Type B or not type B?

Know yourself–know your blood type

“Ah, you must be Type A”, one of my Japanese friends once said when she popped over to my apartment and discovered my anal retentive cleaning habits. “Type A? What do you mean?” I asked. “Your blood type,” she replied matter-of-factly. “Actually, yes, my blood type is A,” I said, starting to feel like I was part of a magic show. “What’s that got to do with my penchant for a clean apartment?” A look of disbelief swept over her face. “Don’t you know what your blood type means?” I didn’t. In fact, the only reason I knew I was Type A (A+ to be precise) was because I’d been asked by my doctor in Australia if I wanted to know after a series of standard tests were done before I left for Japan. He seemed very nonchalant about it, and I just replied, “Yeah, sure, why not.”

To most Japanese, not knowing your blood type is like not knowing your last name. 90% of the population can tell you what’s pumping through their veins, because a person’s blood type (ketsueki-gata) is said to determine their personality. In the 1930s, Japanese scholar Takeji Furukawa published a series of articles called The Study of Temperament Through Blood Type, then in 1971 Masahiko Nomi, a Japanese lawyer and broadcaster, published a book called Katsueki-gata de Wakaru Aisho (Understanding Affinity by Blood Type). Ever since, Japanese people have taken to matching blood types to personalities the same way horoscopes do in Western culture.

While Nomi’s publications were bestsellers, there are supposedly no scientific findings that support his work. This does not stop Japanese people from believing in the system, though. Some Japanese companies even require that employment candidates disclose their blood type on job applications, which is said to help place them in the right department.

It’s not only companies but sports teams as well. The Japanese women’s softball team that won gold in the Beijing Olympics used the blood type theory to customize each player’s training. In baseball, Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Type O is supposedly a reason behind his much sought after talent, while former Yankees player Hideki Matsui, and the Houston Astro’s Kazuo Matsui, are also Type O. Evidently, Nomi’s theory, despite being dispelled for lack of scientific proof, asserted that people with Type O blood make the best baseball players.

In the worlds of manga and anime, it is popular for authors to assign their characters blood types, while popular videogame series Street Fighter, Final Fantasy and Resident Evil have done the same. To satisfy the curiosity of their fans, Japanese celebrities will post their blood type along with other biographical information on websites or blogs.

Certain blood types are said to pair better or worse with others. Dating websites will use a person’s blood type to match them up with a suitable partner. Want to know if you and your partner are a good fit? Well, A is supposedly most compatible with A and AB; B is most compatible with B and AB; AB is most compatible with AB, B, A and O; and O is most compatible with O and AB. If you don’t know your blood type yet, like a lot of my non-Japanese friends, go get yourself pricked at the doctors to find out, or scan this list of traits to pick out which matches you the most.

Type O ­– The Warrior
These people are very outgoing and sociable. They are creative and popular, but sometimes don’t follow through on what they started. They enjoy being the centre of attention and are very self-confident, but occasionally vain or jealous.
Famous Type Os in Japan: Hideki Matsui, baseball player; Takuya Kimura, SMAP member; Ai Miyazato, golfer.

Type A – The Farmer
Calm, patient and sensitive, these people set high standards for themselves. They are the most artistic of the blood types, and can be shy, trustworthy, conscientious and sensitive. They also sometimes find it hard to relax.
Famous Type As in Japan: Shingo Kattori, SMAP member; Ayumi Hamasaki, J-pop singer; Kazunari Ninomiya, Arashi member.

Type B – The Hunter
An individual who dislikes customs, these people are said to be the most goal-oriented of all. They will never abandon a task, and will always do their best to complete it well. They may also be considered wild and unpredictable.
Famous Type Bs in Japan: Ichiro Ozawa, politician; Ai Carina Uemura, singer; Atsushi Sato, EXILE vocalist.

Type AB – The Humanist
These are cool, controlled and rational people. However, they can be standoffish sometimes. Some might say they have a split personality: shy but confident, timid but outgoing. ABs are trustworthy and enjoy helping others.
Famous Type ABs in Japan: BoA, Korean singer famous in Japan; Kotaro Koizumi, actor and son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; Yuki Inomata, actress.

Text: Erin O’Hanlon
Illustration: Shane Busato