Japanese Value Orientations and Culture Change

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of Japanese value orientations based on data gathered in 1955 through use of a theory and a method coming from the work of Florence Kluckhohn. It is appropriate that our analyssi of the Japanese data follows the recent publication (Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck 1961) of a thorough discussion of her research. The motivation for our investigation was threehold. First, information was desired about Japanes value orientations in order to help provide cultural perspective on the symptoms of phychiatric patients and types of treatment in Japan. Second, we wished to obtain data which would give some indications of the directions of change taking place in Japanese value orientations. Third, we hoped to build on the work of Kluckhohn by attempting to make a further conribution to the theoretical understanding and measurement of vatiations in value orientations. We were especially sensitized to the question of systematic vatiation because, although such variation exists at any point in a culture's history, the question becomes a crucial one during periods of apparent culture change as in Japan today.