Dear All!
As you know, I currently try to understand Japanese culture. I was reminded in discussions that I should specify that: I am interested to understand human beings and the spectrum of cultural expressions they can shape. For me Japanese history and culture is human history and culture, and therefore also my history and culture. I do not want to study "them," "the Japanese," but "us," "the human beings" who occupy planet Earth.
Please see a conversation I had first in person, later via email, with a very knowledgeable and sensitive Japanese friend, who does not want to be named.
Most warmly!
Evelin

Conversation:

Evelin: It was so interesting to listen to your description and explanation of Japanese corporate culture. You remember, I asked you how it is possible that on one side there is a culture in Japan of adaptation and not being different, and on the other side you find people who are as different from the mainstream as Yukio Mishima was [famous writer who committed ritual suicide]. As far as I recall, you said that those who belong to a group must avoid sticking out; Mishima, however, belonged to another group. Do I recall this correctly?

Japanese friend: Yes. I said that. It is jealousy. Japanese business persons, expecially men, envy those who have special talent. They get together and attack the "strange" guy. But when they find that this guy is too strong and he is too different from them, they stop attacking the man. They actually tell themselves, "This guy is very special. He is not one of us, so we do not have to be jealous about him."

E: What about respect? Is a person who is different, respected? Or despised?

JF: The "different" individual would be "despised, that is, the weak "the others" are actually in fear of this different and strong individual and pretend that they are not afraid of him. Pretending they are not afraid, they would say the "strange" guy cannot do things properly. But actually those "ordinary others" are afraid of him, saying they despise this strange guy.

E: Would YOU dare to be different?

JF: Yes. I tend to enjoy being different from the others. But still, I have a record of behaving as a decent Japanese business man who can do things properly, that is, try to do same things as others do.

E: What is this jealousy? I try to understand this better. Is jealousy a feeling that the person who is different is perceived as actually looking down upon those who are not different?

JF: It is probable. Deep down in the heart, or deep psychologically, those "ordinary majority" feel they are inferior to this "strange" guy. And that might be the reason why those majority attack this strange different guy, saying he cannot do things properly or he is doing strange things and annoying all the others.