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In Japan, the Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered Down
But what happens when you can’t help but stand out?
Growing up in Japan, I was constantly reminded of this proverb: “出る釘は打たれる” (Deru kugi wa utareru), meaning “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” It emphasized conformity, but my experiences abroad taught me something different.
Being different isn’t a flaw — it’s a strength.
Our unique experiences shape who we are, not societal expectations. They make us the “nail that sticks out” — but in a way that should be celebrated, not suppressed.
Yet, for many in Japan, standing out is not a choice but a reality shaped by circumstances. Single parents, particularly single mothers, often find themselves in this position. Despite being one of the world’s wealthiest nations, Japan continues to struggle with child poverty.
- children in Japan lives in poverty.
- fall below the poverty line.
- of single mothers in Japan work full-time, yet 56% still live in poverty.
How can we, as a society, better support those who “stick out” — not by choice, but by circumstance?
