We tested the hypothesis that "good feelings"-the central element of subjec
tive well-being-are associated with interdependence and interpersonal engag
ement of the self in Japan, but with independence and interpersonal disenga
gement of the self in the United States. Japanese and American college stud
ents (total N = 913) reported how frequently they experienced various emoti
onal states in daily life, In support of the hypothesis, the reported frequ
ency of general positive emotions (e.g. calm, elated) was most closely asso
ciated with the reported frequency of interpersonally engaged positive emot
ions (e.g. friendly feelings) in Japan, but with the reported frequency of
interpersonally disengaged positive emotions (e.g. pride) in the United Sta
tes. Further, for Americans the reported frequency of experience was consid
erably higher for positive emotions than for negative emotions, but for Jap
anese it was higher for engaged emotions than for disengaged emotions. Impl
ications for cultural constructions of emotion in general and subjective we
ll-being in particular are discussed.