Aarica Geitner

2/20/2020
NUTR 510

I am the dietitian, patient is: Mrs. Therese Kim

Background
I am going to be seeing Mrs. Therese Kim who is 42 years old and of Japanese descent. She

is school teacher and has a few children. She 5’4” and 154# trying to lose weight but cannot. Her

height and weight puts her at a 26.5 BMI, which is a slightly overweight status. Her recent

glucose tolerance test was borderline for diabetes.

In order to successfully counsel a patient, it is important for dietitians to respect and be aware

of the ways different cultures communicate (1). The interpersonal communication style of

Japanese Americans is very close to those of Japanese communication style but can vary from

generation to generation the more Americanized the generation becomes. Mrs. Kim is second

generation Japanese here in America so she would be called Nisei (second generation, born

in the United States). There are four main generations of Japanese Americans, Issei (first

generation, born in Japan), Nisei (second generation, born in the United States), Sansei (third

generation), and Yonsei (fourth generation).

Interpersonal communication style

Japanese Americans have a follow double structured attitude towards communication and

human interactions. There is one way you act and speak in public that meets people’s

expectations or is diplomatic and there is the way you act at home which is the true self and

attitude (3). This often happens because there is so much pressure to maintain harmony within a

group and maintain good human relationships. The Japanese communication style may be

considered as a prototype or an "ideal type" of the East Asian communication pattern.

 Most second generation do not only speak Japanese, they usually speak English and

Japanese. They keep up with the culture and language of their parents because it is important to

maintain a close relationship with their parents. Japanese also have a non-touching culture but

the longer the family, and the more generations in America, that tends to lessen.

Health beliefs

The Japanese approach to health and health care stem largely from religious and

philosophical beliefs. The dominant faiths in Japan are Shintoism and Buddhism and most

Japanese believe in both (4). When Buddhism became popular in Japan, the idea that the cause of

illness was due to an imbalance of harmony was highly emphasized. This health belief concept is

still present in Japan, as an aspect of health that is taken seriously in Japan is stress-induced

illness. As a result, more stress relievers that focus on “maintaining balance” are emphasized in

Japanese culture. For Japanese Americans, the influence of western medicine and health beliefs

may or may not play into how they take care of themselves and what they believe (4).

Food preparation techniques and possible food preferences.

Japanese foods are prepared in numerous ways, such as broiled, grilled, simmered in

liquid, steamed and deep fried. Key staples in a traditional Japanese diet include rice, soy beans,

and tea. Popular food items that include these staples include sushi, tofu, and miso. However,

Japanese American diets are becoming less traditional and more westernized with each

generation. For example, Japanese Americans will consume less tea and less fruits and

vegetables. Additionally, later generations of Japanese Americans consume more animal fats and

simple carbohydrates while they eat less complex carbohydrates (5).

References

1. Holli BB, Beto JA. Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills for
Dietetics Professionals. 6th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;
2014:242.
2. Japanese americans. Countries and Their Cultures.
http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Japanese-Americans.html. Accessed February
23, 2020.
3. Itoh, Youichi. Socio-cultural backgrounds of Japanese interpersonal communication ...
Civilisations. Revue internationale d'anthropologie et de sciences humaines.
https://journals.openedition.org/civilisations/1652. Published July 6, 2009. Accessed
February 23, 2020.
4. Blanch L. Healthcare Beliefs of the Japanese. Synonym.
https://classroom.synonym.com/healthcare-beliefs-japanese-12859.html. Published June
24, 2018. Accessed February 26, 2020.
5. Japanese Food: The Basics. Japanese Culture - Food & Drink - The Basics.
https://www.japan-zone.com/culture/food.shtml. Published 2018. Accessed February 25,
2020.