and so for them, this is their social time with the group they are a part of. Another example of group social time in Japanese society is when business men eat and drink together after work. These times, sometimes lasting until late at night, are often when Japanese men can “let down their hair” so to speak, and are very important for building relationships.
Please pray for Colby and I that we would continue to develop good relationships with the Japanese. Pray that we would come understand the meaning and importance of the “group” here in Japan and that we would have wisdom as to how to participate.