ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Opinion

Japan's obsession with perfection is an Olympic-sized problem

When clockwork does not work

| Japan
A hospital staff member checks the temperature of Pfizer's vaccine on Feb. 16: Japan's systemic myopia creates a muddled micro-focus that lacks vision.   © Reuters

Roland Kelts is the author of "Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the U.S.", an editor of "Monkey: New Writing from Japan," and a visiting professor at Waseda University.

Japan is world-famous for its punctual and efficient customer service, and for most of the pandemic -- with the country under varying degrees of lockdown -- this has been a godsend.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more