These Japanese businessmen kill me - cheat for decades, and OBVIOUSLY they KNEW what was going on....
Then, once caught, they act all sorry and ashamed.
They weren’t sorry for the fraud - just sorry they got caught.
They might commit hari kari
In Oriental mindset, a crime is allowed; the shame comes from getting caught.
Well said.
I think part of what happened - once caught - is that he and company have “lost face” which is an extremely important oriental concern. As I understand it the shame is quite unbearable. I am not deeply knowledgable of this, but have heard of it, and know it is important. I suspect others here can speak to it much more clearly.
Losing Face in Japan
http://worldslanguages.com/japanese-culture-part2/
Losing Face in China
https://chinaculturecorner.com/2013/10/10/face-in-chinese-business/