Small island country and community culture

[Otaku]

Do you think it would be possible for Japan(ese) to exist on such a small island without having community culture? Do you think it's the CC that keeps the society from crashing down around itself?

[kabocha]

What do you mean by community culture?

[Otaku]

...a culture that is community-focused rather than individualistic.

[Paul]

Yes, in a way where I live is even smaller than I would guess than just about anyone else posting here. The island itself is only about 67 miles long and roughly 13 miles wide at it's widest point up north and maybe 8 or 10 miles wide down in the south where nearly something like 90% plus of the population of a bit over 1,000,000 people live.

I would also be interested to hear your definition, in more detail, of what you consider to be a community culture or what does it mean to you to be community focused rather than individualistic.

Both are very broad terms by themselves.

I would venture an opinion here and say that anyone could or can be very much an individualist yet still be community focused as well.

[crustpunker]

I think that this is the origin of the genesis of "tatemae and honne"

[kabocha]

japan certainly has a more obvious culture that it celebrates in group activities such as Matsuri and takes more pride in its identity than do a lot of other countries. Whether this is what keeps society from falling apart is debatable (which I suppose is why you ask the question!) and also depends on what you mean by 'crashing down'. It seems that Japan is set to increasingly lose its traditions and have a less community minded population with a youth who are less interested in these things.

Societies come crashing down when there are wars and revolutions (and even then another usually replaces it), not through a gradual process of change. That suggests that society is evolving.

For me, I think the group thing plays a part in keeping society ticking over contentedly. So does keeping the trains running on time.

[TENGU]

doesn't anyone realize it all stems from the samurai ruling?

[Gibbons]

TENGU, as usual, you oversimplify and ruin another decent thread with you arrogance. To suggest that anyone can see anything so simply implies that you are are very wise and have a clear idea what is going on but, frankly (and I apologize for pushing the limits of civil behaviour here) makes you look like a complete idiot.

You provide tremendous entertainment here with your "wisdom". Please keep it up.