#17: The Persistence and Change of Senpai/Kohai Relationship of Native Japanese Speakers in the United States — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
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James Ripley

#17: The Persistence and Change of Senpai/Kohai Relationship of Native Japanese Speakers in the United States

Name: Mira Parker
Major: Japanese
Hometown: De Forest
Faculty Sponsor: Yan Wang
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis
Funding: N/A

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the persistence and change of the senpai/kohai relationship among Japanese speakers who live in the United States. Senpai/kohai is a hierarchical interpersonal and interdependent relationship that plays an important role in Japanese society. For context, a senpai is a person who has more seniority, such as a senior in high school or a worker for a company who has been there five years vs. one year. Kohai are the opposite and are those with less seniority. This research is significant because as the world becomes increasingly more globalized, there is a need to understand different cultures on a deeper level. The data will be collected by observing and analyzing the Carthage Japanese Target Language Experts’ (TLE) conversations and interactions. In addition, both current and past TLEs will be interviewed about their lives in Japan and America relating to senpai and kohai. This research is ongoing but there is an expected outcome. Despite Japanese natives still adhering to the senpai/kohai structure when talking to other Japanese they are less influenced by this concept when interacting with non-Japanese natives. Likewise, their own attitudes towards this strict relationship become more relaxed after living in a society with less hierarchical structure.

Poster file