Why Is There No Looting In Japan?

[Rickster71]

A good friend of mine has a son on one of the ships that's positioned off of Japan's coast.
The ship gets word from rescue crews as to where distribution points will be set up, etc. One remarkable thing that's been reported back; the rescue crews haven't experienced the usual looting, rioting, and price gouging that goes on in most of the other countries they've been deployed to.
It may be too soon to mention it; they seem to be a very civil people.

I have to give a lot of credit to the people of Japan for their respect of each other and their dignity.

Also a few things I've read:
"Looting simply does not take place in Japan," says Gregory Pflugfelder, an expert in Japanese culture at Columbia University, as quoted by CNN. "I'm not even sure if there's a word for it that is as clear in its implications as when we hear 'looting.'"

Why Is There No Looting In Japan?
By Ed West, The Telegraph UK:
The landscape of parts of Japan looks like the aftermath of World War Two; no industrialized country since then has suffered such a death toll. The one tiny, tiny consolation is the extent to which it shows how humanity can rally round in times of adversity, with heroic British rescue teams joining colleagues from the US and elsewhere to fly out.

And solidarity seems especially strong in Japan itself. Perhaps even more impressive than Japan’s technological power is its social strength, with supermarkets cutting prices and vending machine owners giving out free drinks as people work together to survive. Most noticeably of all, there has been no looting, and I’m not the only one curious about this.

This is quite unusual among human cultures, and it’s unlikely it would be the case in Britain. During the 2007 floods in the West Country abandoned cars were broken into and free packs of bottled water were stolen. There was looting in Chile after the earthquake last year – so much so that troops were sent in; in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina saw looting on a shocking scale.

Why do some cultures react to disaster by reverting to everyone for himself, but others – especially the Japanese – display altruism even in adversity?

(Source: The Telegraph)

 

[its phillip]

I've always liked the Japanese. When I lived on Okinawa from 91-98 and then Honshu from 98-01, I always liked going off base just to walk around or shop and on tours and the like (when I was old enough to, anyway). Very polite and respectful in general, a great contrast from my experiences here. Of course, I like the US and Americans in general...it's unfotunate that a disproportionately large percentage of our population are jerkoffs who would be looting in a situation like Japan's.

 

[mike c]

true story, when i was in Japan...
i asked a local:
1) "where do i get fresh sushi?" he said, "huh? if it's not fresh, it won't be served"
2) "why aren't all these bicycles on the street chained to something, won't they get lost/stolen?" he said "stolen?"

i heard ...
1) during last year's financial depression, Japanese would leave cash in the public toilets to help others in need, basically it's a "if you need it, take it" thing. many were not taken. [they're a proud people]
2) their 'lost and founds' are super full.

 

[mike c]

I've always liked the Japanese. When I lived on Okinawa from 91-98 and then Honshu from 98-01, I always liked going off base just to walk around or shop and on tours and the like (when I was old enough to, anyway). Very polite and respectful in general, a great contrast from my experiences here. Of course, I like the US and Americans in general...it's unfotunate that a disproportionately large percentage of our population are jerkoffs who would be looting in a situation like Japan's.

I would say that (most) Americans are super kind especially to strangers.

So it's a different thing for the Japanese, i could say they were kind to each other, they have honor. I do a lot of business with them, and it's pretty much exactly what they tell you.

 

[Alex2507]

Why Is There No Looting In Japan?

Maybe they are lazy.

 

[GranteedEV]

They do not want to perform seppuku when things die down!

 

[son-yah-tive]

The Japanese always remind me overall, they are a dignified people. I know they live on an island, but that may have made them more of a close knit society, and more family oriented. People are from everywhere, and move everywhere here. So being close to others is a tough thing to be. My heart goes out to those in Japan. And most of all, they will help themselves, without wanting to be a burden to other countries.

 

[darien87]

It all goes back to the Samurai culture, which still exists for the most part today. To the Japanese the welfare of the whole, not the individual, is what is important. That is why when you get a job in Japan, most consider that it will be for life. An employee is not supposed to quit their job because it shows disloyalty. This concept of loyalty goes both ways as employers are supposed to be loyal to their employees.

There is a famous saying in Japan, "The nail that sticks up gets pounded down." In Japan you work for the good of everyone, not solely for your own personal gain.

I'm sure that there has been SOME looting, just not very much. There are bad apples in every bunch and evil is a part of human nature. But the Japanese just have a very different mindset than many other cultures around the world.

 

[rnatalli]

The Japanese are a more civilized people than Americans. Simple as that.

 

[Warpdrv]

Far too much self entitlement and lazy BA$$HOLES in the US....

I won't say it doesn't happen elsewhere, but it sure is ugly when looked at as a whole....

Makes me sick to my stomach....

 

[3db]

Its not just the US but Canada and the US. I think what it boils down to is the NA ( when I say NA, I been US and Canada only. I'm not sure of the outlook of Mexicans ) is there is too much personal freedom: i.e. i have the right to be an a??hole and be in your face about it. I also don't believe for one minute that we are all like that. Its just the vocal minority we here/see.

I think the Japanese are amazing and I hope the world takes a hard serious look at how the Japanese are reacting. We as the world have been taught a very valuable lesson in humanity and what it is to be selfless and humane. I just hope the rest of humanity picks up on this and really strives to be a better human. This has taught me and I sure hope I can retain these lessons. Tonight at supper I told my daughters about their reaction and I hope they've learned from this as well.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

As already stated it is honor; they are a proud race of people. It is a disgrace how little the morons in charge are not doing more to help. Makes me sick to see this country treat one of our best allies like this.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I think it's a mix of public as well as family support structures that make the Japanese not feel they need to loot. They probably feel that somebody will take care of them, when they are in need. It's a wealthy country and that wealth is more equitably shared than you will find in Canada or the US. You just won't see the same level of poverty. It's often poverty that leads people to resort to looting.

As long as the affected populace feel that somebody will look after them, you will see order. If aid breaks down and people get hungry, cold and desperate, that social cohesion will be broken and you will see people do nasty things in order to survive. It's a natural human instinct.

I certainly hope it won't come to that. I don't think it will.

 

[Rob Babcock]

They have a sense of unity that we don't have. We pride ourselves on our "melting pot", folding people of many races and creeds into our fold. The Japanese, by contrast, are a more homogeneous people. They share a culture and common experience going back nearly two millennia. There are few deep seated, subconscious animosities or racial hatreds dividing the country. When a crisis occurs they face it as one united front. And they've faced incredible adversity and persevered- it's part of their national culture.

In short, in a crisis their culture unites them. They truly see themselves as part of a community. We're more individualistic...when SHTF we look out for #1. That's a huge advantage the hold over us. Hopefully we're smart enough to learn from them.

 

[tcarcio]

Simple, In Japan people share, In the U.S. people take. In the last 30-40 years this country has gone to **** because of the entitlement mentality and the feeling that they deserve whatever they need without haveing to work for it. America used to be much like Japan is today, Sadly we are no more. There are good people in the U.S. but today they are far outnumbered by the morons...........

 

[Rickster71]

They have a sense of unity that we don't have. We pride ourselves on our "melting pot", folding people of many races and creeds into our fold. The Japanese, by contrast, are a more homogeneous people. They share a culture and common experience going back nearly two millennia. There are few deep seated, subconscious animosities or racial hatreds dividing the country. When a crisis occurs they face it as one united front. And they've faced incredible adversity and persevered- it's part of their national culture.

In short, in a crisis their culture unites them. They truly see themselves as part of a community. We're more individualistic...when SHTF we look out for #1. That's a huge advantage the hold over us. Hopefully we're smart enough to learn from them.

Sounds like you're on to something.
I did a quick look-up of the demographics of Japan - 98.5% Japanese and 1.5% other.
While understanding demographics isn't the only reason for their unity.
I would guess their government & politics don't have the 'Divide and Conquer' component that ours does.

 

[Tarub]

 

[itschris]

Culture, mindset, whatever you want to call it... but I'll never understand that while in the midst of disaster and chaos... your thought would be... "hey look Best Buy has no security!"

Whatever. I've been in the midst of hurricanes and even been almost smack dab in the path of a tornado. It never once crossed my mind to take anything... and I mean anything... from anyone or anyplace. Looting, like everything else, every other selfish, arrogant meaningless crime, is always excused and "explained"' in the US. It's very much part of the mentality that is slowly dragging this country down.

 

[psbfan9]

It is a disgrace how little the morons in charge are not doing more to help. Makes me sick to see this country treat one of our best allies like this.

Really? Thousands dead and you make a political statement? And a false one at that.
We've provided a team specializing in biological and nuclear hazards to advise Japan's military, nuclear, biological and chemical firefighting suits and masks to Japan for use at the nuclear plant, as well as water pumps and fire trucks, The Pentagon is also bringing potassium iodide from the continental United States to Japan for use if necessary, There are 14 ships positioned around Japan, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which is staging search-and-rescue and aid delivery flights.

Japanese govt 'rejected U.S. offer to help cool damaged reactors'

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20110318-268871.html

 

[Alex2507]

If [] people get hungry, cold and desperate, that social cohesion will be broken and you will see people do nasty things ...

That notion echoes what I'll describe as the motivation to go to war among poor nations as described to me by Loni: a smart guy I use to ride the train with.

If you were to round up all know US looters and compare them to the good people of Japan I know you would find a big difference in education and consequently income levels. It's not like you have college grads with decent jobs looting in America.

I still think people are people. Culture plays it's role but when TSHTF ... look out.