Japanese students learning English and American students studying Japanese face a common challenge that goes far beyond vocabulary and grammar. The real barrier lies in fundamentally different writing structures that have been shaped by thousands of years of cultural development.

This difference isn’t just about language—it’s about completely different ways of thinking that have been cultivated over more than 2000 years of cultural evolution.

Island Nation: The Geographic Foundation of Cultural Isolation
Japan is an island nation, surrounded by ocean on all sides. For centuries, this geographic isolation allowed Japan to develop its unique culture with minimal external influence.

Characteristics of single-culture society:

Communication based on shared context and background knowledge
“Reading the air” and indirect communication
Cultural understanding that doesn’t require explicit explanation
This geographic factor created Japan’s distinctive indirect expression culture, where meaning is often implied rather than stated.

2000 Years of Selective Cultural Adoption
The Yayoi Period (Around 2000 Years Ago)
The first major influx of foreign culture into Japan occurred during the Yayoi period. However, the Japanese adopted only the technologies necessary for survival:

Rice cultivation techniques
Bronze and iron tools
Practical technologies only
Crucially, they did not change their cultural thinking patterns.

The Same Pattern Continues Throughout History
Asuka/Nara Periods:

Chinese culture introduced through diplomatic missions
Adoption of Chinese characters and Buddhism
But adapted to Japanese style (creation of hiragana/katakana, syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism)
Meiji Restoration:

Mass adoption of Western technology
But maintained “Japanese spirit, Western learning” (和魂洋才)
Post-War Period:

Influx of American culture
But interpreted and adapted through Japanese cultural lens
Modern Inbound Tourism: A New Challenge
In recent years, Tokyo and other major cities have seen a dramatic increase in foreign residents. Walking through the city, you hear multiple languages and encounter people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

But can 2000 years of thinking patterns change so easily?

The answer is NO.

“Reading the Air” Culture vs. Direct Expression Culture
Japan’s “Kuuki wo Yomu” (Reading the Air) Culture
Influence of feudal system:

Emphasis on hierarchy and social order
Tendency to avoid direct confrontation
Indirect expression as a virtue
Communication that considers others’ feelings
Results:

Aesthetic of withholding conclusions until the end
Expressions that leave room for interpretation
Writing that relies on readers’ imagination
English-Speaking “Direct Expression” Culture
Foundation of individualism:

Clear expression of personal opinions
Logical responsibility for arguments
Elimination of ambiguity
Results:

Clear statement of conclusions at the beginning
Support through logical evidence
Clear, unambiguous expression
Fundamental Differences in Writing Structure
Japanese: Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu (起承転結)
Ki (起): Setting the scene, introduction
Sho (承): Development of the story, details
Ten (転): Change of perspective, plot twist
Ketsu (結): Conclusion, lingering impression
Characteristics:

Conclusion not revealed until the end
Reliance on readers’ ability to “read between the lines”
Emphasis on emotional flow
English: Thesis-Driven Structure
Hook: Grab the reader’s attention
Introduction + Thesis: Clear statement of argument
Body Paragraphs: Evidence and proof
Conclusion: Reaffirmation of the thesis
Characteristics:

Conclusion stated upfront
Logical proof process
Clear and unquestionable structure
Why Students Struggle
Why Japanese Students Struggle with English Essays
Writing with the assumption that readers will “fill in the blanks”
Psychological resistance to stating conclusions first
Preference for emotional expression over logical explanation
Excessive humility that weakens their arguments
Why American Japanese-Language Learners Struggle
Cannot understand the “Ten (転)” twist in Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu
Don’t understand why conclusions are hidden
Cannot grasp true meaning without cultural background knowledge
Seek logical structure where none exists
The Solution: Cultural Bridge-Building
Grammar Correction Alone Is Insufficient
Many proofreading services focus only on grammar and vocabulary corrections. However, what’s truly needed is understanding of cultural thinking patterns.

What’s Needed: “Cultural Translators”
Experts who understand both thinking patterns
Structural adjustment based on cultural background
Not just language conversion, but “bridges of thought”
Conclusion: 2000 Years vs. Several Decades
Thinking patterns formed over more than 2000 years cannot be easily changed by several decades of globalization.

This is precisely why experts who can understand the cultural background of both Japanese and English writing structures and appropriately bridge them are so essential.

The author of this article has deep understanding of Japanese cultural background while also having experience teaching English-language writing. If you need help adjusting Japanese text to natural, readable English, or adapting English logical structure to Japanese-style flow, please feel free to consult this proofreading service.