Parenting in Japan and the World

This week’s class about Parenting in Japan and the World really made me think about how culture shapes the way we grow up. Watching “A Day in the Life of a Japanese Working Mom”was very informative in terms of understanding the role of a mother in Japan. The mom in the video somehow managed to work, cook, clean, and still take care of her child with calmness and care. It showed how strong Japanese mothers are, and how much effort they put into keeping everything balanced.


In Japan, parenting seems to focus on harmony and togetherness. I learned about the concept of amae (甘え), which means a child’s natural dependence on their parents — especially the mother. It’s not seen as being spoiled, but as an important emotional connection. The “baby emperor” phase also surprised me — Japanese kids are treated like royalty in their early years, receiving a lot of love and attention before slowly being taught social rules and empathy for others. Children learn to think about how their actions affect the people around them (which connects to Hofstede’s idea of collectivism).


Comparing this to Lithuanian, I can see some similarities. We may not have the concept of amaeor “baby emperor”, but it is quite common for parents to be less strict with the younger children or for kids to sleep together with their parents for example. However, emotionally, I would say that Lithuanian parents are quite expressive — we talk, argue, laugh, and hug a lot. In Japan, emotions seem to be expressed more quietly, through actions rather than words. But at core, both cultures share the same goal: raising kind, responsible, and happy children.


Doing a bit of extra research, I found that psychologist Doi Takeo, who introduced the term amae, explained it as “the desire to be loved and cared for that continues into adulthood” (Doi, 1971). I think that’s beautiful — and maybe something all cultures can relate to, even if we show it differently.


Komentarai

  1. Hristiyan2025 m. lapkričio 10 d. 22:13

    W post 🦖

    AtsakytiPanaikinti
  2. Hayden2025 m. lapkričio 10 d. 22:15

    I also thought the concept of "baby emperor" was interesting. In Canada, while there may not be a term for it, sometimes parents treat the younger kids extra special, sometimes acting as though they can do no wrong. It sounds like it might be similar in Lithuania. Good blog post!

    AtsakytiPanaikinti

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