BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Japanese Culture Telephone Interview with China Radio International

Here's a link to a recording of me being interviewed by a reporter for China Radio International. The topic is on Japanese obsession with blood types.
9 Nov 12 Telephone Interview with China Radio International


The hosts tried to argue against the low significance of blood types in Japanese society after the interview by bringing up examples of Japanese soldiers being grouped by blood types in the past, and a minister blaming the insensitive remarks he had made after the 3/11 Great East Japan Earthquake on his blood type. But while the general Japanese public DO believe in blood types being significant in determining a person's personality, they are not THAT obsessed to let it get in the way of major decision-making. The Japanese way of thinking is contradictory in this sense, which can be hard for non-Japanese to understand - at least those who are unfamiliar with Japanese people and their culture 1st hand.

Congratulations on a terrific interview, Tas! It was exciting to hear the host announce that you are the Japanese Culture editor of Bellaonline.com.

I had no idea that the Japanese felt this way! Wow. What is the blood type of the majority?

And by the way, you sounded really great in the interview. Knowledgeable and well-spoken.

Thank you for your kind words, Lori

It was not in my initial plans, but I'm currently working on an article about the impact of blood types in Japanese society. So I'll answer your answer in the article. Watch out for it later today or tomorrow ;p

The hosts using the examples of the minister blaming his insensitive remarks on his blood type, and of the soldiers being grouped via blood type can be misleading, because they do not necessarily reflect the views of the general public, or the majority. Some of the Japanese people I've spoken to didn't even know about these, and those who did didn't really care.

The articles I write are based on what I see, hear and experience personally in Japan, and while they might not be sensational or newsworthy, readers can be sure that they're about the real Japan. So my next article will talk about how the general Japanese really feel about blood type and its relationship with a person's personality.

Wow. That is such a weird concept to me, especially since there is no scientific data that backs up personality and blood type. It appears to be based strictly on being part of the majority or outside the majority. The Japanese seem to value conformity over individuality.

Well, I have Type O. My father was Type A. What is your blood type?

Yes, it's hard to understand the Japanese way of thinking. Seems that conformity takes priority over everything else. It's like a prerequisite for being Japanese.

My blood type is O. No wonder the both of us are so awesome!