At school, it is pretty common to look up to the older students. They've been there a while, so they usually know all there is to know about the school. They are usually the most popular, and are always on the best sports teams, so many of their underclassmen want to be like them! This may sound like your school, but I'm actually talking about Japanese schools.
Actually, the relationship between students in Japan, called "Senpai" (Upperclassmen) and "Kohai" (Underclassmen) is much more important to their culture because they view age as a way to obtain knowledge. Therefore, it is the senpai's responsibility to be an example to the kohai, and it is the kohai's responsibility to listen and learn. |
How do Senpai and Kohai Communicate?
Kohai Must Use Polite Language! Since kohai are of a lower status than the senpai, they must speak in a proper way. They use keigo, which is a system of 3 different languages meant to humbly speak, respect the person that they are talking to, and a general form for people that they are unfamiliar with.
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Senpai Can Say Whatever They Want!When talking to kohai, senpai may use whatever conversation form they wish. However, it can be pretty strange if they use proper language with someone below them in status! Therefore, it is pretty natural that they will use the shortest possible form, because it requires much less effort to say than the other forms.
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It is the Kohai's responsibility to speak properly!When kohai use the correct type of language, it lets senpai understand that kohai is showing them the respect that society expects for them. However, it's up to the senpai to be kind and patient, because one way or another, they will always be someone else's kohai, so they should treat others fairly, lest they be treated the same way.
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Difficulties in this System
Even though this relationship gives everyone a place within Japanese society, it's not perfect. This system gives advantages to people based primarily on their age, instead of their skill. For example, in a sports club, Frank-senpai is the leader because everyone else in the club is a kohai. James-kohai decides that he has a great idea for a party, but Frank-senpai doesn't like it. Because Frank-senpai gets the final word, he decides that he doesn't want to use James-kohai's idea, even though James-kohai knew that it would get more members. Therefore, James-kohai follows Frank-senpai's idea, even though he does not like it, because it maintains harmony.
Senpai-Kohai After School
Interestingly enough, the relationship between senpai and kohai doesn't simply end at school. Even after students graduate, they still refer to their alumni as senpai, even though they graduated from the school earlier. This view on age continues into the workplace, where they may not use the senpai and kohai honorifics, but they will still use polite language to acknowledge their seniority. In a way, it helps prepare Japanese teens for the adult world, when age must be respected.