Respect Cultural Differences - Examining the Cultures of Japan and America

May 14, 2011 - PRLog -- No one wants to hurt another. No one wants to fight. But why do people keep fighting? People wants to be understood by others. There are differences between Asian society and Caucasian society. But we can always show respect for the culture of others.

By living in a two different society, I learned that Americans show their respect by being who they are. In Japan, where I grew up, people do not express their opinions in speech – the beauty is to understand what they are feeling.

In America, the beauty is to say your opinions and stand out for what you believe so that people listening can understand clearly. In Japan, the listener is supposed to figure out what that speaker is trying to say, which shows kindness to the speaker.

I find this opposite way of expression interesting. But they both come from kindness. What can you do in your society?

I see that many people pick their job because they need to have money to survive. Have you ever thought of doing what makes you happy and what you can give back to your society? What is the fear of not doing what you love? Is it because of money, people's opinion, that you don't believe in yourself, or that you can not live your dream?

I grew up in Japan and moved to the America when I was in high school. I could not speak English at all. I did not understand anything in school because of the language barrier. I thought that my life was over and I did not see a bright future because of my major transition. But this experience made my think – "Who I am?" and "What could I do to survive in this society?"

I never thought that I could write a book in English. Never in my life did I think that was going to be happen. I would like to share my experience: that even a girl who never spoke English, could write a book and express what she felt to society. This book is a "wake up call" to people wondering, "What is Life" or "Who You Are," by seeing where the author came from. Life is wonderful, nothing is impossible!

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Stephanie Honda is the author of the new illustrated book "Soul Exchangers" (ISBN 9781929882625) available at Amazon.com and elsewhere. The book is filled with Ms Honda inspirational photographs and prose which transcends all cultures.  A share of the proceeds from this book benefits the Red Cross for earthquake relief in Japan.

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