The Comparison Between Japanese Culture and Indonesian Culture

In this globalization era, Indonesia students compete to study abroad to improve both their skills and knowledge in order to be able to face the world development. Japan is one of countries commonly chosen by them. As we know that Japanese culture is different with Indonesian culture. therefore, we have to learn about Japanese custom to help us in adapting the environment firstly. These following comparisons will make us know well about the differences of Japanese culture and Indonesian culture.

1. Giving Name
* JAPAN
Name contains of two parts. There are family name and first name. It must be included in the government office at least fourteen days after the baby is born. All Japanese have family name, except Emperor family. This tradition has been used since Meiji Restoration era. Actually, the government has limited the amount of kanji (Japanese letter) to 2.232 letters called jinmeito kanji. Nowadays, there are approximately a hundred thousands of family names in Japan. The most popuar Japan's family names are both Satou and Suzuki. a Japanese woman who has been married has to change her family name to her husband's. However, there are still a lot of career woman who hold their family names. It is caused of the displacement of ie-concept on Japanese family. This displacement states that there is no necessity for a woman to live in the house of her husband's family.
* INDONESIA
Indonesia has a lot of nation tribes. However, not all tribes have family name, such as Javanese and Balinese. Conversely, some tribes have family names in Sumatera, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. For example, both Harahap and Nasution usually include to Batak tribe. in Indonesia, name also has to be included to the government office and there is no necessity to write family name. Besides, the government never limits the use of family name for anyone.

2. Signature
* JAPAN
Signature does not have formal strength. Japanese always uses hanko/ikan, a stamp that written of family name to give our signature. There are some kinds of inkan, such as Mitomein, Jitsuin, and Ginkoin. Mitomein is used to daily need. For example, we use it when getting a package or filling application. Jitsuin is used to important need, such as buying home or car. Therefore, it must be included to the government office. Ginkoin is used to make bank account.
* INDONESIA
All of business administrations need constant signature as a legal mark. Most of Indonesian have signature originated from their initial name with unique writing method. This way will differentiate the signature of two or more people who have the same name.

3. Gesture to Express Respect
* JAPAN
Japan has ojigi tradition, a method to respect someone by humping our body. It is usually used to say thanks, apologize, give certificate in graduation time, etc. there are two kinds of ojigi, ritsuei and zarei. Ritsurei is ojigi done by standing up. Meanwhile, zarei is done by sitting down. The deeper and longer we hump our body, the higher we respect someone. There are three intensities of humping body in ojigi. Seikirei uses 45 degrees and more. Keirei uses 30 to 45 degrees. And last, enshuka that uses 15 to 30 degrees. In addition, seikirei is not used in daily life because it means both deep apologize and respect.
* INDONESIA
Indonesian usually express their respect by shaking hand. Sometimes, they do not touch their hand if they have different gender because of the prohibition in their religion, Islam. Besides, there is also kissing hand tradition that is usually done by children to respect their parents. In another case, students also use this to respect the teachers.

4. Reading Book
* JAPAN
Japanese read book by using two ways. They usually read book from up to down or from right side to the left. As the result, the front cover of the book is on the back.
* INDONESIA
In Indonesia, printing of book refers to western printing. So, Indonesian read a book from left side to the right.

5. Double Ride
* JAPAN
Japanese must not get a ride for someone, but children. Moreover, someone who will get a ride has to have age of sixteen or more. If it is ignored, they have to pay for twenty thousand yen.
* INDONESIA
Based on the law, Indonesian can drive a motorcycle in age of seventeen or more. Then, they are only able to get a ride for a person. In fact, both this rules are almost ignored.

6. Visiting the Hopital
* JAPAN
In Japan, there is omimai tradition. It is a tradition to visit a friend or family who is sick. Japanese usually come to visit with two or three people while bringing a thousand of paper cranes. It means a wish of recovery. Hospital is usually hard enough in keeping the situation calm.
* INDONESIA
Indonesian usually visits a friend or family who is sick I group while bringing fruits or breads because of their social culture.

7. Taking a Bath
* JAPAN
Japanese like to submerge in hot water after coming home every night. They usually wash their body first before submerging in ofuro, a Japanese basin. In winter, they will visit sento, local bathing place, or onsen, hot water bathing place, to feel pure hot water from its resource. In both sento and onsen, they are expected to be naked. Besides, they are just allowed to wear a towel with not more than two hands wide.
* INDONESIA
When taking a bath, Indonesian always use water dipper to water their whole body. Sometimes, they also use shower for taking a bath.

8. Eating
* JAPAN
Japanese would like to offer kocha, Japan green tea. It is dished hot without sugar or milk in order to leave a little bitter taste to fresh our body. Most of Japanese foods are dished complete in time. A bowl of rice is usually placed under the left side and a bowl of soup is in the right one. Japanese like to use hashi, a woody chopstick, for eating. Remain food in our bowl means that that we need food more. Conversely, an empty glass means that we need drink more. Japanese always say itadakimasu before eating and gochimasu after finishing. Both itadakimasu and gochimasu mean that we really thank for the food.
* INDONESIA
Indonesian usually likes to drink warm tea with sugar. At eating time, not all of Indonesian families like to eat together. They usually eat rice on a plate by using spoon. However, there is also Indonesian who likes eating by hand. In addition, Indonesian Moslem will say Basmalah before eating and Alhamdulillah after finishing.

9. Entering House
* JAPAN
Japanese houses are commonly small. Before entering a house, they have to open their shoes in front of the door called genkan and used special sandal for house. Nevertheless, they have to use another special sandal before going to bathroom. Most of Japanese houses have tatami, a rectangular layer for sitting. They also have low table where under the table is placed a heater in winter.
* INDONESIA
Indonesia has a lot of traditional houses each province. Before entering house, they will say salam if they are Moslem. Almost all of Indonesian houses have chair set for sitting.


10. Wedding Ceremony
* JAPAN
Japanese usually held a wedding party in spring and autumn because these two are considered to a good day. There are two ways to celebrate a wedding party in Japan. They can use Shinto traditional ceremony or western modern ceremony. In Shinto traditional ceremony, the wedding party is done in shrine while using kimono, japan traditional cloth. A female bride will wear shiromuku, a special white kimono. Meanwhile, a male bride will wear montsuki haori hakama, a special kimono for man. In western modern ceremony, the wedding ceremony is done in church thought not all of Japanese are Christians. These two Japanese wedding ceremonies are led by a priest. Moreover in Japan, every wedding ceremony usually gives a souvenir called hikidemono. There is sujeo tradition where in the wedding party is given a set of eating equipment as a souvenir. It symbolizes a prosperous life.
* INDONESIA
Indonesia has a lot of wedding cultures depend on the tradition of each tribe. For example, Sasak tribe has runaway marriage tradition in Lombok, and many more. A legal wedding must be included to KUA, a religion business office that will manage a wedding. Generally in Indonesia, wedding is consists of two steps. Those are akad nikah which is led by a vice of KUA and wedding ceremony which is done based on particular tradition.

RESOURCE
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http://www.oktavita.com/perayaan-pernikahan-di-jepang

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