It seems to me that creativity in the US often exhibits itself in new inventions, whereas in Japan, it lies in perfecting to the nth degree inventions that already exist.
Everyone has folded paper into various shapes, but only the Japanese have made an art form of Origami.
Everyone writes, but the Japanese take calligraphy lessons for there entire lives.
Everyone sticks flowers in pots, but the Japanese also have turned flower arranging into an art form.
Rock gardens, flower gardens, kiminos, swords, food arranging on a plate, the tea ceremony, even climbing Mt Fuji have become stylized art forms.
The Lexus is a lot more reliable than the Mercedes, but it still lacks the aura of something that is engineered rather than designed.
Daihatsu had a weird little SUV called the Naked. The owner bought it as is, then personalized it with all manner of decorative and luxurious flourishes. It wasn't sold in the US. Now Toyota is promoting something similar with the Scion.
Colonialism has been declared evil, but I cannot help but think that the Japanese occupation of Taiwan is at least partially responsible for the huge disparity between Taiwan and pretty anywhere on the mainland.
Singapore and Hong Kong are obvious other successes, but in both of them the British created the organizational framework.'
It is pretty clear that diversity is a boon to creativity.
Anatole France said "To learn a new language is to gain a soul."
