Is Japan Collectivism or Individualism? The Evolving Japanese Mindset

It's often said that "Japanese people are collectivist," but is this really true?

Staying quiet on trains, ordering "beer for now" at company gatherings, the senior-junior relationships in club activities—certainly, Japan has numerous situations where group harmony takes precedence.

Behind this lies the spirit of interdependence expressed in the phrase "okagesama de" (thanks to you/others), and a unique sanctioning system that excludes those who "cannot read the atmosphere."

However, there are also aspects where individual talent is valued, such as in sports and entrance exam competition, or in creative professions like manga artists and musicians.

In recent years, the excessive sanctions of collectivism have become more visible through social media, while in our globalizing world, individual spirit of challenge is increasingly sought after for creating new value.

Japanese society may now be searching for a new balance—maintaining traditional group harmony while nurturing individual diversity and creativity.

In this blog, let's explore both the collectivist and individualist aspects of Japan.

Is Japan "Collectivism" or "Individualism"?

Deep-rooted values in Japanese society prioritize the "group" over the "individual." This value system is visible in many aspects of our daily lives.

In schools, morning assemblies, cleaning duties, and lunch serving responsibilities are routine group activities requiring cooperation.

Club activities emphasize "teamwork" and "harmony," teaching individuals how to function within a group. From childhood, we learn to be quiet in public spaces like trains and buses and to behave considerately toward others.

Through these experiences, we Japanese naturally learn how to behave within a group and appreciate its importance.

However, it's not entirely accurate to say that Japanese people always act with only the group in mind.

In sports, strong competitive awareness develops from childhood. Even in team sports like baseball and soccer, while team victory matters, individual skill development and personal achievement are also valued.

The same applies to exam preparation. Although classmates sometimes help each other, students are fundamentally expected to compete individually to improve their grades.

Furthermore, in creative professions like manga artists, novelists, and musicians, individual creativity and expressiveness are valued more highly than group harmony.

Looking at society as a whole, there is definitely a foundation that nurtures such individuality and creativity.

Without question, not inconveniencing the group is a strong prerequisite for Japanese people living in society.

Behavior on trains and manners in public places are perfect examples of this.

However, it's also true that within this larger framework, education and systems that partially and selectively nurture individualism and personal aspirations exist.

Japanese society might be one with a unique balance, where a smaller framework of individualism exists nested within the larger framework of collectivism.

Why Do Japanese People Value and Protect "Collectivism"?

Of course, the concept of prioritizing groups and society exists worldwide, not just in Japan. However, what factors lead Japanese people to place such strong emphasis on the group and suppress individual assertions?

The Spirit of "Okagesama" and Mutual Dependence

At the foundation of Japanese collectivist values lies a unique social perspective symbolized by phrases like "okagesama de" (thanks to you/others) and "nasake wa hito no tame narazu" (kindness is not for others alone).

This perspective emphasizes human connections and interdependence, and has been passed down through the depths of Japanese culture.

The expression "okagesama de" represents the recognition that one's existence and success are not achieved by one's power alone but are established through the support and benefits of surrounding people.

The proverb "nasake wa hito no tame narazu" demonstrates an understanding of reciprocal human relationships, suggesting that kindness shown to others will eventually come back to oneself.

Underlying these concepts is a worldview that "humans cannot live alone but exist through connections with each other."

This cyclical thinking—that both good and bad deeds will someday return to oneself—has greatly influenced Japanese behavioral norms.

This spirit of interdependence has been reinforced by various historical and cultural factors: Japan being an island nation needing to survive as a community with limited resources, the cooperative management of water in rice-growing culture, and Buddhist concepts of dependent origination.

Consequently, Japanese people value society as a shared space and find worth in maintaining its harmony.

Staying quiet on trains and observing manners in public places reflect this consciousness to "keep comfortable the place where everyone lives in interconnection."

At the core of the virtue of adjusting one's behavior for overall harmony rather than pursuing only personal benefit lies this deeply rooted awareness of mutual dependence and cyclical benefit.

Social Systems That Invisibly Sanction Those Who Disrupt Group Harmony

Another characteristic of Japanese society is that it strongly demands group behavior as a social norm and has unique sanctioning mechanisms for those who don't comply.

These sanctions aren't formalized rules or direct punishments but occur through more subtle, indirect methods that can be difficult for foreigners to understand.

This mechanism is experienced early through bullying and exclusion in school life.

Children deemed "unable to read the atmosphere" or "different from everyone else" face the risk of being excluded from the group and becoming isolated.

Through such experiences, Japanese people learn from a young age "the importance of following group norms" through firsthand experience.

This structure continues in different forms into adulthood.

In companies and organizations, those who strongly assert opinions different from the majority may be labeled as "lacking cooperativeness" and excluded from promotions or important projects.

Such exclusion doesn't take the form of explicit punishment but quietly progresses as "somehow not being called upon" or "naturally being placed outside the circle."

Because of this "invisible sanctioning system," Japanese people tend to be sensitive to group norms and "atmosphere," and their behavior following these is reinforced.

The defensive aspect of prioritizing group behavior to avoid sanctions has become an important element supporting Japanese collectivism.

When Do Japanese People Become Value "Collectivism"

Let's examine the specific situations where Japanese people strongly emphasize the group.

On Trains

Japanese people are particularly conscious of consideration for others on trains.

Refraining from loud conversations is an implicit rule, and even when with friends, speaking in a gentle volume is expected.

Especially during rush hour on crowded trains, people rarely speak and try to make themselves as small as possible to ensure space for other passengers.

This is because trains are public spaces shared by many people.

In Japan, crowded trains are accepted as part of daily life, and the priority is how everyone can make the situation as comfortable as possible.

Speaking loudly or occupying a large space is considered detrimental to the comfort of the entire group.

Company Drinking Parties

At company drinking parties, there's an implicit rule that the first drink is usually beer.

Following the group custom of "starting with beer" takes precedence over individual preferences.

Also, rather than ordering separate dishes, the style of sharing food among everyone is common.

While the bill is basically split equally, when there's a superior-subordinate relationship, it's often the case that the superior pays.

This is because company drinking parties are viewed as "official occasions" that are extensions of work.

The hierarchical relationships from the company are carried over, and maintaining the group's order is emphasized.

Additionally, prioritizing sharing over individual preferences aims to strengthen team unity and solidarity.

Club Activities at School

In club activities, the distinction between seniors and juniors is clearly present. Juniors respect seniors and prioritize them in practice and equipment use.

Respect is shown in greetings and language, and group activities (preparation and cleaning) follow senior instructions.

Also, there's a culture where the overall club schedule takes precedence over individual circumstances, and members are expected to participate on full practice days even if they want to take a day off.

This is because club activities function not just as places to acquire skills but as places for "socialization" before entering society.

They are considered excellent opportunities to learn hierarchical relationships, honorific language use, and behavior within groups, all valued in Japanese society.

Through these experiences, members are expected to acquire the implicit rules of groups in Japanese society.

Ceremonial Occasions

At weddings, people avoid outfits or behaviors that might outshine the bride.

At funerals, wearing mourning clothes and maintaining a quiet demeanor are required.

Hierarchies based on family relationships and social status are also emphasized and reflected in the order of greetings and seating arrangements.

The harmony and order of the entire ceremony take precedence over individual preferences or circumstances.

This is because ceremonial occasions are positioned as social rituals that transcend individual joy or sorrow.

There, observing traditional rules and customs is considered a duty as a member of society.

Prioritizing the main participants (newlyweds or the deceased's family) and maintaining the solemnity of the ceremony take highest priority, with group order and harmony emphasized over individual self-expression.

Company-wide Meetings

In company-wide meetings, Japanese people tend to refrain from speaking more than necessary.

Critical opinions are particularly avoided in public, and are instead often conveyed in informal settings after the meeting.

When speaking, hierarchical relationships are kept in mind, and openly opposing a superior's opinion is rare.

Questions are also kept to a minimum, and monopolizing meeting time is avoided.

This is because company-wide meetings use many people's time simultaneously, and using collective time for individual questions or opinions is considered monopolizing group resources.

Additionally, opposing opinions or criticism in public may damage someone's "face" and is likely to be seen as disrupting group harmony.

To prioritize meeting efficiency, smooth progress, and organizational harmony, individual expression tends to be suppressed.

The Rise of Individualism in Modern Japan as a Counter to Excessive Collectivism

In recent years, problematic aspects of the deeply rooted collectivism in Japanese society have come under scrutiny.

The "invisible sanctions" once limited to within groups have transformed into more widespread, visible sanctions due to the proliferation of social media and the internet.

For instance, there's been an increase in "flaming" phenomena where massive criticism targets individuals expressing certain opinions, and cases where school bullying spreads on social media, amplifying the damage.

Such situations sometimes push victims to mental breaking points, and sadly, there are not a few tragic cases ending in suicide.

Moreover, many Japanese people have become hesitant to express opinions or take action for fear of such sanctions, following the old proverb "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," and tending to avoid new challenges.

As a result, Japanese society as a whole continues to struggle with experiencing significant changes or innovations.

The tendency to cling to conventional methods and thinking, and reluctance to take risks, has weakened society's capacity for transformation.

However, in today's rapidly changing world driven by globalization and technological evolution, continued adherence to traditional frameworks could lead to a decline in Japan's competitiveness.

Indeed, over the past 30 years, the Japanese economy has experienced relative stagnation, with its presence diminishing in many industrial sectors where it once led the world.

The weakened ability to create new industries and innovative business models is not unrelated to excessive collectivism.

In response to these conditions, signs of change have gradually appeared in Japanese educational settings.

The importance of "education that respects individuality" and "learning environments that recognize diversity" has been reacknowledged, with attempts to break away from uniform education advancing.

Efforts have also been directed toward nurturing startup ecosystems, with entrepreneurial spirit that creates new value without fearing risk becoming more valued.

In the sports world too, with the increase of Japanese athletes active globally, there has been a reevaluation of the value of maximizing individual talent and uniqueness, not just the virtue of being a "team player."

Japan's traditional values treasuring group harmony will continue to play an important role as the foundation of society.

However, nurturing individual diversity, creativity, and a spirit of challenge within this framework, while balancing both approaches to adapt to a new era, has become a major challenge for contemporary Japanese society.

The journey to find the optimal balance between collectivism and individualism has only just begun.

My thoughts on the balance "Collectivism" and "Individualism" in Japan

I was raised in Japanese society, which places strong emphasis on the group.

The teachings that my life is shaped by those around me naturally permeated my being through the words of others. I was raised to believe that helping others was essential and simply a natural part of living in society.

At the same time, I grew up fearing being seen as someone who couldn't "read the atmosphere" among school friends.

I was constrained by hierarchical relationships in school uniforms and club activities, as well as by the skill levels of the clubs I belonged to.

That's why later leaving high school and stepping outside social and group norms, as well as living abroad in societies operating under different rules than Japan's, became major turning points that made me reexamine myself and what it means to be Japanese.

"People live through connections with those around them, which is why we must cherish these relationships."

This is an undeniable truth in Japan.

However, I've come to feel that many Japanese people are so focused on those around them that they restrict their own lives and forget their true desires, becoming trapped by social rules and trends.

That's why I believe what Japan needs today is to maintain "the Japanese quality of being considerate of others and valuing comfortable living" while ensuring that the "strong sanctions" that arise when someone doesn't conform to group behavior don't crush individuals.

We also need small family and local community units that can protect individuals from these sanctions.