Globalization p.1
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Japan’s Aya Takehisa
On a single day, I drink mineral water from France, tea from China and coffee from Columbia.
Photo: Chihiro Takehisa
In the morning, I had a cup of tasty and strong tea with milk. I bought the tea leaves from Ediard, a company first set up in Paris in 1845. However, the tea leaves originated from China.
When I got back to my office, I bought a cup of coffee from the canteen. The coffee beans were from Columbia.
At lunch, I went to a pizza shop. Its owner told me that he went to Italy to buy the seasoning personally. After lunch, I bought a bottle of French Evian at a convenience store.
At a meeting in the afternoon, I consumed a few Belgian mint candies. My colleagues also treated me some chocolates from Hawaii. After a day’s work, I went to enjoy a cup of coffee with some friends at Starbucks.
When I arrived home, as soon as I opened the door, my adorable Peking dog and my English short-hair cat were there to welcome me.
Based on: http://www.rice.edu/projects/topics/globalization/life-japan.htm

Globalization p.2
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Have you had experience similar to Aya’s? List below the products, raw materials and service concepts in your consumption of clothing, food and drinks, and entertainment that originate from different places in the world. Do you know their place of origin?
Food and Drink
Clothing
Name of product/raw material/service
Place of Origin
Leisure & Entertainment
Think about it.
To what extent is your daily life influenced by cultures from all over the world?

Globalization p.3
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
What new ideas has McDonald’s introduced?
(The following case studies are obtained from research studies conducted in various
Asian countries by some anthropologists. The information comes Watson, James
L.(edited) (1997),
Golden Arches East: McDonald’s in East Asia
, Stanford: Stanford
University Press 。 )
Beijing, China
Where is the spittoon?
I’ve paid for the service.
Naturally the restaurant staff will clear up the rubbish for me.
Foreigners here all clear up the rubbish themselves. This is the right manner, and the civilized way.
Grandpa, this is not a traditional Chinese restaurant.
We need to speak softly. Also, we can’t spit and litter as we wish.

Globalization p.4
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Hong Kong, China
In the 1960s and 1970s, people in Hong Kong did not yet line up for services. They pushed and squeezed to get on buses. I still remember that when McDonald’s first opened in Hong Kong in 1975, its managers had to keep reminding customers to line up for their food.
Gradually lining up became everybody’s habit.
Birthdays are not really important to the Chinese people. Only old people will hold birthday parties.
While we were young, who would ever celebrate a kid’s birthday!

Globalization p.5
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Taipei, China
I’ll never be full if I don’t eat rice for my meals.
These young people always eat fast food like hamburgers and chips and eat little rice, and yet they don’t seem to be hungry. How strange!
We have no problem encouraging students to eat fast food, especially hamburgers, at school. Lunch is placed in a decent lunch box and each food item is individually packed.
Students are used to using serviette when they eat. They know food hygiene and the manner of eating hamburger. What’s wrong with eating fast food? a school principal

Globalization p.6
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Tokyo/Osaka, Japan
When we Japanese eat, we do not touch the food with our hands, as hands are in contact with different things and are not clean. We will not eat while standing up.
Only animals eat while standing up.
McDonald’s in Japan provide very few seats and most of the time people have to stand up while eating.
Source of information:

1.
Globalization p.7
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
When we Japanese eat at home, the dishes are served one by one. But the mother/wife will serve everyone the rice with a wooden container, as an indication that we are people of the same group and what we eat is from the same rice pot.

Globalization p.8
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
1.
Based on the above information, complete the following table.
City Local culture Cultural change brought about by McDonald’s
Beijing, China  Staff of restaurants clean up  Customers clean up for for the customers themselves restaurants at fast food
 People spit in public places
 People do not spit or litter in public places.
Hong Kong,
China
 People do not line up  People develope the habit of lining up.
 People do not celebrate a kid’s birthday
 People gather together to celebrate a kid’s birthday.
Taipei, China  Without eating rice, people  won’t feel full after eating.
Hamburgers and chips, etc. can be a normal meal.
Tokyo/Osaka,
Japan
 When eating, people don’t touch the food with their
 When eating, people can touch the food with their hands and they don’t stand up when eating. hands, and they can stand up when eating.
 People eat rice from the same  Everyone eats his/her own pot. food.

Globalization p.9
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Group Discussion
Apart from economic considerations, multinational companies like McDonald’s have also brought about, directly or indirectly, changes in the daily life and culture of the local people. Are these changes good or bad?
Choose two examples from the answer to Question 1 and, using the table below, analyze how these changes affect people.
City Local culture
Cultural
Changes brought by
McDonald’s
* Delete whichever is inappropriate.


For McDonald’s
Good/bad*
Good/bad*
For local people


Good/bad*
Good/bad*

Globalization p.10
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Popular cultures of Japan and South Korea a.
Have you read any Japanese comics? If yes, which is your favorite comic or comic character? b.
Have you ever watched any Japanese TV drama series?
If yes, which is your favorite drama series? Who is your favorite
Japanese star? c.
Do you listen to Japanese popular songs?
If yes, who is your favorite Japanese pop singer? d.
Have you ever watched any South Korean TV drama series?
If yes, which is your favorite drama series? Who is your favorite
Korean star? e.
Do you listen to South Korean popular songs?
If yes, who is your favorite Korean pop singer?

Globalization p.11
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective f.
Who is considered the most popular Japanese star/singer in your class? g.
Who is considered the most popular Korean star/singer in your class? h.
Is the craze for Japanese and Korean popular culture part of globalization? Why?

Globalization p.12
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Source A
Yara Berg, from Brazil
Nowadays we can see American products anywhere in the world. In America, however, products from Asia are also becoming more and more popular.
Every day, whether in San Francisco,
Seattle or Huston, we can buy Shisheido cosmetics. We can eat sushi and sashimi at the Japanese restaurant. We can also enjoy the fantastic “Crouching Tiger Hidden
Dragon” in the cinema, and then buy take-away spring rolls at a Chinese
Photo: Eivind Berg restaurant.
I understand that many people would like to restraint the process of globalization.
They think that globalization will bring about the gradual extinction of their own culture. However, it is very difficult for us to control this situation. We can only exercise our critical thinking when we choose what is good for us or when we buy a product.
Adapted from:
1.
According to Source A, in what way is America influenced by Asia?
Suggested answer: Food and drink, entertainment and cosmetics, etc.
2.
How does the author see globalization?
Suggested answer: There is not much one can do but to accept it. One should exercise one’s critical thinking in selecting things that are good and useful.

Globalization p.13
Worksheet 4: Causes of Globalization 3: Understanding Globalization from a Cultural
Perspective
Group Discussion
Choose an item in traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong (e.g. food and drink, clothing, entertainment, festivities, etc.). Describe its important features, and analyze how it has been influenced by other cultures and the subsequent changes that have taken place.
The item:
Important features:
Influences from other cultures:
Subsequent changes: