Working in America: Clear Authority, “Just Try It” Culture & Meritocracy

10 Great Things About America After Living Here for 20 Years (Part 2)

Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive.

Today, I’ll be continuing from my previous article to share “10 Great Things About America.”

This is entirely my personal perspective, so there may be differing opinions, but I hope you’ll bear with me.

Check out the previous article here!

10 Best Things About Living in America After 20 Years Here (Part 1)

7. Clear Responsibility and Authority

In American companies and organizations, employees are given clear responsibility and authority.

This makes the decision-making process incredibly smooth.

People clearly communicate whether or not they have decision-making power, so if they do, things move forward right on the spot.

If they don’t have that authority, they’ll say something like, “I don’t have the authority to decide this, so please speak with this person,” and direct you to the right contact.

This system dramatically improves business efficiency.

Not only does decision-making speed up, but accountability becomes crystal clear as well.

Differences from Japanese Culture: Job Descriptions

Additionally, because each employee clearly understands their role and authority, they can approach their work with confidence.

Unlike Japan’s culture of “Horenso” (reporting, contacting, and consulting with superiors for decisions), each individual in America clearly understands the scope of their own authority and responsibility.

This is because everything is documented in detailed “job descriptions.”

Job descriptions outline the responsibilities, authority, and duties required for each position, and employees act based on these guidelines.

Thanks to this clarity, work proceeds smoothly and decisions are made quickly.

America’s Sales Tax as an Example

Also, when problems arise, it’s immediately clear who should handle them, enabling quick resolution.

An interesting example of this distributed authority is how sales tax is determined.

In Japan, even a 1% increase in consumption tax causes a national uproar, but in America, sales tax changes frequently.

This is because sales tax isn’t determined solely at the federal level—states and cities also have a say.

The federal government sets a base rate, states can add to that, and cities can add even more on top.

In other words, if a mayor wants to raise sales tax, they can make that decision independently.

This distribution of authority means decisions can be made quickly without causing major disruption.

8. The “Just Try It” Culture

America has a deeply rooted culture of “just try it first.”

This is personally one of my favorite things about living here.

The barriers to experimenting with new ideas and technologies are remarkably low.

Take Tesla’s autonomous driving technology as an example.

Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability allow you to actually experience autonomous driving on real roads.

In Japan, putting such technology into practical use would be extremely difficult due to strict laws and regulations.

However, in America, there’s an attitude of “What’s prohibited is prohibited, but everything else is OK at your own risk.”

From “Just Try It” to Driverless Taxi Testing

A recent example is the approval of 24-hour driverless taxis in San Francisco.

I haven’t personally used one yet, but according to people who have, there’s still room for improvement.

For instance, the taxi might not arrive at the designated pickup location, or it might not stop exactly where you want to get off.

However, this is considered within the realm of personal responsibility, and the “just try it first” attitude prevails.

This culture is especially advantageous for entrepreneurs.

Rather than waiting for perfection before launching a product or service, you start with a test run.

If problems arise, you improve and try again.

By repeating this cycle, you gradually get closer to the ideal.

“Just Try It” Drives Innovation

This “just try it first” spirit is essential for developing cutting-edge technology.

By actually testing new ideas in the real world, you can identify problems and areas for improvement that couldn’t be predicted in theory alone.

Moreover, by gathering feedback from actual users, you can develop more practical products and services.

This is probably why technology companies from around the world flock to America.

In tech hubs like Silicon Valley, new ideas are constantly being born, tested, and refined.

I believe this culture is one of the key sources of America’s strength.

9. A True Meritocracy

The ninth great thing about America is that it’s a true meritocracy.

I genuinely feel that if you have the skills, anyone can be recognized here.

The most prominent example would be Shohei Ohtani.

From America’s perspective, he’s a foreigner—and an Asian at that.

Yet his abilities are widely recognized, and he receives extensive media coverage.

Before he transferred to the Dodgers, when I visited Angel Stadium, there were countless fans wearing Ohtani jerseys.

Most of them were Americans.

As a Japanese person, it’s a truly heartwarming sight.

Opportunities Exist for Everyone

Now flip it around: if an American player performed as well as Ohtani in Japan, how many Japanese fans would wear that player’s jersey to cheer them on?

It makes you think, doesn’t it?

In America, there’s a culture of recognizing and celebrating people with great talent and ability, regardless of race or background.

People who take on challenges and strive to accomplish something are wholeheartedly supported by those around them.

I believe this culture is what makes the “American Dream” possible.

In other words, the more challenges you take on, the more likely you are to be rewarded.

This is one of America’s greatest appeals in my opinion.

10. Amazing Beer Culture

Finally, switching gears a bit from the previous topics, I’d like to talk about America’s amazing beer culture.

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a cold beer under California’s blue sky.

The streetscapes and atmosphere of the establishments are wonderful, and there’s an abundance of food that pairs perfectly with beer.

Burgers, fries, and so many other dishes go incredibly well with a cold brew.

Recently, more and more places offer craft beer, allowing you to enjoy a diverse range of flavors.

Pairing Food to Match the Beer?

What’s interesting is that in America, people tend to choose food to complement their beer.

I could be wrong, but in Japan, I feel it’s often the opposite—people choose drinks to enhance the food.

In Japan, the ingredients are the star and the drink plays a supporting role, but in America, it feels like the beer takes center stage and the food plays backup.

Countless breweries have emerged across America, producing distinctive, high-quality craft beers.

You can enjoy a wide variety of styles—IPAs, pale ales, stouts, and so much more.

I highly encourage everyone to try American beer, especially local craft brews.

I’m sure you’ll be amazed by how delicious they are.

Experiencing America’s beer culture might just open up a whole new world of enjoyment for you.