10. But darn it all, they’re so weirdly optimistic you just can’t stay irritated at them.
In Japan, there is great fear of failure and mistakes in front of other people. It is better to do nothing and avoid being criticized than to taste the humiliation of failure. As a result, there are things we wanted to do, but did not, and often regret.
In America, you can make mistakes, fail, and it doesn’t matter. It is a fundamental feeling that to sometimes be incorrect is natural. In addition, rather than thinking about mistakes and failures, Americans have curiosity and say, "Let’s try anyway!"
"Ann" had cried on my hand while kissing it because of the great process improvement I gave her. Later she attacked me for 'mistakes" her department made. She experienced unbearable personal tension at perceived errors.
sacra-pizza-man.org/business-etiquette-in-cultures-with-rabidly-paranoid-fear-of-failure/
Ikiru (1952) A bureaucrat with a fatal disease defies conventional governmental intransigence, drives through a project to give a park to people in a poor neighborhood. His colleagues reflect on their frustrated lives at his funeral dinner.
Considered by some to be Akira Kurosawa’s greatest achievement, Ikiru presents the director at his most compassionate—affirming life through an exploration of a man’s death.
Ikiru is an excellent movie - i think every government employee should be required to view it and it should be shown in schools during govt/citizenship courses.