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About Me — Miki Toyota
In Japan, I was taught not to ask ‘why’ — here’s how I made curiosity my strength
Growing up, I was a really curious child, consistently wondering, “Why does this work this way?” My father tried to answer every such question I had until I eventually made him run out of answers. Once I was satisfied, I’d move on to my next inquiry. But for a long time, I wasn’t proud of my curiosity.
My Journey to Discovering My Superpower
Everyone has a superpower — not a flashy one like flying or super strength, but a unique ability that sets you apart and makes you who you are. Sometimes, these superpowers are quiet, subtle, and even mistaken for flaws.
“The Nail That Sticks Out”
I was born and raised in Japan, attending public schools where asking “why?” wasn’t exactly encouraged. Teachers focused on conformity and maintaining an “organized” environment. Expressing yourself could sometimes get you in trouble since the group’s opinion always seemed to matter most.
There’s a well-known saying in Japan: The nail that sticks out will be hammered down.
That’s exactly how I felt. From age six to fifteen, I was expected to “fit in,” not be the ‘nail that sticks out,’ whether…
