Japanese culture is radically different from the cultures of America and Europe. This isn't simply about popular entertainment or language, but about fundamental differences in how society and the world are viewed. In recent years some those differences have not appeared quite so obvious - but the recent release of the Japanese hostages in Iraq have uncovered just how significant the differences really are. While released hostages are celebrates in America or Europe, in this case they are reviled in Japan.

The New York Times reports:

"You got what you deserve!" one Japanese held up a hand-written sign at the airport where they landed. "You are Japan's shame," another wrote on the Web site of one of the hostages. They had "caused trouble" for everybody. The government, not to be outdone, announced it would bill them $6,000 for airfare. Treated like criminals, the three have gone into hiding, effectively becoming prisoners inside their own homes. The kidnapped woman was last seen arriving at her parents' house, looking defeated and dazed from taking tranquilizers, flanked by relatives who helped her walk and bow deeply before the media, as a final apology to the nation.

Pursuing individual goals by defying the government and causing trouble for Japan was simply unforgivable. So the single government official to praise them was, not surprisingly, an American one. "Well, everybody should understand the risk they are taking by going into dangerous areas," said Secretary of State Colin Powell. "But if nobody was willing to take a risk, then we would never move forward. We would never move our world forward. "And so I'm pleased that these Japanese citizens were willing to put themselves at risk for a greater good, for a better purpose. And the Japanese people should be very proud that they have citizens like this willing to do that."

As an example of the unbridgeable gap between Japan and America, consider this comment by Yasuo Fukuda, the government's spokesman: "They may have gone on their own but they must consider how many people they caused trouble to because of their action." ... According to [ Dr. Satoru Saito, a psychiatrist who has examined the three], the 18-year-old Mr. Imai registered a blood pressure of 150. Ms. Takato, who had a pulse rate of over 120 beats per minute, kept bursting into tears. When the doctor told her she had done good work in Iraq, she cried convulsively and said, "But I've done wrong, haven't I?"

There are certainly plenty of people in America and Europe who will look askance at those who put themselves in a dangerous situation like Iraq and who will argue, at least to a certain degree, that they must accept that there may be bad consequences for it. Still, there are few who will argue that it is wrong to go into harm's way in order to help others - usually these arguments will be accompanied by attempts to claim that the volunteers weren't actually helping anyone. There is a need to show that there was no good cause that might be seen as worth the risk.

When the cause is arguably good, however, then just about all of the negative reaction is aimed at the hostage takers or attackers, not those who are kidnapped or injured. They may have done something dangerous, but they are still respected for following their consciences and helping others - and people expect their governments to do something to help them. Japan is different, however - very different. There, people who defy their superiors and follow their consciences are still attacked as having something wrong with them. Obedience to the chain of command is still regarded as one's first duty, regardless of what else is going on.

Read More:

• Guide to Ethics and Morality
• Bioethics
• War on Terrorism
• Religion in Iraq