The national trait: The cult of reading between the lines

Did you have a debate class in school? In Japan, certainly not when I was a student, even 30 years ago. After entering the real world, we are culturally programmed to avoid stating things in black and white. This tradition—arguably an ancient wisdom to prevent making lasting enemies in our insular community—creates a problem: Consensus is formed so vaguely that even attendees sometimes miss it.

Consequently, instead of practicing the art of effective discussion, we are forced to become masters of reading between the lines (kūki o yomu).

Fortunately, I received extensive debate training while working for the government. We debated classic topics: the death penalty, daylight saving time, and, critically, volunteering. In some countries, volunteering is mandatory in schools and workplaces, but not in Japan. This cultural aversion might explain why Japan ranked embarrassingly low (second worst) in the 2022 World Giving Index.

The volunteering dilemma: Why free will is a myth

One of the central attacks in our “Mandatory Volunteering” debate was a philosophical contradiction: “How can something based on free will become mandatory?”

While not a fatal debate blow, this strict philosophical thinking highlights a cultural barrier to charity. Many people hesitate, asking: “Am I doing this for self-satisfaction?”

The dark truth, depicted in films like Poverty, Inc., is that unsolicited charity driven by pure self-satisfaction can be incredibly destructive. My solution, however, is not to fight the impulse but to embrace it: We must establish a common-sense understanding that charity is fundamentally for self-satisfaction. This approach simplifies everything, making it easier to start giving and easier to politely refuse ill-fitting charity offers.

This fear of impure motivation is particularly ironic because, as I’ve discussed before, neuroscience suggests there is no free will in the first place. Let’s face the harsh reality: 95% of our daily actions are unconscious biological reactions. What about the remaining 5%? I suspect it’s mostly rational decisions driven by cold cost-benefit analyses.

Taking the red pill: The joy of irrationality

In the capitalistic world, we are driven by profit, guided by market forces, and stripped of free will. If that’s all there is, life sounds futile.

So, here’s my advice: Let’s take the red pill, step outside the matrix of capitalism, and do something irrationally kind once in a while!

Last month, we donated our furniture to a local children’s home. I personally helped with the delivery and felt genuinely happy watching the kids cluster around our new sofas with huge smiles. I am confident their smiles motivated us far more than any small pay raise ever could.

In that sense, charity work may be rational even within the market mechanism: it’s the purest form of non-monetary profit. We get to feel good, and the furniture serves its highest purpose. It’s a win-win, regardless of the myth of free will.

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