A Guide to Learning Japanese Language and Culture (Simultaneously a Guide to English and Western Culture)—

A Guide to Learning Japanese Language and Culture (Simultaneously a Guide to English and Western Culture)— Deciphering the (Quasi-)Isomorphisms across Modern Philosophy, Modern Mathematics, Nihonjinron, and Medicine using Japanese and English —Introduction: Language Learning is Learning the "OS of a Worldview"Deeply understanding the theory of the Japanese language is actually the greatest shortcut to mastering modern philosophy and foreign languages.Furthermore, from there, it is possible to skew-spit seemingly disparate academic fields—such as "Structuralism vs. Realism" in modern thought, "Set Theory vs. Category Theory" in mathematics, and "Morphology vs. Physiology" in medicine—understanding them as "Isomorphisms".Ideally, such a "General Theory (understanding the OS)" is essential for deep learning, but school education often ends up focusing solely on specifics. As a result, people are forced to make inefficient efforts in English learning and other areas.In this essay, by contrasting Japanese and English, I aim to visualize the "cultural divide and the bridge" that goes beyond mere language learning, offering readers a sense of "intellectual value" akin to a packed assortment sale.Chapter 1: Japanese is a Language Premised on "Incompleteness"1. Conclusion: Words Cannot Convey EverythingFirst, to state the conclusion: Japanese is a "High-Context" language. It is constructed on the premise (Furyu-monji / Non-reliance on text) that "it is impossible to convey something completely through words."This can be described as "Non-Logos."To put it extremely, Japanese does not assume that a single sentence can convey everything.Even when layering multiple sentences and mobilizing non-verbal expressions and the atmosphere of the place, one is never convinced that the message was "completely conveyed." Rather, it is a language that knows that "the essence falls away the moment it is put into words."2. English is a Language that "Completes the World with Words"In contrast, English has the background of the biblical cultural sphere where "In the beginning was the Word (Gospel according to John)." It is designed with the philosophy (Logos Supremacy) that "all intended meaning can be encapsulated within a single sentence."English evolved aiming to be a language like a "contract," where subject, verb, tense, and number are strictly defined, and meaning is understood even without context.Chapter 2: There is No "Subject" in Japanese (A Predicate-Centered Solar System)1. The Subject Abolition TheoryFearlessly risking misunderstanding, I assert: There is no Subject in Japanese.As Akira Mikami proposed in his "Subject Abolition Theory," the subject in Japanese is not an essential component but merely a type of optional "modifier.""Wa" (は): A marker that presents the "Theme.""Ga" (が): A marker that presents the "Focus of new information."2. Predicate CentrismWhile English constructs sentences centering on the "Subject (Actor)," Japanese revolves around the "Predicate (Event)."As long as there is a predicate (event) like "eating" or "beautiful," information about "who" (subject) and "what" (object) can be omitted by entrusting it to the context or the "field." Japanese is a language that describes not "Things" but "Events (Phenomena)."Chapter 3: [Mathematical & Philosophical Contrast] Set Theoretic English vs. Category Theoretic JapaneseThis is the highlight of this essay. When we organize these linguistic differences within the frameworks of mathematics and philosophy, a surprisingly beautiful correspondence emerges.1. English = Set Theoretic & RealismMathematical Perspective: English is "Set Theory." It is obsessed with defining that a firm "Element ($I$)" exists and determining "which Set it belongs to" (e.g., "$I$ am a student.").Shutterstock詳しく見るPhilosophical Perspective: This is "Realism." It is a Logos-centered approach that attempts to construct the world by assuming individuals (atoms) exist and naming them.2. Japanese = Category Theoretic & StructuralismMathematical Perspective: Japanese is "Category Theory." It has no interest in the content of the object ($I$). The protagonists are the "Morphisms (Arrows)" which are the predicates, and the "Composition" of those arrows using auxiliary verbs (e.g., tabe-sase-rare-tai / want to be made to eat).As "Yoneda's Lemma" suggests, the essence of an object is determined by the "bundle of relationships." In Japanese, "$I$" is an existence defined only within relationships with others (honorifics and giving/receiving verbs).Philosophical Perspective: This is "Structuralism." It aligns perfectly with the idea that meaning is generated not by the elements themselves, but by the relationships (structure) between elements.Chapter 4: [Medical Contrast] Application to Morphology and PhysiologyThis contrast of "Realism (Set Theory) vs. Structuralism (Category Theory)" can be applied directly to medical studies.1. Morphology (Anatomy/Pathology) = Set Theoretic & RealismAnatomy: The work of classifying organs and cells by "name" and determining "which group they belong to." This is "Set Theoretic Thinking" (English style). The overwhelming reality that "the liver is here" is important.Shutterstock詳しく見る2. Physiology (Physiology/Biochemistry) = Category Theoretic & StructuralismPhysiology: How substance A changes into substance B and flows (Metabolic Map). This is "Category Theoretic Thinking (Composition of Arrows)" (Japanese style). The "Process (Function)" is more important than the organ itself, and a structuralist perspective is needed to view the balance of the entire system (Homeostasis).Shutterstock詳しく見るMedical students can dramatically improve their learning efficiency by switching their OS: "English Brain (Set Theory)" when learning Anatomy, and "Japanese Brain (Category Theory)" when learning Physiology.Conclusion: The Limits of Logos and What Lies BeyondThere are two major poles in the view of language.One is "Logos Supremacy (Language = World)," which has driven Western modernity.The other is "Non-Logos Supremacy (Language < World)," which lies beyond the extension of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.The latter is a humble stance that "language can only describe a small part of the world" and "words are merely imperfect approximations (imitations) for cutting out the world."The former (English, Christianity, Science) once swept the world, but modern philosophy and modern physics have coincidentally arrived at a worldview closer to the latter (Buddhism, Japanese sensibility, Complexity).When Japanese people learn English, or when foreigners learn Japanese, simply being aware of this "Difference in OS (Realism vs. Structuralism)"—beyond just memorizing vocabulary and grammar—will dramatically change how the world looks.This should serve as a modest yet powerful "Intellectual Literacy" to connect a divided world.