Understanding Japanese Culture

A Place to Belong explores the Japanese culture. The first evening Hanako and her family were with her grandparents, Hanako and Kagako offer to help Baachan with dinner. Baachan repeatedly insists she does not need their help, saying they must be tired from traveling. Hanako, however, knows that Baachan is simply being a good Japanese hostess, because “the Japanese way was to say no even when you meant yes” (Location 1055). She earned Baachan's permission to help by saying her mother will be displeased if she does not help.

Hanako's father, Tadashi, was the only son of the family, and he was utterly spoiled by his parents, which is another tradition of the Japanese culture. Hanako believes “it was all right to spoil kids when you didn't have much to give them” (Location 1140), but she also notes that Papa does not act as if he...