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Perfectionism in Japan: Why Speaking English Feels So Hard
Perfectionism makes sushi an art — but it keeps 88.8% of Japanese silent in English
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Perfectionism makes sushi an art — but conversations are meant to be messy, not masterpieces.
“I Can’t Speak English.” “I’m Sorry for My Poor English.”
If you’ve ever been in a conversation in Japan, you’ve probably heard — or even said — these phrases.
I’ve met people who could hold a conversation just fine, yet their first instinct was to dismiss their abilities.
. Only 1 in 10 people feel comfortable speaking. That means 9 others are holding back — not because they lack ability, but because they fear not being perfect.
The Pressure to Be Perfect
Japan’s attention to detail is admired worldwide — carefully prepared sushi, kintsugi pottery repaired with gold, bullet trains that arrive to the second, and gifts so perfectly wrapped you hesitate to open them.
Perfectionism isn’t inherently bad. It’s what makes Japanese craftsmanship so iconic…
