letter from Japan
‘The nail that sticks out gets hammered down’ is a well-known Japanese proverb. The meaning behind this proverb comes from a strong cultural emphasis on conformity.
Japanese culture is heavily influenced by both Confucianism and Buddhism; within both of these ideologies there is a focus on group harmony over individual well-being.
This cultural emphasis is in stark contrast to the prevailing Western concept that the individual’s needs and well-being are paramount, and that suppressing these needs leads to dire consequences.
In many ways the Japanese cultural focus on the group is very Biblical. Jesus teaches love the Lord your God, and love your neighbour as yourself. It is very common for people to go the extra mile to help others. Many foreigners speak of asking for directions from a stranger to find themselves personally escorted to their destination from said stranger. This concern for others can bring about some truly excellent societal benefits. There is less economic disparity between the rich and the poor. Every job is seen as significant and important for the well-being of the whole group. This means things like the trains run on time and the streets are clean.
However, there is a dark underside to the desire to seek group harmony, which leads to the proverb ‘The nail that sticks out gets hammered down’. For example in the Japanese workplace there is an expectation that if the boss wants you to go drinking after work then it is almost an extension of work. You are expected to participate in the heavy drinking; if you aren’t doing so it affects the group harmony. These are the standard areas where conformity bites for Christians, but in recent news religion has been receiving a lot of negative attention.
The recent assassination of the former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, sent shockwaves throughout Japan and the rest of the world. With gun crime virtually non-existent in Japan many people were deeply disturbed by the incident. It has come to light that the gunman involved held a grudge against Abe due to his involvement in the Unification Church. Since July the extensive links between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the cult known as the Unification Church have been splashed across the news. It is even more unpopular to be ‘religious’ in Japan today, and the pressure to conform to societal norms of not speaking about religion has intensified tremendously. Christians in Japan need prayer to continue to stand firm in the face of increased hammering down.
