Women and Groups
An essay by Colin Paterson
Based on ‘Minbo’ by Juzo Itami, 1992
Additional reading: ‘The Japanese Today’; Chapter 17 (Women) & Chapter 13 (Groups) by Reischauer, E.O. Harvard University Press, 1988
An essay by Colin Paterson
Based on ‘Minbo’ by Juzo Itami, 1992
Additional reading: ‘The Japanese Today’; Chapter 17 (Women) & Chapter 13 (Groups) by Reischauer, E.O. Harvard University Press, 1988
University of Lethbridge Modern Languages 2900
Japanese Culture Through Film Professor: Dr. Kozue Uzawa
January 2004
The director of Minbo, Juzo Itami is trying to convey a message about the Yakuza and how they operate within the society. By the use of humor he brought the Yakuza culture into the Japanese popular consciousness and in part to western society. Mr. Itami, through his film, suggests that it is possible to stand up against gangsters (the Yakuza), and to beat them at their own game. Itami shows how this can be accomplished by standing together as a group or team. He takes the idea of working as a group even further, by putting aside the individual in favour of a single minded group. In Minbo the Hotel staff stood against the Yakuza, but it wasn't until each staff member put aside their own fears and bonded as a cohesive group with a single goal, to protect the Europa Hotel, that this tactic worked.
It is interesting to see a female lawyer in the film as the strongest willed and most fearless. This may have been done simply to enhance the comedy, or may be showing that women have more to contribute or can contribute equally if they are allowed to. Most women in the film were subservient figures, in accordance to the culture of the times. I should note the use of a subservient woman is common in North American films too, the significance of the figure is not the same..
It is interesting to see a female lawyer in the film as the strongest willed and most fearless. This may have been done simply to enhance the comedy, or may be showing that women have more to contribute or can contribute equally if they are allowed to. Most women in the film were subservient figures, in accordance to the culture of the times. I should note the use of a subservient woman is common in North American films too, the significance of the figure is not the same..
Women in Japanese society have, more power than is outwardly shown. We, in the west, have deemed equality for women to be in the corporate and job market. It is an equality in the work place more so than at home that western society seeks.
The Japanese culture, according to Reischauer's article suggest that although, there is more equality in the workplace. The female still runs the house hold, and raise the children. Women may not have equality in the workplace, but the males do not have equality in the home. According to Reischauer the female is the stronger willed, and psychologically more stable of the sexes. This is visible in the film Minbo, as the female lawyer was obviously stronger psychologically than the males who were under her. In Minbo, Mahiru Inoue, the female lawyer also portrayed the small percentage of women who are professionals. She was also single, this may be a reflection of the societal norm. In the article Reischauer speaks to the idea that professional women in Japan are rare, as most women are married before they have a chance to gain this status. He brings up two interlinked points; the first is that the cost of such an education is wasted, as a women is expected to become a housewife. Secondly since she is expected to marry, women are considered temporary employees and thus are not often employed in positions that will allow for an escalation in their position and wages.
The Japanese culture, according to Reischauer's article suggest that although, there is more equality in the workplace. The female still runs the house hold, and raise the children. Women may not have equality in the workplace, but the males do not have equality in the home. According to Reischauer the female is the stronger willed, and psychologically more stable of the sexes. This is visible in the film Minbo, as the female lawyer was obviously stronger psychologically than the males who were under her. In Minbo, Mahiru Inoue, the female lawyer also portrayed the small percentage of women who are professionals. She was also single, this may be a reflection of the societal norm. In the article Reischauer speaks to the idea that professional women in Japan are rare, as most women are married before they have a chance to gain this status. He brings up two interlinked points; the first is that the cost of such an education is wasted, as a women is expected to become a housewife. Secondly since she is expected to marry, women are considered temporary employees and thus are not often employed in positions that will allow for an escalation in their position and wages.
In Minbo most of the women seen were secretaries (Office Ladies) or waitresses, this corresponds to Reischauer's notion that most women, with there lesser education and between school and marriage, are employed in menial jobs. Even the office ladies who, according to Reischauer, would be of a slightly higher education than the waitress or check in girl, was expected to serve coffee to the men and be some what of a servant. This was also seen in Minbo when the General Managers secretary brought him coffee and shuffled away.
Women in Japan seem to have come to terms or are more comfortable with their roll\place within the society and see their house work and raising of the next generation as an acceptable role. Women, still have a dominant roll, in Minbo we see some of this when the one male, is on the phone with his mother about what to have for dinner. He gives her full control over these decisions, and seems to have a hard time, to hang up, or to offend her. Reischauer talks of the male of the society being excessively attached and dependent on their mothers. In Minbo this was again shown by the grown mans call home, as a child would, to find out what is for dinner and make sure that his mother knows where he is. It is also shown through the lawyer and the way she mothers the men under her, until they can stand up on their own.
The Japanese societies view towards women, are mixed and in many ways not that different from our own. In some ways it may be more liberated although the labour is divided, Men go out and work, women stay home and work. Each responsible for their part of the families welfare. Western culture sees this as discriminatory, but western society does not put house work in the same category as business. As Reischauer points out it would not be “lady like” to be the visibly stronger sex., although the female is regarded to have a stronger character, at least psychologically. In many ways they have come to terms with sex rolls, unlike their western counterparts, who are still trying to define them. The Japanese culture although outwardly male dominated has a women's influence. The women raise the children, and have more contact with them. This early and continual contact with the mother must influence the grown males ideals and world view. The roll of raising children is not unworthy and the Japanese female takes this duty seriously although it may be to her detriment as an employable person. In the west we would like men and women to be identical and replaceable doing away with any gender roll and although outwardly more liberated, western society has done this, probably to the detriment of the next generations. To have an equality in the workforce, mothers had to leave their children to be raised by others and with in groups.
Women in Japan seem to have come to terms or are more comfortable with their roll\place within the society and see their house work and raising of the next generation as an acceptable role. Women, still have a dominant roll, in Minbo we see some of this when the one male, is on the phone with his mother about what to have for dinner. He gives her full control over these decisions, and seems to have a hard time, to hang up, or to offend her. Reischauer talks of the male of the society being excessively attached and dependent on their mothers. In Minbo this was again shown by the grown mans call home, as a child would, to find out what is for dinner and make sure that his mother knows where he is. It is also shown through the lawyer and the way she mothers the men under her, until they can stand up on their own.
The Japanese societies view towards women, are mixed and in many ways not that different from our own. In some ways it may be more liberated although the labour is divided, Men go out and work, women stay home and work. Each responsible for their part of the families welfare. Western culture sees this as discriminatory, but western society does not put house work in the same category as business. As Reischauer points out it would not be “lady like” to be the visibly stronger sex., although the female is regarded to have a stronger character, at least psychologically. In many ways they have come to terms with sex rolls, unlike their western counterparts, who are still trying to define them. The Japanese culture although outwardly male dominated has a women's influence. The women raise the children, and have more contact with them. This early and continual contact with the mother must influence the grown males ideals and world view. The roll of raising children is not unworthy and the Japanese female takes this duty seriously although it may be to her detriment as an employable person. In the west we would like men and women to be identical and replaceable doing away with any gender roll and although outwardly more liberated, western society has done this, probably to the detriment of the next generations. To have an equality in the workforce, mothers had to leave their children to be raised by others and with in groups.
After watching the movie, and reading the article on groups in Japan, the idea of Japan being a group based society does seem to be correct. Reischauer, talks of how this has changed somewhat during the last century. The film Minbo shows this group mentality in a few ways.
Firstly, the yakuza are an obvious group, and were never shown as singular units. There were always others around. The way the yakuza is organized, seems to hearken back to how Japan use to use village groups, with each household being an entity in the larger organization. Within the group there are smaller groups each taking care of itself, but for the good of the larger entity.
The film shows the group mentality through the different departments in the Europa hotel. Each section, accounting, dinning room, front desk, all were individual groups. Each group taking care of its business, but still being a part of a larger group. The larger group, in some ways controls these smaller groups. The lower yakuza for instance, took care of simple street business, but has a group above it, that they must not dishonor. Just as the hotel staff, were not to dishonor the hotel. Another example of this grouping mentality is when the one staff member is framed, the company tries to help him, but if they fail, he is to resign to save the companies face(the good of the company over the individual). Both the head Yakuza and Hotel owner were treated as family heads, although the family is the business. The yakuza tattoo's also show a group association, although in many ways different from western gang related tattoos here.
As Reischauer points out that the individual in Japanese society is not disregarded, rather individuality is not for public consumption. The group provides security to the individual, and gives them a place to be, reason to belong and contact with others. This group mentality means that no one person is responsible for success and no one is responsible for a failure either. This allows the individual more freedom, as they are watched and checked by others within the group. So no one person or entity should be worth more than another in the same position\field.
Firstly, the yakuza are an obvious group, and were never shown as singular units. There were always others around. The way the yakuza is organized, seems to hearken back to how Japan use to use village groups, with each household being an entity in the larger organization. Within the group there are smaller groups each taking care of itself, but for the good of the larger entity.
The film shows the group mentality through the different departments in the Europa hotel. Each section, accounting, dinning room, front desk, all were individual groups. Each group taking care of its business, but still being a part of a larger group. The larger group, in some ways controls these smaller groups. The lower yakuza for instance, took care of simple street business, but has a group above it, that they must not dishonor. Just as the hotel staff, were not to dishonor the hotel. Another example of this grouping mentality is when the one staff member is framed, the company tries to help him, but if they fail, he is to resign to save the companies face(the good of the company over the individual). Both the head Yakuza and Hotel owner were treated as family heads, although the family is the business. The yakuza tattoo's also show a group association, although in many ways different from western gang related tattoos here.
As Reischauer points out that the individual in Japanese society is not disregarded, rather individuality is not for public consumption. The group provides security to the individual, and gives them a place to be, reason to belong and contact with others. This group mentality means that no one person is responsible for success and no one is responsible for a failure either. This allows the individual more freedom, as they are watched and checked by others within the group. So no one person or entity should be worth more than another in the same position\field.