Laws are important to keep things in order; unfortunately, not everyone follows them strictly. Some turn a blind eye or think that doing certain things is unnecessary and does not harm anyone. Brazilians have become famous for breaking rules and laws, while the Japanese manage to obey many laws strictly and are known for following a polite, honest, and humble lifestyle.
Unfortunately, not all people are the same; there will always be those who do not care about laws and rules. Still, for many, it is impressive that the Japanese do not throw trash on the streets, do not cut in line, or break small traffic rules. Many think this is the result of good administration and severe punishment for those who disobey the laws. Is it really?
Strict laws are very helpful, but they are not the main reason for the organization and harmony in Japan. Many developed countries have strict laws but a high rate of problems, fatalities, and lack of organization due to the population breaking rules and laws.
Not to mention that many things the Japanese do for others are not laws; they are simply motivated to act this way. In conducting research, I concluded that everything is based on principles and not laws.
Table of Contents
What is a principle?
The Japanese manage to be obedient, polite, honest, and humble because of their culture and social pressure to do what is right. Despite all cultural influence, the Japanese can only obey rules and laws strictly when they have principles, which serve as a compass to keep them on a path within the law.
A principle can be defined as “rules or code of (good) conduct by which someone strives to lead their life.” Principles influence our decisions and determine the direction we take in life. A principle is like a predecessor of the law, a process, beginning, start, foundation, cause, root, and reason.
What are the advantages of having principles?
A person with principles does their utmost to avoid things they consider wrong. A person without principles, even if they use their conscience or think that a certain action is not harmful, ends up taking the first step that leads to error. A person with principles thinks of others, while a person without principles thinks of themselves.
Laws are like someone taking a flashlight and pointing it in a dark direction to know what to do. Principles are like turning on a light instead of just a flashlight. Walking with a flashlight is much more dangerous than having a fully lit path.
With principles, there is no need for anyone to tell you whether something is right or wrong. There is no need for parents, police, rulers, and religious leaders to say that this is harmful to society in the short or long term. There are no signs saying it is prohibited to throw trash on the streets; they know that this is harmful to themselves and to others. Not even trash cans usually exist on every corner as some might imagine.
One of the main culprits of disobedience to laws and rules is the famous culture of “me first“. This type of thinking is a manifestation of selfishness and haste, as people break laws for their own advantage. In Japan, this type of thinking is not viewed favorably.
What is the most important principle?
One of the most important principles in the world is love for others. If we have love and put others first, we will avoid doing anything harmful to others, such as stealing, killing, lying, deceiving, hiding, and others. A basic principle of the Bible that unfortunately many who claim to be religious do not follow.
How do Japanese who are not Christians manage to succeed in this task of showing love and thinking of others even in small things?
It is obvious that most of the time the Japanese do good not out of love, but merely to maintain appearances or to follow their cultural standard. Regardless of a person’s culture, belief, or education, if they try to do things out of obligation, just to comply with laws, they will end up making mistakes. That is why Japan is far from being perfect!
When we are exposed to opportunities, advantages, and anything else that involves self-benefit, we can be easily tempted to break laws to gain it. Even if a person is good, they can err. What can we say today in Brazil? A country where what is wrong seems right, and those who do what is right are often ridiculed for it?
Perhaps if those who claim to be religious cared more about basic principles than about laws, they would be able to obey the laws they talk so much about. The principle of treating others as you would like to be treated is fundamental and can easily bring peace and order to the world. You do not need to have a religion to know that this thought is the most logical and correct.
What are the Japanese principles?
In Brazil, we are raised with wrong principles. The Japanese, on the other hand, tend to have basic principles based on proverbs, ancient art, education, Buddhism, and Shintoism. Below we can list some random things that positively influence the Japanese in obeying the laws strictly and maintaining peace and order in the country.
- The nail that sticks out gets hammered down;
- Simplicity or elimination of disorder;
- Discipline and ethics – Japanese martial arts are all based on this;
- Concept of zen (involves various things);
- Wabi-sabi – Imperfection is something normal; mistakes happen;
- Kawaii – The concept of finding things cute;
- 9 Principles of Japanese Art and Culture;
- Does the media and culture influence people?
- The honesty of the Japanese
Throughout a Japanese person’s life, they learn to live in a society without trying to rise above and bring others down or stand out. Sometimes limiting oneself can be harmful, but there is nothing wrong with being taught to consider the opinions of others before one’s own.
Some live criticizing when someone says that a person is influenced by friendships and the lifestyle they lead or what they hear, watch, and play. It is enough to analyze each country’s lifestyle well to reach the conclusion that culture has a strong influence or reflection on its people.
Leave a Reply