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I don't think it can be ignored as a factor. Not that I want to overgeneralize or stereotype all Japanese as being the same (they certainly aren't), but I must admit that my own upbringing did not encourage straight talk or being honest about my opinions with others. Here's another real-life example I've had the opportunity to observe: I was part of a large organization in which a local manager was doing what can only be called an incompetent job. However, instead of directly calling this person out, pointing his mistakes for all (which in this case, I think would have been valuable in terms of setting an example) and swiftly rectifying the situation, his superior gave oblique general statements at meetings, etc. in the hopes that this guy would basically "get the hint" and fix things. In theory, this would allow the manager the opportunity to avoid embarrassing himself, but he was so far gone the problems just metastasized (I'm not involved anymore). It doesn't seem to make any rational sense, but it does from a cultural perspective.
As to your first question, I'd say it's very hard to switch from the deliberative, cooperative mode to rapid response in Japan. I can honestly say that Japanese society generally does not favor those who emerge with strong, decisive and outspoken personalities. Did you know that famed director Akira Kurosawa was actually more popular outside of Japan than within? A lot of this had to do with the fact that his films were artistically unique, embraced Western film traditions (which was quite iconoclastic) and were not afraid to be critical of Japanese society. He had a hell of time getting funding for his later projects.
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