Fans of Japanese culture, and in particular martial arts, often use additional suffix words with their names. They denote a person's belonging to a particular rank in the system of titles, ranks, dan. Such a tradition has been preserved since antiquity and still remains. There are frequent cases of erroneous or double interpretation of such terms as sensei, shihan, soke, kaito and others. Who is senpai in this case? Does it make sense to use this term when communicating not in Japanese culture?
Senpai: meaning
The literal Japanese character is translated as "comrade" or "standing in front." Sometimes it is added to a person’s name and means that he has a certain experience and knowledge in a certain field. Most often, the term is used in educational institutions, colleges, martial arts schools, sports sections and has a special meaning.
The words senpai and kohai are antonyms. They are used to clearly divide students into grades. Kokhai is a student who has recently come to school, and senpai is more experienced, has been practicing for some time, knows certain rules and can become a mentor to others.
Age and previous merits in other schools and sections do not matter. Even a relatively young student, for years, can be a senp for an elderly person with a higher dan or rank.
Japanese traditions
The culture of this country is such that a senior – junior relationship has existed since antiquity. The family value system is of particular importance in Japan. Father will always be untouchable. He is the only one who has full power. The eldest son will inherit all his rights.
Who is Senpai in modern Japan? It is believed that the established traditional senior-junior ties are gradually weakening. New generations are moving to a different style of communication, closer to the Western model. In modern schools in Japan, one can hear how senpai are also called pupils or students who graduated a year earlier.
However, a self-respecting Japanese will not start a conversation at the table until the status of all those present is determined. Also, older workers and employees in companies have a status slightly higher than young ones. Moreover, remuneration, incentives and bonuses are also based on seniority, regardless of a person’s abilities.
Features
What does senpai mean to determine rights and responsibilities? The unwritten rules determine the obligation of a lower-ranking participant in the system to execute orders of a senior in rank. Kochai should respect the senpai and unquestioningly carry out his petty assignments. He, in turn, is obliged to look after his less experienced student and be responsible for him to a higher leader.
Who is senpai for kohai? Seniority is possible only in a homogeneous environment: sports section, martial arts school, company department, enterprise workshop. That is, a more experienced locksmith cannot be a job for an accountant who just arrived at the enterprise, and vice versa.
Who is senpai in buddha
The variety of schools, techniques, trends and trends of Japanese martial arts makes it possible for even a relatively young student to be a student for a newcomer who has just arrived. And this does not depend on how old anyone is, where the experience was gained, what rank was assigned and what achievements anyone has. Anyway, a student who has spent more time at school will know better about the rules and customs, which means that he has the right to be senior.
Who is senpai in the learning process? Theoretically, he knows more about his kind of martial art. But kohai may be more successful in training and will soon be able to get the highest rank. But he will still remain in the same position for the remaining time, although he will be higher in class. Senpai is essentially the same student. He, along with the younger ones, learns technique, techniques, hones his skills. However, it is he who can communicate more closely with the head of the school. Kochai are, as it were, enclosed by a wall of senpai from Sensei.
However, senpai for his ward cannot be an absolute commander. Obviously kohai should be obeyed only by the school teacher, Sensei. At the same time, senpai may also give instructions regarding etiquette, manners and rules of conduct in a particular case.
Analogies
What does senpai mean in relation to our culture and established traditions? The term “grandfather” used in the army can serve as the most suitable equivalent of such a relationship. Kochai are just as often infringed upon as young employees. Although this is considered an improper relationship, the leadership of the units often turns a blind eye to such facts if they do not go far beyond the framework of traditionally established rules.
Moreover, often just such a submission makes it possible to accustom only newcomers who have come to new customs and etiquette. Although not everyone likes it, the system is designed in such a way that changing the game conditions does not work. Beginners understand this and quickly adapt to the new rules. It will take some time and soon they themselves will go up a notch in the hierarchy. Having become more experienced, having studied the charter, they themselves will become senpai for beginners who have just come into the system and take their previous place.