Culture Shock Experienced by the Main Character in the Picture Book The Way We Do It in Japan

Abstract

Culture shock is a phenomenon that can be experienced by anyone, including children, when interacting with a different culture. This phenomenon is represented in the picture book The Way We Do It in Japan by Geneva Cobb Iijima and Paige Billin-Frye through the main character, Gregory, an Asian-American child who moves from America to Japan and encounters cultural differences in daily life. This study aims to analyze how cultural differences between Japan and America are represented, how the stages of culture shock are experienced by Gregory, and how these impact his emotional and character development. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a literary analysis approach based on both text and illustrations. The analysis is grounded in Oberg’s (1960) theory of culture shock and Pedersen’s (1995) stages of culture shock, which include the honeymoon, disintegration, reintegration, and autonomy stages. The results show that differences in language, social norms, habits, and school rules serve as the main triggers of Gregory’s culture shock. His experience develops dynamically from positive responses to emotional pressure and eventually to a more stable acceptance. The impact is reflected in Gregory’s emotional changes and character development, as he becomes more open, adaptive, and capable of understanding cultural differences objectively. Thus, culture shock is not merely an obstacle but also a learning process that contributes to the formation of the character’s identity.