Have you ever wondered why Japan has a high suicide rate? Or why they work too much? Or why there is bullying? Why are there social classes and sometimes prejudice between them? A large part of the cause of these events is due to social pressure in Japan. Do you know what social pressure is? It is movements, events, and situations promoted by a group of people where you feel forced, intimidated, or pressured to do things even without a specific law.
One of the biggest social pressures in Japan is to be successful in life. The Japanese want to have high grades, like to be dedicated, be a good person, have a good job, higher education, a family, etc. Sometimes the pressure to have these things is so great that it results in suicides, evaporations, and people who do not leave their rooms for fear of society (hikikomori).
Another very common social pressure is to dedicate oneself to work. Sometimes many feel obligated to stay at work and do overtime even when it is not necessary. The pressure is one of the biggest culprits for the reputation of the Japanese being workaholics. Social pressure is especially strong at work and in schools.
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Why do the Japanese succumb to social pressure?
Social pressure can be expressed in direct and indirect ways. Those who refuse to follow society end up being excluded and suffering bullying. Another major culprit of social pressure is the famous shyness of the Japanese. Many wish to express their opinion or follow their own desires, but their shyness ends up making them ashamed to go against the wishes of society or to be excluded for it.
Others cannot withstand social pressure and end up committing suicide. The shame (resulting from shyness) of failing at something in life, such as entrance exams, jobs, and family, ends up making the person give up on life. Some, by going against the wishes of society, cannot bear the pressure and take their own lives simply for that.
On the other hand, the Japanese are a bit reserved and take care of their own lives. So you usually do not feel pressure on topics like fashion, religion, music, and things related to personal tastes and life. Sometimes the pressure doesn’t even exist or is mostly indirect, but the Japanese feel like failures if they do not achieve what is well-regarded in society.
While many think that the Japanese are honest, kind, and hospitable out of their own will, the reality is that some suffer social pressure to be this way. Education in Japan is taught from an early age, and those who do not follow it end up being excluded from society. Social pressure even affects the decrease in crime; most steal secretly unlike armed robbery in Brazil. The pressure also makes people dedicate themselves to studies, cleanliness, and treating those around them well.
Say no to social pressure in Japan
It doesn’t matter if you are a foreigner or Japanese, or if you live in Japan or Brazil, you will always suffer some kind of social pressure! Nowadays, people are pressured to do wrong things, are pressured to give up their dreams or to follow a career that they may not even want. I see that many Brazilians living in Japan suffer social pressure and cannot break out of the societal bubble.
They let themselves be influenced by comments, ideas, and suggestions from others and find it impossible to follow a path different from the standard defined by society. These people need to stop caring about the opinions, suggestions, or pressures from others. I know it is not easy to resist pressure; I faced a lot of pressure to go to college, buy a car, and find a formal job. While I always wanted to work online and suffered a lot of pressure because of that, if I had given in to the pressure, I probably would not have realized my dreams.
Fighting against social pressure is not easy; giving in can also be quite harmful. This is a constant struggle that people face in Japan and around the world; some seek psychologists (something rare in Japan), others believe that the best way to avoid pressure from certain people is to surround themselves with those who make them comfortable and do not exert pressure. Overcoming shyness, being positive, and learning to say no can be significant steps to not being part of this capitalist and oppressive society. Have you ever suffered any kind of pressure in Japan? I would be happy if you could share with others in the comments below.
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