After class Wednesday a group of us went for curry. As usual, we ended up talking about how screwy it is here. But instead of the run-of-the-mill whining, we actually spent some time figuring out why Japan seems so ass-backward sometimes.

Christine mentioned that many anthropologists believe that Japanese culture affords the most freedom to young children and retirees. Starting in junior high school and lasting until retirement, individual freedom is restricted by a multitude of societal rules and expectations. The average adult Japanese spends his or her adult life doing what he or she is told, or at least what is expected, so the group remains strong and cohesive.

By contrast, anthropologists say American or Canadian culture affords the most individual freedom to grown adults, starting at 18 and lasting until retirement. Only the very young and the very old are expected to follow the seemingly arbitrary rules of society at large, to do what they are told. The average adult American or Canadian, then, is expected to do what is in his or her best interest - within reason, of course - in order to better one's individual standing.

Granted life isn't as simple as that, such a theory does go toward explaining why things are the way they are. Some people use it to make sense of the Japanese culture of 'cute', or kawaii. Hello Kitty!, Anpanman, Winnie the Pooh and all the other big-eyed, baby-faced characters are popular with grown men because those men wish to relive or return to their pre-junior high school days. Hello Kitty!, as popular rebellion, an aching for personal freedom.

It also helps explain why there are no playground supervisors at any of my elementary schools. Or why the junior high school students, half frozen and totally bored, don't have recess and only get twenty minutes for lunch. Or why the people in my office stay at work until 5:30 p.m. on a Friday - every Friday - even if there isn't any work to do. Or why in Tokyo it's 11:30 p.m. Or why so very few people seem to take vacation.

The 'me' time that comes from a measurable amount of personal freedom simply doesn't exist. If societal obligation always comes first, curry with friends late Wednesday evening doesn't fit. Unless you're eight. By which time it's time for bed.