Why do the Japanese care so much about your blood type?

Question

In normal conversation....

Answer 1

In Japan, you are what you bleed. Blood type is a common way of defining temperament and personality, much like horoscopes in Western countries.

It all started in 1931 in Japan. Furukawa Takeji (1891–1940) proposed that there was a link between blood type and personality after working in the administration department of a high school and observing the temperamental differences between applicants.

Furukawa proposed that we humans are simple beings, only requiring two personality types. His report stated that people of blood type A were generally mild tempered and intellectual, while people of blood type B were the opposite, essentially dividing the population into the “good” and the “bad.”

A great deal of research went into blood psychology in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, mainly in Japan. Masahiko and Toshitaka Nomi, a father and son team, were responsible for making this a mainstream science, having researched the way in which blood type affects every area of our lives, including relationships, work and leisure.

In Japan, blood type has influenced peoples lives in unexpected ways. For instance, some Japanese companies have planned departments around the blood types of their workforce. A baseball coach is reported to have used it in the selection of his teams.

During World War II, Japan’s Imperial Army is rumoured to have formed battle groups according to blood type, while a kindergarten has reportedly adapted its methods of teaching along the same lines. The class is split according to blood type, and then different teaching techniques are used depending on the group. It is also used extensively in dating services as a good indicator of potential matches.

In 1930, after the blood type/personality link was first suggested, a new blank for blood type was added to job application forms, in order to better assess the potential employees’ temperament. As recently as 1997, the subject attracted enough attention to warrant four out of the five Japanese TV channels to broadcast programmes on the subject. Even today there is a daily forecast on morning television.

Discussing blood type is a key part of introductions. Any high school kid worth their salt will never fail to enquire as to your blood type, as any western teenager would do with star signs.

An industry has grown around the humble foundation laid down by Furukawa, so that you can now buy blood type chewing gum, soft drinks, calendars and even blood type condoms! The condoms are all the same, but contain different instructions for each blood group on how to approach the sexual encounter!
Why so popular in Japan?
90% of the Japanese know their blood type.
38% of Japan's population
is Type A.

Blood type was a contentious issue in the 1920’s and 30’s. The interest in blood types in Japan grew as a reaction against Western racism. Scientists in the west found that type B was common in Asia, but rare in Caucasians. As type B was typical in animals, they argued that Asians were inferior, lower on the evolutionary scale. Japanese scientists were keen to disprove this ludicrous theory, debate continued and it became a popular “ology.”

Masao Ohmura, a professor of personality psychology at Nihon University doesn’t believe that blood type has any bearing on personality. He suggests that the reason for the popularity of blood typology in Japan is because the Japanese are genetically quite a homogeneous race, but don’t want to seem the same. The Japanese population, however, has a fairly even distribution of a number of blood types. Hence, if grouped by blood type, diversity is created, even if it is only the illusion of diversity.

In Europe and America, however, the vast majority of people are type A or O, with only a few type B’s and even fewer AB’s. Therefore, most people would fall into two personality categories, an either/or choice of temperament, possibly explaining why blood typology has not been a big hit overseas in the past.

Interestingly, 90% of the Japanese know their blood type, although whether this is the reason the fad became so popular or a consequence of its popularity is not certain. In contrast, their European and American peers are blissfully unaware of not only their blood type, but also the “blood typology” phenomenon.

Of course, if you are a type AB or O you will probably dismiss all of this blood-analysis out of hand as New Age mumbo jumbo, but the more sensitive type A's or B's may want to discover more…

Answer 2

I suggest you get your blood retested or check with parents to be sure (tell them your blood type). If your mom is O+, then you most likely should have gotten O, O is dominant. Or you should have been an A+ from your dad. If your dad was A+, it is possible that he is actually a AB+ (or one of your parents is maybe not your bio parent), which is where you could have gotten the B from. Since both parents have the Rh factor of +, then that is why you you are +. Parent 1+parent 2=child A+O=A or O (you should either be an A or an O, unless one parent is not you bio parent or you were adopted). A+A=A A+B=AB B+O= B or O B+B=B B+A=AB O+A=O or A O+B=O or B O+O=O A can only donate to A and AB types. B can only donate to B and AB. AB can donate to A, B, and AB. O can donate to A, B, AB, and O. Recipients: A can only receive A blood type. B can only receive B. AB can receive A, B and AB. O can only receive O. Same concept applies to the Rh factor; + can only receive +, - can only receive -. If people receive a blood type that doesn't match their own, their own body defense attack because of the antigen (body will recognize the antigens as foreign). Rh factor differences can be dangerous, especially for pregnant women. Considering yours is different from either parents Blood type A has the a-antigen. B has the b-antigen. O has no antigens. When they check to see what blood type you have, there is a serum they use. First they have 3 slides (the ones they use in science experiments). 1st slide has a drop of the a-antigen serum. 2nd slide has drop of b-antigen serum. 3rd slide has the Rh factor serum (+ and -) Drop of your blood is placed in each of those slides with the serum and mixed. If clotting occurs in the samples (they look like little dots), then there was a reaction to the serum. If reaction occurred in both a and b antigen serums, blood type is AB. If it only occurred in one (a or b antigen serum), then your blood type is either A or B, If no reaction, then blood type is O. If clotting occurs in the Rh factor slide, then your Rh factor is positive (+). If no clotting then you are Rh negative (-).

Answer 3

I know! I have lived in Japan and Korea. Bothe of those countries go off of blood type rather than horoscope. Check this link out. They ask blood type so that they can see what kind of personality you have.(it is a bunch of BS like the horoscope but many Southeast Asians believe in categorizing personality based on blood types.

Answer 4

How many Japanese have you talked too. I have never been asked by a Japanese person what my blood type is> i have been told by a Filipino nurse after giving blood what my blood type is . Maybe you have stumbled into a Japanese coven of blood sucking vampires. My great uncle had that happen to him and we had to lock him in the basement.Whatever you do don't tell him and Japanese vampires are not afraid of garlic they cant have Wasabi mustard. I hope i have helped.

Answer 5

Some think your blood type shapes your personality.

Answer 6

Because they believe that the blood type tells you about the person.Kinda like a horoscope.

TRUE FACTS!

Answer 7

Once they dominate the world's economy and have no use for us as consumers they are planning to calve us all up and drink our blood, maybe?

Answer 8

i've never met a Japanese vampire but i guess that doesn't mean they're not out there

Answer 9

What? Never heard of this - please elaborate. Maybe the Japanese people you are talking to are all phlebotemists?

Answer 10

do they?