The Relationship of Religious Ideas and Social Values to Happiness in Particular Countries or Regions

Japan and Brazil's economies are examined in this research. Through comparing economic performance and happiness indexes, Japan is used as an example of high economic performance with low levels of happiness; Brazil is the opposite example to be studied. This research investigates the social values and religious ideas that may influence Brazil's and Japan's happiness levels and what influences them. Furthermore, it provides some comparisons of the differences in social values between Brazil and Japan. This research found that the social stigma of mental illness in Japan and passive ideas of religious beliefs that disrespect leads to ancestral curses may be contributing to Japan's relatively low happiness index. In Brazil, the kissing culture which is not likely to be seen in Japan, the variation in the proportion of religions, and the Boto legend as an example of religious myths as accomplices to self-defense may be partial factors for the relatively high happiness index.