In Japan, you are what your blood type is

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silverwind20 at 03:24 AM JST - 4th February

Jeez, one mention of nazis and everybody goes balistic, Frankly I have no clue what my blood type is but according to this article I could have any blood type, well maybe not type A, I'm cheerful (or at least I think I am) I'm deffinitely eccentric and selfish, I'm curious, not so much generous but as stubborn as an ox when I want to be, and I like to think I'm arty, mysterious, and unpredictable. Heh, I'm gonna laugh so hard if it turns out I'm type A.

Frankly I think it's just fine for the Japanese to have this type of thing, at least they're judging you by what's on your inside instead of what's on the outside like some people.

Also according to wikipedia (not the best source but I still rely on it) the swastika was used all over the world before the nazis particularily in India.
geboren1900 at 06:10 AM JST - 4th February

It says it was imported from "Nazi race ideologues". Did they imply that one blood type is better than another?
Disillusioned at 07:32 AM JST - 4th February

seesaw - I hope those with AB type blood are not like my boss. He's an AB blood type. A real pain-in-the-arse. Greedy, power-crazy and he uses his 'brainless' Assistant to carry out all his dirty tactics to get rid of people who are not his favourites. And he always got what he wanted. No one dares to go against him.

So, you believe in this crap. Maybe he is just a donkey's butt. Japan is run on urban myths. They'll believe anything their neighbor tells them.
Maff at 09:06 PM JST - 4th February

I didn't use to believe it, but the longer I live here the more I realize that blood type really does relate to personality. I can usually guess someone's type correctly now once I've got to know them a bit. And other people can guess mine more often than not.
otakki at 01:41 AM JST - 5th February

If you see some of the things they did to study the subject, you will find that the result is actually quite astounding. It looks like there is actually a close relationship between personality and blood type.
SmithUS at 10:53 AM JST - 5th February

Acupuncture and the idea of body energy was supposed to be a sham but now it is an accepted medical practice so never say never. Astrology is similarly considered a sham but it does seem to apply in describing people’s personalities and what behavior will compliment or contrast with your own. But there is a limit to how far something like astrology can or should dictate everyone’s lives. For instance, I think daily/monthly/yearly astrology is a sham. Me and a friend are polar opposites according to our astrological signs and believe me we are conflicting personalities but we are friends. So even if blood type personality is true, there are obviously many other factors that make people get along or not - at least in the West.

As far as Japan being a society influenced by myth and superstition, I find that interesting rather than childish or unsophisticated. If it is stupid behavior then what does that say about us for being attracted to Japan.
whyamiinjapan at 01:31 PM JST - 5th February

I tell people "I don't know" when they ask my blood type. The reaction is always "Hayyyyyyy???" I think that's funny. But I do know and have a card in my wallet in case of emergency.
drink_more_milk at 04:04 PM JST - 5th February

SmithUS, That's ridiculous. Astrology has been defunked time and again. Acupuncture was not considered a sham but rather ignored, under researched by most modern medical practitioners. Body energy is a sham (there's no such thing as "heaty" food). Blood type personality has already been proven by science to be a fallacy. People attracted to Japan for many reasons such as culture and people. Japan doesnt have a blood type so I cant really see your point. I would advice you not to put too much stock in nonsense.
Starviking at 06:37 PM JST - 5th February

@otakki,

all the scientific papers I've found on the topic show no link between blood-type and personality at all.

What is probably happening in Japanese studies is the old 'self fulfilling prophesy' thing. People who are told that they should be outgoing act outgoing, those who are told that they should be reserved are reserved, etc.
sf2k at 11:40 AM JST - 6th February

Google "blood type japan" and the first link is a Wikipedia link. Debunked as scientific racisim from the 30s, it got revived by a publisher in the 70s. Sober reading.
BrightEyes at 01:04 AM JST - 7th February

The hilarious thing about all of this is that the only matter of importance in blood types when dealing with relationships is the rh factor. If an rh positive man has a baby with an rh negative woman and that baby is also positive, then the woman can develop antibodies which will create problems for later children who are also rh positive. This can now be handled medically without too much difficulty, but it is something that people planning to have children should know.

Nevertheless, many Japanese who are obsessed with their ABO types don't have any idea about the one protein in their blood which actually could have a bearing on their relationships.
johnnyboy73 at 03:47 PM JST - 7th February

Just plain silly
ykata at 05:33 PM JST - 7th February

It's just another pseudo-science. It seems this "theory" was introduced to Japan in 1927 and has been in existance since then. I grew up in Tokyo, and always hated some airhead girls asking my blood type. People asked my blood type, then I ansered, then the reaction was usually some kind of disbelief, like "うそ。絶対O型じゃない".

Stupid, indeed.
realist at 11:02 AM JST - 9th February

Personally, I think that Aso is a B. The fascination with blood types in this country is amazing. Personally, I couldnt care less what someone`s blood type is, and I dont think it has relevance to our lives. Blood is blood, end of story. Could this be connected in some ways to Japanese xenophobia, and nihonjinron (the origins of the Japanese people theories)? Are they just trying to say that they are different from the peoples of the rest of the world, and unique, because of their blood groups?Whatever. I just think the whole thing is baloney.
ykata at 04:00 AM JST - 11th February

Could this be connected in some ways to Japanese xenophobia, and nihonjinron (the origins of the Japanese people theories)?

No. It's the same as UFO or any paranormal nonsense. Some people sell books about it and make money, but the general lack of critical thinking in Japan lets this superstition survive.