Fureai

For the band, see Fureai (band).

Fureai ( _ja. ふれあい) is a Japanese term to refer to the formation of emotional connection between people of different age group and/or profession within the community.

Linguistic definition

The word "Fureai" is composed of "Fure" (of "Fureru" ( _ja. 触 _ja. れる), to touch/contact) and "ai" ( _ja. あい, a sign to show the mutuality). "Fureai" means approximates the English expressions for "mutual touch" or "mutual contact".

Generally, the word "Fureai"" is used in the following contexts:

* Only applied for socially-beneficial realms (such as welfare, education and environmental protection)
* Evaluates emotional relationship while excluding exchange of technical knowledge and/or arrangement of political/economic interests
* makes it necessary that humans (or between human(s) and animals) keep in physically-direct touch, excluding connections by Internet, mobile phones and other IT devices.

The following are examples of correct usage in Japan:

* "Fureai" between children and nurses at a kindergarten
* "Fureai" between children and animals at a zoo
* "Fureai" with the Mother Nature
* "Fureai" between an enka singer and the elderly
* "Fureai" between nurses and patients

The following examples would not be correct Japanese usage:

* "Fureai" by way of Internet
* "Fureai" between Yakuzas and Politicians
* "Fureai" between executives of local businesses
* "Fureai" among IT experts

History of usage

"Fureai" is a relatively recent addition to Japanese, first usage recorded in the 1970s and 1980s [ [http://mazzan.at.infoseek.co.jp/lesson11.html link] (in Japanese))] .

The acceptance of Fureai reflects Japan's socioeconomic transformation, particularly the collapse of traditional communities. Most Japanese had been living, since its economic growth in 1950s and 1960s, in their rural community with agriculture, fishing and/or forestry as its main industry, with their own extended family where the elderly lived together with their offspring, but the popularization of nuclear family and individualism made some people, especially the elderly, suffer from the social exclusion. The traditional childrearing method also disappeared as a result of such a social change, giving rise to delinquency in the adolescence and the concept "Fureai" became popular in Japan as a means to solve such social issues by trying to create their emotional relationship.

Difference from "Solidarity"

Some people may point out that "Fureai" is similar to "Solidarity," but it is in fact wrong. "Solidarity" refers to the union of people with different social status, such as students and workers or housewives and the elderly, in order to achieve their common social goal. In "Fureai," on the other hand, people do not aim to achieve any goal at all but to offer some emotional connection to satisfy others. They try to satisfy people psychologically by showing some sympathy to those who are emotionally thirsty just like they try to give water to those who are physically thirsty.

ee also

* Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft
* Fureai Kippu

References