In Japan, blood types are commonly brought up in conversations. A lot of people tend to categorize characteristics based on blood types, such as “A person with blood type A tends to be like…”. Today, we will explore why this belief is so popular. Read on to find out the reason!

In Japan, the majority of the population knows their own blood type. Here’s why. Japanese people have a special interest in blood types, and this fascination has become deeply rooted in society and culture.

There are said to be three main reasons why blood types have gained so much attention.

First of all, in 1920, psychologist Takeji Furukawa published a theory about the relationship between blood type and personality traits. Although this theory lacked strong scientific evidence, it sparked interest and drew the attention of many Japanese people toward blood types.

Second of all, in the 1970s, Masahiko Nomi published a book about blood types and personality traits, which triggered the second boom of blood type fascination. The media, including television and magazines, actively spread information about blood types, further accelerating the trend.

Lastly, Japanese society tends to prioritize the group over individuals, which leads to a strong desire to understand themselves and others through blood types as a common indicator. Additionally, another reason why blood types have gained such great interest is that blood type fortune telling and personality assessments serve as a form of communication tool.

These are the main reasons why blood types became widely recognized among Japanese people, ultimately becoming deeply ingrained in society and culture.

By the way, if you have ever been asked about your blood type by a Japanese person, do you have any idea why they ask about it?

The answer is related to the three reasons explained earlier: the idea of analyzing characteristic tendencies through blood type diagnosis, which links blood type to personality traits. This has become a tool for understanding oneself and others. Additionally, blood types are often brought up in first interactions or conversations with friends. It helps smooth the flow of conversation while allowing people to speculate about each other’s personalities and compatibility based on their blood types. Japanese people tend to prioritize the group over the individual and have a strong desire to understand themselves and others through blood types as a common indicator. Furthermore, blood type fortune telling, along with blood type-based products and services, also contributes to the growing interest in blood types.

In terms of blood transfusion medicine, blood types are crucial information. If the wrong blood type is transfused, it can cause severe side effects, potentially leading to fatal accidents. Because of this, there are many opportunities to test blood types in Japan, resulting in the majority of people knowing their own blood types.

While the correlation between blood type and personality is not always entirely accurate, here we will introduce the general personality traits commonly associated with each blood type.

A type’s personality strengths include being meticulous, serious, polite, cooperative, considerate, and hardworking, while their weaknesses are being nervous, overly cautious, perfectionistic, stubborn, and prone to accumulating stress.

In Japan, blood type A is the most common, and people with this blood type tend to be considerate of others and value harmony. On the other hand, they prioritize order and rules, tend to hold in their emotions, and are more likely to accumulate stress. Actually, I am also blood type A, and I personally find it very tiring to be around large groups of people. Perhaps I am overly considerate in certain situations.

B type’s personality strengths include being individualistic, free-spirited, curious, imaginative, and optimistic, while their weaknesses include being carefree, selfish, fickle, moody, and careless. They seem to enjoy freedom and excel in creativity and uniqueness.

O type’s personality strengths include leadership qualities, assertiveness, action-orientation, generosity, and sociability, while their weaknesses include being careless, selfish, fickle, and stubborn. They are often seen as optimistic and are considered the mood makers who brighten up the atmosphere.

AB type’s personality strengths include calmness, intelligence, versatility, and skillfulness, while their weaknesses include having a dual personality, being eccentric, dry, and hard to read emotionally. This group is often associated with many smart individuals.

These are the tendencies, but they are not always accurate, so it’s best to treat them as entertainment and enjoy them in that context. Personally, I don’t mind, but some people might be offended if they are labeled as “sensitive” just because they are blood type A.

It is common for Japanese people to ask about your blood type, even if you have just met them and are having your first conversation. To prepare for such situations, let’s take a look at some phrases you might encounter.

“Naomi-san, what is your blood type?”

“I’m blood type B.”

“Good to know! Mine is also type B. We’ll get along well then!”

Note: It is commonly believed that people with blood type B have good compatibility with each other.

“Hi, Chris! What is your blood type?”

“My blood type is A.”

“That makes sense! You seem very organized. I’ve seen you place all the bills facing the same way.”

“I believe that the recipe for this stew says you need a cup of water, but it’s a hassle, I’ll just go by my own measurements.”

“Wait a moment! It’s better to measure as the recipe says! Are you blood type O? Because you seem a bit careless.”

“Let me guess, you’re type A, aren’t you? You’re being too precise.”

In Japan, it’s common to bring up blood types in conversations, as shown in these examples. Knowing a little bit about blood types and their connection to personality traits will make it easier to blend into daily conversations with Japanese people.

Fortune telling is widely enjoyed in Japan, with astrology being particularly popular in addition to blood type-based fortune telling. Astrology is a form of fortune telling that analyzes an individual’s personality and future based on the 12 zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

It can be easily found in magazines, on television, and the internet. Feel free to search and give it a try.

Additionally, fortune telling based on palmistry is also popular in Japan. This type of fortune telling involves analyzing the lines and shapes on your palms to predict personality traits and fortunes. You can consult a palmistry expert, or you can reference books or online resources to try it on your own.

Moreover, another popular form of fortune telling in Japan is called the Four Pillars of Destiny (四柱推命 – Shi Chen Suimei). This method involves analyzing the date and time of your birth to determine your personal fortune and character traits. Originating from traditional Chinese divination, it is said to have a high level of accuracy.

There is also tarot fortune telling, which I was personally into a while ago. It involves determining an individual’s fortune and future by using tarot cards, covering a wide range of areas such as love, career, relationships, and more. You can consult a professional tarot reader, or you can purchase tarot cards yourself and try reading them on your own.

Is there any type of fortune telling that caught your interest?

Today, we introduced blood types and various forms of fortune telling that are widely accepted in Japan. Talking about blood types is a common way to break the ice in conversations. If you ever find yourself unsure of what to talk about, mentioning blood types might just help liven up the discussion! At TCJ, we offer a variety of interesting topics to explore, not just blood types. We look forward to having you join us!