Cultural Perceptions of the Concept of 'Time' among the Young Generation: A Cross-Cultural Study of Indonesia and Japan

Abstract

The concept of time has deep cultural dimensions and can influence individual behavior, perceptions and decision-making. Previous studies have mostly highlighted cultural differences in the context of work or education, but few have reviewed the perception of time in a cross-cultural perspective between younger generations. This study aims to uncover how young people in Indonesia and Japan understand, interpret and practice the concept of 'time' in their daily lives, and how cultural differences affect attitudes towards time. This research uses a qualitative approach with a phenomenological study method. Data collection techniques were conducted through in-depth interviews with 20 respondents (10 from Indonesia and 10 from Japan) aged 18-25 years. Data were analyzed using thematic coding technique with the help of NVivo software. The findings show that Indonesian youth tend to have a flexible and collective time orientation, while Japanese youth show a precise and individualistic time orientation. This difference is closely related to the cultural values embraced by each country, such as the concept of gotong royong in Indonesia and kaizen in Japan. This study highlights the importance of a cross-cultural understanding of the concept of time that can impact the dynamics of global work, education and international relations.