Ambiguous Language, Belonging, and Air: Hand-Carved Tripod (HCT) Model of Conformity

Three pillars to support the platform are discussed: ambiguous words, sense of belonging, and the air. Combined with politeness, a passive attitude and expression is easily accepted in Japanese culture, which often creates a vague atmosphere where the process of discussion is only one way and the conclusion may be hazy. Bright slogans for social activities or organizations without human resources and budget may bring about and carry brilliantly-colored atmosphere, called the “air,” or the “wind of the world.” A sense of belonging to company, or organization is important to the people who want to have some place to feel as home base. Conformity in Japan, the pressure to belong somewhere, and the pressure not to do something different from what everyone else doing, are essentially recognized as in-group and out-group dynamics, that are generated by the world of seken. The oldest origin of seken (the world), and its synonyms are found from seventh century literary works in Man’yoshu, in previous chapter (Sect.  2.1.1 ). Before the Japanese translation word for society, shakai, and that for individual, kojin, were settled around 140 years ago, seken and its synonyms were deep in the Japanese mind for 1,400 years, continuously transferred from parents to children, from teachers to students, and from the elders to the young. Hand-Carved Tripod (HCT) model is introduced as the structure of conformity, where seken generates the pressure and that is supported by the three pillars.