In present day, Japanese society and its culture embodies many of the same concepts on which the Western world has been built. Democratization, globalization, industrialization and ongoing modernization are fundamental concepts that have contributed to the modern worlds of both the United States and Japan. Nonetheless, it can also be said that, although both of these societies are built upon similar foundations, differing cultural characteristics and the way in which societal structures are organized can also be noted.
Japan is viewed by many as a cohesive society that lacks individualism. This lack of individualism may be explained through a combination of different suppositions. The concept of amae and the ie system are two widely accepted concepts that help to explain the cohesive unity of the Japanese people as a nation.
Amae, which is considered to be a "unique psychological inclination among the Japanese to seek emotional satisfaction by prevailing upon and depending upon their superiors." is a mind-set in which there is to be no need for personal displays of individualism. Characteristics of an individual are not viewed as being of primary importance. It is, instead, the group that an individual is associated with that the Japanese society values. "In group identification, a frame such as "company" or "association" is of primary importance; the attribute of the individual is secondary Thus, the criterion by which the Japanese classify individuals socially tends to be one of institutional affiliation, rather than universal attribute." .
People in Japan often keep with the same employer for the entirety of their working years. To a large extent, this is due to the fact that a person's rank in a company is based on seniority. Thus, the longetivity of an individual's loyalty to a specific institution directly correlates to the value, respect and rank that he receives within that institution.
