Have you ever been approached by someone asking for your horoscope sign? That more than likely won’t happen when you’re in Japan..HOWEVER, you might be asked about your blood type, or ketsuekigata, as it is considered an indicator of one’s nature or personality traits.
While Westerners tend to refer to the 12 astrological horoscopes and 16 personality types (if you are a Karl Jung fan, that is) that pinpoint traits about an individual, perhaps those analyses are almost too specific and may not always be correct.
There are only four blood types, so there’s not much to unpack to begin with. Having only four categories makes things a bit more general. Here is a quick reference guide to what each blood type says about an individual:
Blood Type A
Making up 40 percent of the Japanese population, people with blood type A are known to be earnest perfectionists. They tend to be sensitive and introverted by nature and would much rather enjoy some “me” time over group activities. As such, you might not get close to them after a single conversation and have a better chance patiently nurturing your relationship with them over time. Doing that, you will find that they are genuine and kind human beings. People often describe blood type A as: methodical, cautious, stubborn or detailed.
Blood Type B
People with blood type B, aka the extroverts, cover 20 percent of the Japanese population. If you are blood type B, you are most likely someone who isn’t afraid to speak their mind and do it quite often, regardless of what others may think. While this may come off as selfish, people with blood type B are simply just passionate, curious beings who are constantly looking for stimulation in their interactions with others. As such, they have no problem adapting to new environments and making connections wherever they are. Four words that define blood type B would be: creative, optimistic, selfish or irresponsible.
Blood Type O
Accounting for 30 percent of the population, people with blood type O are usually the “cultivated” or “practical” ones in their squad. They are calm and convey their thoughts without being abrasive, so people they are involved with consider them as a dependable and stable presence. On the flip side of that tough exterior is an extremely sensitive interior. Individuals with blood type O may not always express everything they feel, in fear of not being accepted by others. Furthermore, they have a tendency to be hard on themselves and get exhausted striving for perfection. If you are blood type O, you are widely considered to be: easygoing, outgoing, arrogant or jealous.
Blood Type AB
Totalling only 10 percent of the population, they really broke the mold when they made blood type AB, or the “wildcard”. People with blood type AB can either be considered prodigies, free-spirited, or both. Their behavior is not always consistent and changes depending on their temperament at any given moment (some people would call this “moody”), making them known as individuals with “bilateral character”. What they are consistent about is being logical and not having tolerance for irrational thoughts. If you have blood type AB, people may see you as: rational, talented, critical or eccentric.
What do you think? Is the Japanese index for personality accurate? There are a lot of us who don’t even know our blood type, but before coming to Japan, it wouldn’t hurt to look into it a bit. Try this icebreaker out when you get here! It will surely lead to an interesting conversation.
