The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CUSTOM

"GIRI" IS ONE OF THE MAJOR FORMS OF SOCIAL CUSTOM WHICH IS BASIC TO
THE JAPANESE SOCIAL STRUCTURE. ROUGHLY MEANING "MORAL OBLIGATION"
IT BINDS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS INCURRED ANY DEBT TO DISCHARGE
THIS NO MATTER THE COST OR ELSE BRING DIRE SHAME UPON HIMSELF
AND HIS FAMILY NAME. IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH "ON" (MORAL AND
MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS) AND MAINTAINS A RIGID HOLD ON JAPANESE
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THIS IS WHY JAPANESE ARE RELUCTANT TO HELP OTHERS
OUT OR ARE RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS: OF PLACING OTHERS IN MORAL OR MATERIAL DEBT
TO THEMSELVES, OR OF BEING PLACED IN SUCH AN UNCOMPROMISING AND
RIGID SITUATION. TO GIVE FREELY BECAUSE ONE WANTS TO IS NOT THE
CUSTOM IN JAPAN (AS IT IS HERE IN AMERICA).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 08-01-1964