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Over the past 17 years we have conducted a number of research studies on a variety of resettlement issues facing Southeast Asian refugees in the United States; we have also served as consultants to several local refugee resettlement programs. In the summer of 1991 1 we had the opportunity to conduct a field study in Japan. We visited the International Refugee Assistance Center (IRAC) in Tokyo, meeting and discussing problems with government officials and social workers who were engaged in resettlement work with Southeast Asian refugees. Despite the fact that Japan and the US have the same objective for resettling refugees in their societies, namely, assimilation with self-sufficiency, we learned in this visit that Japan and the US have developed essentially different approaches to the resettlement: Japan uses an 'institutionalized approach' while the US uses an 'individualized' one. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the approaches used in Japan and the US in order to identify common as well as different issues involved in each approach and to identify the knowledge and skills needed to assist refugees. Although this paper focuses on Japan and the US, we assume that such knowledge would be equally or partially applicable to other countries which offer permanent resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees. BackgroundThe resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees has two unique charac-

This article explores the major differences in the pattern of interpersonal relationships and group life between the United States and Japan. The assumption is that on one hand, people in the United States are more preoccupied with individual rights than with group solidarity while, on the other hand, the Japanese cultivate a sense of group-identity and solidarity, trying to derive life satisfaction and security from their group affiliations. An individually oriented society like the United States is well-suited for people with ability, drive, motivation and competitive spirit. A group-oriented society like Japan, however, is not a completely satisfying place for people with exceptional talents, but it is a safe haven for the "average" person. Several implications for social work in the crosscultural environment will also be discussed.