Ayako Egawa wrote to me about privacy and anonymity in donating, and social networking in Japan. Here’s what she wrote:

I’d like to tell you about the interesting phenomenon about donations in Japan. The Tiger Mask donation phenomenon started when someone anonymously donated thousands of backpacks to orphanages around Japan. What’s remarkable is that the donor wished to remain anonymous, not to tell his real name. It is one of our traditions that we think it’s good to stay anonymous when making a donation or helping other people!

But actually this feeling causes a problem too… with Facebook! Facebook is not yet widely known in Japan. I hear Japan is behind on Facebook. It’s one of the few countries where it’s not popular yet.

The biggest reason is you have to release your real name on Facebook. But Japanese people are careful about this on the internet.

I don’t know if you understand this feeling about being “anonymous” in Japan, but it is real… and it’s interesting!

Personally I think Facebook is great, it opens doors to the world. It changes politics too! And if you release your real name, you can talk with friends “face to face” even on the net! Also if you give your name on the net, you can’t do very bad things….!

In Japan we have some other social network systems that are more popular than Facebook. But they are used only among Japanese people.

People use those systems by using virtual names and they chat with other Japanese people. It is common not to release real names on the net in Japan. But sometimes it causes personal problems, too. Because the “distance ” is short and it is a “too small world” in Japan, I hear sometimes people can tell who is talking even if they’re anonymous.

Sometimes we Japanese have our own unique developed products or culture like that. I think it is because Japan is separated from other continents and no has connection with others. I mean it’s a kind of an “isolated island”.

But when we use Facebook, it is easy to get in touch with people far away. So I decided to use only English on Facebook!

I totally agree the point that it has lots of benefits!

Thanks for sharing that with us Ayako! It’s interesting to hear about how people think differently in different countries. If anyone would like to share anything about social networking and donating other countries, feel free to comment below.

Mama Lisa