When I was in Japan, I noticed this.
Why are there so many small places that have been open for so long?
In America, if a company is successful, it expands and turns into two. Then three.
But in Japan, some places never get bigger. Except Yoshinoyas.
What I am trying to say is, what is the difference in mentality?
Japan likes making profit, just like America, so why dont they have the same mindset?
I feel we can still learn a lot from other cultures, and this is something I think everyone could learn from.
I am not saying Japan is a better place than any other, I am just saying that they have a different mindset.
What are your thoughts?
10 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 4 May
I’m Chinese n we r obsessed about making money, so I actually feel that the Japanese prioritise other things over profits. Like ikigai (life purpose). Some Japanese may take over (dying) traditional craftsmanship because the trade has been in their family for generations and they feel a need to keep it alive, never mind that they won’t become rich in the process. Or how some well-established restaurants in Kyoto only accept reservations and refuse to serve foreigners because they want to do right by their regular customers. I think the Japanese practically invented the V4V mentality haha
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49 sats \ 1 reply \ @Satosora OP 4 May
Nothing against the Chinese mentality, it works for people in china.
I just think the Japanese have a more elegant way of approaching life.
It is more about the society as a whole than the individual.
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 4 May
Oh I agree with you. Which is why I like Japanese culture enough as a whole to marry one of its female specimens haha
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10 sats \ 8 replies \ @john_doe 3 May
In the past when I went to a dentist in Tokyo, he told me I was lucky not to have to do what my father did. It is quite common to have the elder son take over what the father did.
You can find in Japan old historical texts that you don't find anymore in China. So not even professional activities but also objects are also better transmitted in Japan, e.g. compared to China.
The contrarian view of your post could be: why not improve what can be done or perfect something instead of expanding and in the end just make crap?
I think countries like the US are quite liberal, whereas Japan is more conservative (not liberal like in CNBC English with Biden but like in common English in the sense of how people take risks). Related to risk taking I don't think there THE best answer, there are trade-offs in both cases.
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10 sats \ 7 replies \ @Satosora OP 3 May
Very true.
In the article, it told about how new companies have a hard time breaking into the market.
Japan has been able to keep a lot of traditions because it is an island, which is good and bad.
But it is important to learn from different cultures, seeing how others approach problems.
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10 sats \ 6 replies \ @john_doe 3 May
Indeed. It translates also into Bitcoin as well. I pay with cash and I don't expect to be able to pay with Bitcoin before 5-10 years in Japan. The advantage being it is unlikely that suddenly someone will mess up with the infrastructure which makes social interactions possible. So long term we can expect more stability.
With my job I saw many times foreigners failing where Japanese people don't, just because in Japan we don't change the version of libraries like that and we have to test everything to make sure there are no regressions. The bad side is upgrading becomes rare. The good side is it is not failing unexpectedly and we are confident it should work.
I am not sure if the geographical aspect has anything to do with that though. For example Indonesia is composed of multiple islands and is quite different in this respect. For me the geography has more to do with the Everything-is-done-here kind of mindset. I was impressed to see that even small things like drivers for printers were done domestically. We see innovation which happens just here, and wouldn't take off outside of Japan (typically the toilets).
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20 sats \ 5 replies \ @Satosora OP 3 May
The toto toilets are bomb.
Especially with the heated seats, its so nice!
They can be a little delicate though, especially if you dont use the features correctly.
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0 sats \ 4 replies \ @john_doe 3 May
Isn't it!
Many small innovations which make your life better.
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10 sats \ 3 replies \ @Satosora OP 3 May
For sure.
I especially like their suica card.
And the trains that run on time.
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @john_doe 3 May
Yes, on time when the weather conditions are good.
Or maybe my brain tend to focus on all the times when the train was late and forget when it wasn't.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @Satosora OP 3 May
Im pretty sure its on time all the time.
Rarely do you hear of a train being late in Japan.
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