Fear of failure is a powerful motivator in Japan because failure brings shame—and shame is deeply social. When you fail, you fail visibly, before people whose opinions matter. Your parents know you failed the exam. Your colleagues know you missed the target.
Your family knows you lost the competition. This visibility intensifies the stakes: you are not merely risking private disappointment but public shame that affects relationships. The desire to avoid this shame drives precautionary effort—you work harder to ensure success so you will not have to face the consequences of falling short. This negative motivation operates alongside positive motivation: you strive toward achievement and away from the shame of failure, both forces pushing in the same direction.
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