As Others See Us: A Comparison of Japanese and American Fulbrighters

Abstract

This study examined the experiences and present attitudes of Japanese and American Fulbrighters who went to the United States (U.S.) and Japan during the period 1951-90. The study sought to understand how these graduate students and scholars incorporated education and related experiences in a different society and culture into their own lives. The study used a common questionnaire to which 789 of 1148 Japanese responded and 338 of 683 American participants responded. In addition, personal interviews with 19 selected Japanese Fulbrighters were conducted. A comparable number of Americans also responded to more detailed questions by phone interviews or in writing. The research focused on Fulbright experiences and present views about selected Japan-United States issues. The analysis of responses found that: (1) Japanese who went earlier to the United States were more affected than those who went later; (2) Americans who went to Japan later were more affected than those who went earlier; (3) both groups agreed on the importance of reforms initiated by the U.S. occupation in facilitating the emergence of the present economically prosperous Japan; and (4) they also agreed that the consensus-oriented, hard-working characteristics of the Japanese were important. The study concludes that these experiences have had major and continuing positive influences on the lives of most all participants. (JB)