Having one foot in Japanese culture and the other in American, I think there's a lot of saving face in Japan too (as with Asian and Western cultures in general)

Having one foot in Japanese culture and the other in American, I think there's a lot of saving face in Japan too (as with Asian and Western cultures in general), just it doesn't take the form of cover-ups in the business world as much. It's not foreign in American culture, either. My understanding is in the us Navy for junior officers and enlisteds anyways covering up is the worst thing you can do; you can cause catastrophic accidents that if they don't kill anyone will result in no punishment besides a "what did we learn here?" lecture. Not as true in the upper, more political ranks so I understand.