Koreans and Japanese are very similar in their mentality, but under the surface there are some crucial differences. These differences are sometimes even bigger than when compared with those between either of the two and people in other parts of the world.

• Form vs. Substance

In many aspects of Japanese culture and life form is regarded as very important whereas in Korea it is less so. In Korea contents (or substance) are more highly valued, and importance is usually imposed on them.

Let’s consider, for instance, cuisine. Needless to say, Japanese foods are stunningly beautiful in the eye. Food containers are also colourful and attractive. In Korean cuisine mainly vessels of a white colour and neutral tones are used. This is originally out of the concern that lest the food containers should dominate the food itself.

In a similar way, many Japanese snacks are packaged beautifully in many layers. When the content eventually reveals its scanty, Koreans are amused by such complicated packaging and also disappointed with the thought of what the use of the complicated packages is.

Importance of form has led Japanese ceremonies to being complicated and taking much time. In sumo competitions the ritual ceremony seems to last forever, whereas each actual fighting usually ends as soon as it begins. In Korean ssireum competitions, in contrast, the rituals are quite simple and short in the sense of time consuming. If they were like those for Japanese sumo, many Koreans would hiss and demand by shouting: Jesus! Bring the contesters to the sand now. Or, refund my ticket.

Another example is tea ceremony. Korea also has a traditional tea ceremony, but it is not as much valued as in Japan. It is simpler and more casual as well. Koreans just like to relax sipping their tea, instead of going through a tedious formal ceremony.

• Perfection vs. Imperfection

For me, Japanese seem to be obsessed to make things perfect. Their streets are peckless, houses are so neat, and moreover, their industrial products appear flawless. Koreans have such traits but they seldom go too far.

I will make this point more clearly using brief examples of architecture and pottery.

Traditional Japanese wooden houses mainly have straight lines in appearance. And the beams, pillars and frames of paper doors are very regular in shape and they are at regular intervals. In traditional Korean architecture timber of perfect shape is not necessarily regarded highest in quality. And some of a little irregular shape and unusual grains are loved by architects and ordinary people. Unconsciously probably, perfectness is something to be avoid as it is the very point from which descending and rotting begin. When the moon becomes full, it is to decrease, as an old saying goes.

The quintessential aesthetics of Japanese pottery is also very different from Korean aesthetics.

What is it, then?

Boldness and impection quality. Koreans do not like to fill the surface of pottery with patterns or pictures whereas Jappanese have that tendency as Chinese do. Just a image of a simple flower, birds or a dragon in a brown or black colour is more than enough in many Korean pottery pieces. And the shape is not always perfect. This is not because of technical flaw but because of the said mentality. Deliberate impectionness is one of major parts of Korean aesthetics and culture.

• “What I want to see” vs. “What you should see”

Japanese has a highly developed mental ability to see only what they want to see.

Bonsai, for an example. Do you know how much effort should be made to create a charming bonsai work? How many pieces of wire are needed? How many days the plant should survive without being watered to satisfy the gardener with its poor development? How many plants should lose its main stem to look like a dwarf just with one of its small branch left.

When I saw Japanese bonsai works, I was appalled by the cruel way they were controlled by the artists. The plants were severely molested by all means of cutting, wiring, being deformed and so on. From that time I have been entrapped by certain opinions about Japanese mentality: they have a strong tendency to see only what they want to see.

They do not like to see “unnecessary” branches and foliage in a tree, in order to make a beautiful bonsai work. They are willing to cut many flowers and twigs off plants to make a beautiful ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arrangement) as well.

Similarly, they do not want to see some “stains” in their history. They are people of pure blood from lineage of gods. So they have never done anything wrong. If there is anything like that, it should be erased.

The problem is that, however, they have a neighbour, who is very much moral-bound, especially about history. Koreans are more concerned about what really happened rather than what we want to believe as having happened.

Despite some apparent similarities between Japanese and Koreans, there are big differences in their mentality and values. It is not surprising that they occasionally regard each other as a riff raff.