My Cross-Cultural Reflections on Japan and America:

The Nail That Sticks Out and the Wheel That Squeaks 

Japanese and American cultures stand in sharp contrast to one another. Living in America as a Japanese person, I feel this often. At the same time, when I notice the commonalities that lie beneath these contrasting differences, it feels like I'm touching something close to the essence of human nature - and that's what makes it fascinating.

In Japan, there is a proverb: "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down" (deru kui wa utareru). While this can be interpreted in various ways - such as peer pressure, the maintenance of harmony, or optimizing for the whole - at its core lies collectivism, a defining characteristic of Japanese culture.

In the U.S., on the other hand, there is the proverb, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." Meaning that the most vocal person is the first to receive attention, this cleverly expresses individualism, a hallmark of American culture.

Collectivism and individualism - as these two proverbs demonstrate, Japanese and American cultures are undoubtedly contrasting. However, if you take a step deeper, a different picture emerges. Interestingly, each proverb has a derivative expression that seems to say the opposite.

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down" - however, "The nail that sticks out too far does not get hammered down" (desugita kui wa utarenai). This offers the perspective that if you break through overwhelmingly, you are no longer a target for jealousy or criticism. It carries a strength that seems to champion individual uniqueness, and it is an expression I personally like.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease," meanwhile, has its own derivative: "The squeaky wheel gets replaced." This suggests that while self-assertion is important, taking it too far will make you disliked. It is intriguing because it carries a collectivistic nuance - that those who create discord will be eliminated.

These are, of course, only derivative expressions, and it would be a stretch to say they represent Japanese or American culture as a whole. And yet, in the fact that both cultures gave rise to expressions like these, I sense one commonality beneath the surface differences: both cultures carry within them the power to change themselves. In other words, in both societies, there are people who, unbound by existing conventions, use free thinking to create new culture.

Culture is the "common sense" shared within a given society. We only realize what this "common sense" is once we step outside of that society. Gaining this kind of awareness - this is truly the greatest joy of experiencing a different culture.