Do you know your blood type? If you've never been seriously ill or given blood, you might not know. Every person in Japan knows his or her blood type. People believe that their blood type, or ketsuekigata 血液型, determines their character and how one relates to others. It's sort of like horoscopes.
I think type O is the most common in the US, but type A seems to be most common in Japan. It's not unusual for people to guess at their new friends' blood types, according to how they act. One of my students told me he got together with friends having the same blood type once every few months for an evening of drinking (pre-coronavirus, of course). They were alike and could understand each other, he claims.
Here are some blood type characteristics I've found. If you know your blood type, do you think you match?
A型/blood-type A: You’re serious, tremendously attentive to detail, and always neat and tidy (or “anally retentive” as the good Dr Freud might have put it). You’re also considered to be very kind and, if you happen to own a car, a careful driver.
B型/blood-type B: You’re kind of self-centred, strong-willed and buck trends and expectations. You’re often viewed as the rebel, but you’re also flexible in your thinking and very playful.
O型/blood-type O: You’re care-free and very easy-going. Sure, there are probably rules about what to do with your empty hamburger wrapper, but you’re not bothered either way. Whatever, man, it’s all cool. Oh, look, a squirrel!
AB型/blood-type AB: Hey, you creative weirdo, no one understands you and you’re under-appreciated. You’re artistic, prone to feeling hurt when criticised, and enjoy having time to yourself.
| Type A | |
|---|---|
| Best traits | Warmest, reserved, sensible, patient, responsible, perfectionists, wise, and cautious. |
| Worst traits | Fastidious, over-earnest, obsessive, stubborn, the least temperate, inconsiderate, jealous, cold, angry. |
| Type B | |
| Best traits | Passionate, active, creative, animal-loving, flexible, cheerful, friendly and optimistic, vocalizing personality |
| Worst traits | Irresponsible, forgetful, selfish, lazy, impatient, unreliable and "going own way". |
| Type AB | |
| Best traits | Creative, calm, rational, sociable, intelligent and adaptable. |
| Worst traits | Critical, indecisive, unforgiving, aloof and not trustable |
| Type O | |
| Best traits | Confident, self-determined, ambitious, strong-willed, intuitive, agreeable, competitive and athletic. |
| Worst traits | Unpredictable, spiteful, self-centered, cold, aggressive, arrogant, envious and ruthless. |
I used to have a boss who had his blood type tattooed on his wrist - he thought that would be useful in an emergency. But apart from him I have never known anyone else's blood type. The concept of it influencing your personality is bizarre, but perhaps no more bizarre than astrology.
ReplyDeleteMy blood type rings true to what the pros you have written, not so sure about the cons.... Daughter and husband have the same blood type and it describes them well.
ReplyDeleteNext time I go to the lab I should find out. I used to know ages ago but can't remember and it's probably a useful thing to know these days. I do know I'm negative, I think O negative but Im' not sure!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are both 0+ but according to those traits, I think we should have been A!
ReplyDelete