[Entlin]

Don't you think the whole "lose face" part of the japanese culture is a run down model? With all the mistakes made in the Fukushima plant pre and post incident due to not wanting to lose face (or not controlling enough so that the other party doesn't lose face), it's hard to overlook all the bad things that this concept brings...

Or to ask differently: what do you think is good about the concept?

[studiomohawk]

It does bring bad thing like you pointed out. Sometimes people try too much to keep their faces. However, it does bring good thing like they are a few or no looting in this disaster. I do believe the concept has strong influence on that matter.

But this doesn't relate anything on why Japanse suck at English despite of all hard work on school.

It's a shame from where I see but it's ok cuz most people don't speak English.

Starting today, elementary schools has started to teach English to 5th(10 to 11 years old)graders. So that's 2 more years to learn English which adds up 8 years all together.

We'll have to wait and see our score improve. I doubt it.

[berntb]

The old nuclear plant was hit with both an earthquake and a tsunami over the design limits. It seems to have gone well, considering...

Disclaimer first: I'm absolutely no expert, by very far, on Japan or Japanese culture. I am writing this mostly to get answers from those who know better.

>>Don't you think the whole "lose face" part of the japanese culture is a run down model?

I don't know if I believe the face thing is the bad part.

I admire the hard work and dedication of the Japanese worker.

I'd guess (see disclaimer!) that the present problems rest with the higher levels of organisation in their society. A lack of accountability, from top to bottom.

Japan has, simplified, had a recession for close to two decades. I really don't want to know how a Western society would look in similar circumstances.