Healthcare in Japan

-

 

Healthcare Belief Systems and Perspectives

As most developed nations, the primary healthcare belief of Japan is the biomedical/scientific model. Japan has a universal healthcare system, in which health insurance is funded both publicly and privately. This puts a strong emphasis on patient care and strengthens the medical institutions that care for the health of Japanese people. Again, hierarchy is a foundational element of Japanese culture, meaning the medical authority is regarded very well and trusted deeply. Japan takes a “patient-centeredness” approach to health care, consisting of "medical team approach", "nutrition management", and "infection controls" (Kondo, 2022). Child vaccinations in Japan are relatively high as well (Jwa et al., 2022), displaying a dominant biomedical perspective on healthcare. 
Kumamoto University Hospital


In addition to a biomedical perspective, Japan also has a minority traditional belief regarding healthcare. This belief is more holistic as it aims to restore complete body balance, in contrast to a more biomedical approach that would treat specific symptoms and disease. Kampo is the term used for this Japanese traditional medicine, it is a mixture of herbs and natural plants. According to Iwai et al. (2025), Kampo was prescribed alongside biomedical treatment in 13.6% of hospitalizations in Japan. This shows an integration of holistic and traditional beliefs into a modernized biomedical healthcare system.

Traditions and Perspectives on Death


Japanese culture places strong emphasis on death, influenced by their beliefs in Buddhism and Shintoism. Death is considered a natural passage, much like birth, in Japanese culture. As a collectivist culture, Japanese individuals feel connected to people even after they have died. Funeral traditions ensure that a family has a moral obligation to care for their deceased members, usually with offering of food and practicing rituals. There is normally a structured morning process. This includes a wake, funeral ceremony, and offerings to the deceased. Peace before death is the highest priority for Japanese people, as a way to maintain harmony even in the afterlife. Japan also has the highest cremation rate of any nation at over 99.9% (Hiatt, 2015). This is due to Buddhist beliefs that cremating helps release the soul from the physical body.

Hypothetical Scenario

If I had a friend that worked with an NGO providing healthcare in Japan, there are several communication practices that I would suggest. The first thing I would mention is the existence of Kampo, and that many people may want a holistic cure in addition to their medical treatment. I would also stress the importance of different communication norms, such as silence, indirect communication, politeness, respect for hierarchy, and nonverbal norms. I would explain that harmony is a high priority in Japanese workplaces, and that speaking out of turn or talking about controversial topics may receive negative reactions. I would explain that trust in authority is also high, and that physicians would be seen as the authority figure for medical decisions. Preventive care is also very high in Japan, and my friend may find it easier to suggest routine checkups, masks, diets, and other preventive practices than they would in the United States.


Sources:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Media of Japan

-
Image
Japanese media can be a great pathway to delve further into Japanese culture. Many times the media of a culture highlights the values and communication patterns of that culture; Japan is not different. Visual culture reflects Japan's emphasis on harmony, subtlety, and history.  Japanese Cinema The most culturally significant films to Japan consist of Seven Samurai (1954), Godzilla (1954), Harakiri (1962), Akira (1988), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), and many more. These films reveal core elements of Japanese culture. From the samurai era of discipline shown in Seven Samurai to a visual display of post-war trauma in Godzilla, and even a love letter to shintoism in Spirited Away, these films showcase Japan over the years. Long and silent scenes are often for Japanese cinema, and symbolism is heavily utilized.  Japanese TV Series Unlike Japanese films, Japanese shows typically highlight a distinct difference between the intrapersonal beliefs of Japanese people a...
Read more

Nonverbal Communication of Japan

-
Image
  It is important to understand as much as possible about nonverbal communication in every interaction, not just interaction with people from a differing culture. Much of information is conveyed through nonverbal communication, and that information is vital to gaining a full picture of understanding. To communicate effectively with a person from a separate culture, learning that culture’s specific nonverbal communication would be extremely beneficial. Each culture has separate ways to nonverbally communicate, these ways may very much differ from American culture. It is important to understand these differing cues in order to remain respectful while also being effective at communication. Barries to Nonverbal Messages There are several barriers to accurately understanding nonverbal messages of other people, especially people from different cultures. The most frequent obstacles however are; differences in nonverbal meaning and context dependence. The obstacle of a difference in nonv...
Read more

Worldview of Japan

-
Image
  Understanding worldview is extremely crucial to understanding culture. An individual's worldview creates the reality that they live in. Cultural expressions are then perceived through the context of the worldview. The worldview in Japanese culture may be expressed subtly now, however the expressions go deep. Japan is considered a secular society because there is a separation between church and state. The Japanese government, much like the United States, cannot favor one religion over another. But just because Japan is considered a secular society, this does not mean that the worldview is atheistic. There is a long history of religion in Japan, with Shintoism having been Japan’s indigenous religion starting in the sixth century , and Buddhism also being introduced around the same time. 
Read more