What is your Blood Type?

[Funkturnal]

For anyone who's spent time in Japan, one of the most common "social ice-breaker" questions people ask is, "What is your blood type?"

Blood type in Japan is viewed similarly to astrology in the West. However, in my experience, some people here take it quite seriously to the point where they have preconceived notions of others (bordering on prejudice). (Of course, there are also many who don't read into it at all.) One problem, compared to astrology, is that there are only 4 blood types. So the stereotypes associated with them are rather strong.

I found a site with some descriptions of each type. Although, I've heard many variations, these decriptions more or less line up with what I've heard.

http://thegreatgeekmanual.com/blog/j...-by-blood-type

Type A: The Farmer
Speaking broadly, it is said that people with Type A Blood are calm, composed, levelheaded, and very serious. They have a firm character, and are reliable, trustworthy, and hardheaded. They are shy, introverted perfectionists. They are considerate to others and don’t easily lie. They are loyal to friends and coworkers. They can be secretive, though, and don’t often share their feelings. They try to suppress their own emotions, and because they have continual practice in doing this, they appear strong, when, in actuality, they have a fragile, nervous side, as well. They tend to be hard on people who are not of the same type, and consequently, tend to be surrounded with people of the same temperament. They also don’t hold their liquor well. Type A’s are the most artistic of the groups. They can be shy, cautious, conscientious, reliable, trustworthy, and sensitive. They can also be overcautious, picky, arrogant, and reckless when drunk.

Type B:The Hunter
People with Type B Blood are curious everything. That may be good, but they also tend to have too many interests and hobbies. They tend to get excited about something suddenly only to drop it again just as quickly. They seem to manage to know which of their many interests or loved ones are truly the most important. B Types tend to excel in things rather than just be average, but they tend to be so involved in their own world that they neglect other things. They have independent spirits with strong personalities. They have the image of being bright and cheerful, full of energy and enthusiasm, but some people think that they are really quite different on the inside. They also don’t really want to have much personal contact with others. While they don’t care what others think of them. They are extremely passionate about the things they hold dear. Type B’s are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life. Type B personalities can be curious, bright, cheerful, enthusiastic, independent, sensitive, and unpredictable. They can also be superficial, unreliable, selfish, unpredictable, indiscreet, lazy, and impatient.

Type AB: The Humanist
Type-AB people are an unpredictable, distant lot, but tend to use their heads over their hearts. They are good with money. Type AB’s are the split personalities of the blood groups. They are considerate of other people’s feelings and deal with them with care and caution. On the other hand, though, they are strict with themselves and those close to them. They, therefore, seem to have two personalities: one for those “outside,” and another for people on the “inside.” They often become sentimental, and they tend to think too deeply about things. AB Types have a lot of friends, but they need time to be alone and think things through, as well. They can be both outgoing and shy, confident and timid. While responsible, too much responsibility will cause a problem. They are trustworthy and like to help others. Type AB personalities can be sensitive, considerate, careful, and efficient. They can also be strict, moody, easily offended, critical, and standoffish.

Type O: The Warrior
Type-O people are outgoing, expressive, and passionate. They are highly motivated, natural leaders. Blessed with a strong physical presence, they aren’t afraid to gamble because they are so convinced they’ll win. Type O Blood people are said to set the mood for a group and to take on the role of creating harmony among its members. Their image is one of being peaceful and carefree. They are also thought to be big-hearted and benevolent, and they tend to spend money on others generously.They are natural athletes. They tend to be obsessive in their quest for success, and this can make them boring to others. Type O’s are outgoing, and very social. They are initiators, although they don’t always finish what they start. They appear to be levelheaded and trustworthy, but they often slip and make big blunders inadvertently. That is also the what makes O Types lovable. Creative and popular, they love to be the center of attention and appear very self confident. Type 0 personalities can be carefree, generous, independent, flexible, idealistic, goal-oriented, athletic, competitive, and adaptable. They can also be clumsy, flighty, jealous, greedy, unreliable, obsessive lover, vain loudmouths.


I myself am a "B". I only found out a few years ago. I got tired of saying "I don't know" after so many people asked me.

[Sakuraba]

O negative.
I guess I'm a warrior.

[HEIST]

I don't know but I really want to know.

[jp58]

O-Negative, I've been tested about 10 times for this. Once a semester in biology labs, on that day professors really don't want to do anything.

[Nappa]

I most fit the type A description. Though I do not know my blood type.

[Scott1]

O positive

[Ívar Þórólfsson]

B positive

[JimB52]

You'd think after 50 years that I'd know, but I don't.

[KarateKid25]

I have no idea.... It's kind of dark red, if that helps?

[thefruitfarmer]

It makes no difference if you are neg or pos though ?

[Simo98]

Im O+, and that discription doesn't really fit me very well, some parts do, and other are way off. I can't remember what my starsign is, a fish or something, and I think the traits for that are supposed to be completely different to that warrior thing xD

[Fassa Albrecht]

I'm A positive, like a lot of my family. The description given seems pretty accurate.

[Yerf Dog]

A+ but...

They also don’t hold their liquor well.

Clearly not on target.

[line6man]

You're forgetting the Rh in the poll.

[Steve]

AB-

[Funkturnal]

Originally Posted by thefruitfarmer

It makes no difference if you are neg or pos though ?

AFAIK, the positive or negative isn't supposed to matter. I've never heard it discussed (and they discuss it a lot on TV here, but they never make that distinction.)

Interestingly, the blood type / personality correlation was "apparently" founded on some "real" research, although I think it was more or less just one "scientist's" claim to fame. It got taken seriously enough though (and way out of proportion, I might add) that the Japanese military looked into it (when they had a real military).

And actually, it's kind of disturbing, but corporations "relied" on this information as well. They looked into blood types to see who would make good managers, or what types of work people are suited for etc.

Although I work for an international company, our old Human Resources system contained data of employees' blood type. (I used to work as an IT application developer in our company, and I was able to see this data.) After a certain point in time, it seemed that they stopped entering the data in the blood type "field" in the system. (How they got this data, I don't know, but most of the employees that had been in the company before I joined had this data filled in... I wonder if they got it from our annual medical checkup reports? But that is another story... Anyway, they've since outsourced the Human Resource IT system from another company, so our IT department doesn't support this system any more.)

But the "stories" I've heard from people were that military leaders should be a type O... or I've heard rumors that a certain "elite" Japanese financial company used to only consider certain types of employees to hold influential positions etc. (just a rumor though)

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit, but to most people here today, the blood type thing is on par with the star sign in the West - just trivia. However, at the same time, it is taken more seriously than that over here, at least in the past. Like I said, the military took this stuff seriously, and there were people of influence who took this stuff pretty seriously. To what extent in this day and age, I don't know. But just the fact that it could be used to discriminate, at least once upon a time, is ludicrous and disturbing to me...

[CrispyDelicious]

AB, which surprised me in light of the OP, as many of the stated character traits are accurate.

[sloasdaylight]

O+

[dullsilver_mike]

AB-
The AB description sounds pretty good to me.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Funkturnal

For anyone who's spent time in Japan, one of the most common "social ice-breaker" questions people ask is, "What is your blood type?"

Wow, that is incredibly interesting. I never knew that. My gf spent some time in Japan a few years ago, she was very popular with the locals. Im going to ask her if she was ever asked her blood type.

Im type O+, as well as a Leo, and the descriptions line up pretty well.