Hiragana Times: "Japanese are a Clone-like Race"

I find the claim of Hiragana Times that "Japanese are a Clone-like Race" is very problematic. Earlier this year Hiragana Times had an article: "Japanese are a Clone-like Race", which tries to help forigners understan the "strange" japanese. I assumed that the article had been written by a forigner who enjoyed repeating stereotypes, but I now realize that it was actually a Japanese man who wrote this.

It find "Clone-like Race" a dedrading term which gives associations to "robot". Further it denies the obvious very great variation in personalities, points of view and lifestyles which are so appearent for anyone who know japanese.

Do you think that it is fair to describe Japanese as a Clone-like Race?

Han Chan said:

Japanese as a Clone-like Race?

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Don't Japanese present themselves as such,group-mentality is a highly valued trait in their culture.

I think Kirby is probably correct - Japanese people portray themselves, generally, in this way. It's only human to develop independent personalities, points of view, lifestyles...but many cultures seem to present themselves as being of the group-mentality, at first glance.

It does seem a bit strange that it was a Japanese person who wrote the article, even though it is one of the cultures where 'group' mentality is seen as being a postive thing. Because 'clone-like' strikes an insulting note. ☝ But maybe that's how it comes across in translation, and doesn't have the same nuance in Japanese? :?

Personally, I think that anyone who really thinks a race/nation/culture is 'clone-like' needs to think a bit deeper, because everyone is an individual and no race is really homogenous (sp?!) - just that some cultures put more emphasis on it as a good point than others. But probably he just used that as an attention-grabbing title to make his point... :?

"Clone-like?" Don't know if I'd use that term to describe Japanese people. :? I would also agree that Japan has a very strong group mentality trait. I also believe that Japan is one of those nations where conformity is strongly emphasized. I would also have to agree with Kinsao about looking a bit deeper, even in a society where the group mentality is dominant.

kirby36 said:

Don't Japanese present themselves as such,group-mentality is a highly valued trait in their culture.

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I agree to you.
The group mentality is still a large part of Japanese characteristics. If all of vectors of 'diversities' of like Chinese or American might be the same direction, Japan would perish on the earth.