Essay Example. Social Propriety and Etiquette in Japanese Society

Etiquette and social propriety are essential in Japanese society. This is depicted by Kawabata's "The Dancing Girl of Izu," which was published in 1925. He describes the unspoken rules in his own experience with the Izu dancer. "In a Bamboo Grove" by Akutagawa shows social propriety from a collection of testimonies and confessions concerning the death of Kanazawa no (Takehiro Nakane, 1970). Propriety is widely known as an act of conforming to the generally accepted standards of morals, while etiquette refers to the act of polite behavior in societies between a particular group of individuals. This essay will discuss the books in detail, using their characters and events to relate to the aspects of etiquette and propriety consecutively.

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Kawabata, a 20-year-old student, was on a solitary journey down the Izu Peninsula when rain forced him to seek shelter in a tea house near Amagi pass (Kawabata, 1998). On the door, he's noticed by the dancing girl who offered him a cushion. Social etiquette cuts across all ages as the old woman invites Kawabata into her house, "Come in here for a while. Dry your clothes". This is depicted more on the way she cares for her husband, who's paralyzed. A sign of etiquette is thus witnessed in this scenario. After the rain abated, she declines to take more than enough (Kawabata, 1998).

Furthermore, she offered to escort him for up the road. Before parting ways, she says that "This is much too generous. I'm sorry we didn't serve you better. I'll make certain to remember your face. When you pass this way again, we'll do something special for you. Be sure to stop by next time. I won't forget you."

In Yugano, Kawabata's request to join the Izu dancer and her companions are granted, "Well, well. As the old saying goes, 'On the road, a traveling companion; and in the world, kindness.' Even dull people like us will help you pass the time. Come on in and take a rest" (Kawabata, 1998). In Japanese society, dating is conserved; this is portrayed by the older woman who scolds the Izu dancer for being shy "My goodness. She's started thinking about the opposite sex. How disgusting! Look at that!" (p. 40). After lunch, he offers money to the old man "Buy yourself some persimmons or something. I'm sorry. This is such a common way to give this to you, from the second floor." The old man refuses his offer, and instead of leaving the packet of money in the garden, he tosses it to Kawabata and cautions, "You shouldn't do things like this." The Izu dancer is concerned, and that love is neither returned nor rejected, for she is still merely a child. In the morning, the brother visits him at the inn, and they are to go together to bathe across the river and the brother points, "Look. They've come for a bath, over there across the river. Damned if they haven't seen us. Look at them laugh."

From the death of Takehiro, the testimony given by Masago showed that she killed her husband. For instance, it is ultimately clear from her evidence that at the moment when she awakens, there was no Tajomaru around as the bandit had already disappeared. Masago approached her husband and directly showed him that he did not deserve to live because he saw her being raped. As an alternative, Masago tells Takehiro that she was also willing to de if Masago was so reluctant to do so. "Kill him! I cannot marry you as long as he lives." "Kill him!" (Akutagawa, 2015). These manifestations depict how the theme of etiquette is essential in the culture of the Japanese. One has to obey the social respect and always remain to be a person of high value. Inconsiderate of what other foreigners may realize concerning the actual realities and practices that the Japanese people engage in, there remains that social respect amongst them.

Propriety is also given much consideration in the society of Japanese, as it was seen by Tajamaru, with his decision to make a public confession to the police. This is a mere reality that regardless of the activities and corrupt practices, the aspect of personality through social propriety is in abundant consideration by the locals of the community. People believe that one should only do good to another. In other words, no one should harm or perceive to engage in behavior that aims at bullying the other. There is respect, love, care, and empathy relationship between every person. Tajamaru, even at his state of being a known criminal, still decides to confess, an act that puts his life at risk of being detained or jailed for several years.

More outstandingly, and to consider the case in a more generalized state, it should also be understood that making confessions and volunteering to be witnesses is not a popular character that is found in most other societies. Many deaths and abduction cases have occasionally occurred in nations, but no one seems to be interested in those who have died. In today's century, most are concerned with those who are still living. The case is ultimately a different scenario when one learns of Japanese society. They are even to the bereaved. This not only show their tendency and high state of etiquette but also proves how the dead and lost ones and considered. Respect is granted to everyone who possesses life or once possessed experience in Japanese society; it the community, which shows the role played by social propriety in Japanese culture.

In conclusion, for foreigners in Japan, these unspoken rules can be hectic to adhere to, but the Japanese can cope with them, even though they improve social propriety and etiquette. Both of the two articles thus depict the reality of events, but later challenge the readers by providing a set of opinions and thoughts that eventually, makes the already-known truth in a point limbo.

References

Akutagawa, R. (2015). In a grove. Booklassic.

Kawabata, Y. (1998). The Dancing Girl of Izu and Other Stories. Basic Books.

Nakane, C. (1970). Japanese Society (Vol. 74). Univ of California Press.