Did You Know… In Japan: A Curious Obsession With Blood Type

What type are you?

Years ago, I was with a group of women who I knew through a spiritual study group. After a day of visiting and a walk on the beach, we were at a restaurant before heading back home.

The conversation turned to blood types. Most Americans don’t know theirs but I knew mine: B negative.

B blood type is uncommon, maybe ten percent of people in this world have it. B negative is even more rare: around three percent.

It turned out that all four of us in that group had B negative blood!

Since then, I learned that my friend, Dianne, is also B neg, as is my friend, Christo. Though there are B types among my siblings, I’m the only neg.

Christo lived in Japan for twelve years and after he discovered our shared blood type, he told me that in Japan, having B blood type is not desirable. “B’s are discriminated against,” he told me.

Though we’re seen as cheerful, passionate and creative, we’re also thought to be eccentric and individualistic, irresponsible, unorganized. We’re not afraid to say what’s on our minds. We can be seen as self-centered, selfish.

“We’re nonconformists and in Japan, obedience is the rule.”

In Japan, “ketsuekigata” (血液型), links blood type to behavior. It’s thought to determine a lot about one’s character and how we relate to others.

Few Westerners who haven’t donated blood or been seriously ill know their blood type. It’s rare to meet Japanese people who don’t know theirs.

It’s considered normal for people to try to guess another’s blood type when getting to know them or when working together.

A brief overview:

A blood type 型: Is serious, attentive to detail, and quite tidy. Also considered to be kind and a careful driver.

B blood type 型: Self-centered, strong-willed; bucks trends and expectations. Often seen as the rebel; flexible and playful.

O blood type 型: Care-free and easy-going. Whatever, man, it’s all cool. Oh, look, a fluffy duck.

AB blood type 型: Creative weirdo, no one understands you and you’re under-appreciated. Artistic, hurty feelers when criticized. Enjoys alone time.

From my own observation with friends who also have B neg blood, we think differently. We are nonconformists in thought and we tend to look into things rather than accept conventional explanations.

We have lively conversations whenever we get together, and there’s a relief, a gratitude, for being able to talk about things that most people have no interest in or idea about.

And it’s not exclusively true. I always look forward to exchanges with my brilliant friend, Kate, who doesn’t know her blood type but who dares to consider things that are outside convention.

I’ll do my own fact checking. I’ll think for myself, thank you.

Is that so bad?