Is This Famous Japanese Saying Really True?
A famous Japanese proverb says:
"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
Yet after years of travelling through Japan's remote communities and researching healthy aging, I've come to a different conclusion.
The healthiest communities I've encountered are not those that suppress individuality.
They're the ones that create space for it within a strong culture of belonging.
I've explored this paradox more fully in my latest Japan Solo article on Substack.
https://open.substack.com/pub/japansolo/p/the-nail-that-sticks-out-gets-hammered
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
About me:
I'm Lowell Sheppard, author, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Founder of the Never Too Late Academy, and Special Advisor to the International Academic Forum (IAFOR). Through Japan Solo Field Notes, I explore longevity, community, purpose, and healthy aging across Japan.
Learn more:
Never Too Late Academy
https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/
#Japan #Community #Longevity #HealthyAging #JapaneseCulture #Leadership #Individuality #Belonging #JapanSolo #Purpose
Japan Solo
Lowell Sheppard: The 71-year-old 'Never Too Later' who traded life in Tokyo for a solo odyssey, transitioning from Pacific ambitions to the Japan Solo longevity project.
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