Japan

is unique in demonstrating the privilege of culture over economy. Language reveals this in that Japanese focuses more on interpersonal emotions than, say, english, which has many words expressing self-focused emotions.

Triandis (1987, 1994), Streeck (referred in Olofsson, 1999), and Smith (1983) also find the roots of Japanese economic success in socio-cultural factors, including its other-directedness, collectivism, and emphasis on duty over rights. Triandis sees Japan as unique in demonstrating the privilege of culture over economy. One of the ways in which this uniqueness is revealed is in the language. Referring to Kitayama, Triandis reports how the Japanese language has many more interpersonal emotional terms than English. English has many words expressing self-focused emotions, while Japanese has a large vocabulary for other focused emotions. Comparing American and Japanese culture it has also been noticed that Americans attribute success to their own ability, while Japanese will rather point to the help they receive from others. Economic considerations are only one of many calculations informing people's way of behaving.

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