For Japs, you are what your blood type is

In Japan, "What's your type?" is much more than small talk; it can be a paramount question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job. By type, the Japanese mean blood type, and no amount of scientific debunking can kill a widely held notion that blood tells all.

In the year just ended, four of Japan's top 10 best-sellers were about how blood type determines personality, according to Japan's largest book distributor, Tohan Co. The books' publisher, Bungeisha, says the series u2014 one each for types B, O, A, and AB u2014 has combined sales of well over 5 million copies.

Taku Kabeya, chief editor at Bungeisha, thinks the appeal comes from having one's self-image confirmed; readers discover the definition of their blood type and "It's like 'Yes, that's me!'"

As defined by the books, type As are sensitive perfectionists, but overanxious; Type Bs are cheerful, but eccentric and selfish; Os are curious, generous, but stubborn; and ABs are arty, but mysterious and unpredictable.

All that may sound like a horoscope, but the public doesn't seem to care.

The fad spreads...

Even Prime Minister Taro Aso seems to consider it important enough to reveal in his official profile on the Web. He's an A. His rival, opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, is a B.

Nowadays, blood type features in a Nintendo DS game and on "lucky bags" of women's accessories tailored to blood type.

A TV network is set to broadcast a comedy about women seeking husbands according to blood type.

And it doesn't stop there.

Matchmaking agencies provide blood-type compatibility tests, and some companies make decisions about assignments based on employees' blood types.

Children at some kindergartens are divided up by blood type and the women's softball team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics used the theory to customise each player's training.

Scary roots

But not all see the craze as harmless fun. Despite repeated warnings, many employers continue to ask blood types at job interviews, said Junichi Wadayama, an official at the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry.

This use of blood-typing has unsavory roots. The theory was imported from Nazi race ideologues and adopted by Japan's militarist government in the 1930s to breed better soldiers. The idea was scrapped years later and the craze faded.

It resurfaced in the 1970s, however, as Masahiko Nomi, an advocate with no medical background, gave the theory mass appeal. His son, Toshitaka, now promotes it through a private group, the Human Science ABO Center, saying it's not intended to rank or judge people, but to smooth relationships and help make the best of one's talents.