Psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Japan: the issue of dependency pattern and the resolution of psychopathology

In this paper, I have tried to describe some of the characteristics of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Japan in terms of dependency patterns in the psychotherapeutic relationship and the resolution of psychological problems. In the beginning of my paper I described problems concerning the professional network of psychiatry and psychotherapy in Japan and looked at the general attitude of the people toward this type of therapy. Then I briefly mentioned the attraction of traditional folk healing practices and outlined two of the academically acknowledged psychotherapies which originated in Japan. I have also presented characteristics of psychoanalytic psychotherapy practice in conjunction with those Japanese psychotherapies, discussing them in terms of the following issues: 1. General differences in psychoanalytic psychotherapy as contrasted to Naikan and Morita therapies and problems in psychoanalytic treatment that result from these differences. 2. Symptom resolution patterns in psychoanalytic treatment in Japanese patients and in relation to dream interpretation. 3. The cultural pattern of transference and how this relates to the Buddhistic figure of Kannon. 4. The Ajase Complex, a model of maternal transferential issues and an interpretation of objected-relations among the Japanese, namely the importance of forgiveness as a resolution of guilt and resentment. 5. The Amida Complex, a model of the cultural pattern of countertransference and the feeling of omnipotence and need for praise in the therapist. 6. Some complications and characteristics of a patient's perception of psychoanalytic interpretation. 7. The patient's perception of the psychoanalytic psychotherapist.