Imagine walking into a Tokyo office at midnight, fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows across rows of workers compelled to work 12-hour days, while across the Pacific, a young American professional confidently submits her two-week notice to find a more fulfilling job.
In Thailand, a classroom sits in respectful silence as their professor speaks, while just hours later in Chicago, students passionately challenge their teacher's every word. These aren't just differences in behavior – they're windows into the soul of how we see our world, our worth, and our very definition of freedom.
Educator and podcast host Way Yuhl and Japanese professor Yusaku Saito, get into how these striking contrasts reveal a profound truth: the perspective through which we view life isn't just tinted by our culture – it's completely transformed by it. Their conversation peels back the layers of our unconscious cultural programming, exposing how deeply our society's invisible hand shapes everything from our daily choices to our deepest beliefs about what it means to be alive, successful, and free.
What We See Depends On Where We Stand
"Coming from Japan, but having lived outside (of Japan) for many years, I know how other societies work," explains Saito, highlighting how exposure to multiple cultures allows us to see beyond our inherited viewpoints. This multicultural experience enables him to navigate different social contexts while maintaining awareness of his own cultural conditioning.
Perhaps nowhere are cultural differences more stark than in workplace attitudes. Japan's notorious karoshi (death from overwork) stands in sharp contrast to America's emerging "quit culture." As Saito describes, "Most people in Japan leave their apartment at 6:30 in the morning... and work maybe until 10 or 11 or just before midnight." This cultural perspective on work dedication has tragic consequences, with some Japanese workers choosing suicide over perceived failure.
Yuhl notes how this differs dramatically from current American attitudes: "We have what's called the quit culture... Mostly it's younger workers just saying, look, this job is taking too much of my time or it's unsatisfying... so I quit and they find a job they like better."
Freedom Through Different Eyes
One of the most surprising revelations comes in discussing political freedoms. While Americans often assume they have the most political liberty, Saito suggests otherwise: "Japan has more freedom of speech and freedom of political thoughts than in the US." This cultural perspective challenge reveals how deeply ingrained assumptions about freedom can be.
The conversation reveals specific examples that challenge American assumptions about freedom. While the United States legally prohibits communist parties and restricts travel to Cuba, Japan allows communist parties to operate freely and permits its citizens to travel anywhere in the world. As Yuhl notes, "A lot of countries have more of that type of freedom than the US has."
This realization prompts deeper questions about how societies define and implement freedom. "Every country needs an enemy," Yuhl explains, discussing how American antipathy toward communism stems from decades of government propaganda that helped unite the country during the Cold War. This cultural conditioning continues to influence American perspectives on freedom, even as the original context has changed dramatically.
Saito's confusion about American restrictions highlights how cultural perspective shapes our understanding of liberty: "I have many American friends and many of them, they hate Cuba. They hate Fidel Castro. I don't understand why." This disconnect illustrates how what seems like obvious common sense in one culture can appear puzzling or irrational from another cultural vantage point.
Education: Silence vs. Engagement
The contrasting approaches to education perfectly illustrate how cultural perspective shapes behavior. "At universities, students listen to what the professor says, they take notes, that's it," Saito explains about Japanese education. Yuhl counters with the American approach: "What I really like about U.S. universities is that there's so much interaction with the students and the students challenge you openly in class."
This difference extends beyond the classroom into fundamental cultural values about learning and knowledge transmission. In Japan, even elementary school students are taught to remain silent during lunch periods. "Teachers teach kids, don't talk. Just eat. Focus on eating," Saito explains. This emphasis on quiet concentration and respect for authority carries through to higher education.
The cultural contrast becomes even more apparent in Thai universities, where both Way and Saito have taught. "[It is] very difficult to get Thai students to participate in class," Saito observes. Way adds that this can be frustrating for American professors who expect classroom debate and discussion.
These differences reflect deeper cultural values about authority, knowledge, and learning. The American emphasis on challenging ideas and open debate stems from cultural values of individualism and innovation. As Way explains, "There's so much interaction with the students and the students challenge you openly in class. So you really have to understand your subject enough to understand the value of what maybe that student is challenging about. And that may be an opening to research or a new idea."
Meanwhile, the Japanese and Thai approaches reflect cultural values of respect for authority and group harmony. Neither approach is inherently superior, but understanding these different cultural perspectives can help educators and students adapt their teaching and learning styles in cross-cultural contexts.
The implications extend beyond education into workplace dynamics and innovation. The American tendency to question and challenge contributes to technological advancement, while the Asian emphasis on harmony and respect fosters stronger group cohesion and implementation of established practices. Understanding these cultural differences allows institutions and individuals to consciously choose approaches that best serve their goals.
Breaking Free From Cultural Constraints
The conversation reveals how understanding different cultural perspectives can lead to personal growth and conscious choice. As Yuhl observes, "Every country has to make a decision of where that level of restriction is... Every culture has to decide what's right for them."
This insight suggests that while we may be shaped by our cultural upbringing, awareness of different approaches allows us to consciously choose which cultural practices serve us best. Neither Saito nor Yuhl argues for the superiority of any one system; instead, they demonstrate how understanding multiple cultural perspectives enriches our ability to navigate the world and understand and relate to individuals from other cultures.
The Path Forward
The dialogue between Yuhl and Saito illustrates how exposure to different cultural perspectives can lead to a better understanding of human behavior. As many societies become more connected and others isolate, this ability to see beyond our own cultural conditioning is increasingly necessary.
As Yuhl suggests, it's not about determining which culture is "better," but rather about understanding different approaches and choosing consciously rather than operating on automatic cultural programming.
This understanding offers a path toward both personal growth and a greater understanding of others - essential skills as the world pivots between openness and isolation.
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