The Japanese have very specific ways of dealing with people and situations. Their culture is thousands of years old and relies heavily, in my opinion, on a narrowly defined social hierarchy. Given the crowded conditions in which they live, it may be a necessary thing. What works for them, however, is not always what works for us, especially in the pressure-cooker environment of the airliner cockpit.
As an expatriate worker, if you don’t fit in you will find yourself ejected in short order. If you have made the effort to understand their culture, however, they will make every effort to accept you in return, and will even carry you great lengths if you are incompetent; such is their commitment to their fellows. Herein resides, ironically, the primary safety concerns.