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How to Practice ‘Hansei,’ the Japanese Art of Self-Criticism
After living in Japan, I realized there may be danger in the American tendency to over-celebrate every victory
“All right, everyone! Time to gather for our hansei-kai,” our teacher announced.
Why? I wondered. Our event had been a success.
It was my first year attending a Japanese school after moving from New York to Tokyo at age 12. In Japanese, the term hansei translates to “reflection” or “introspection,” but this direct translation doesn’t convey the connotation of the word, which is used in a critical sense. It means that we fell short of our full potential and that there’s room for improvement.
Our class had just finished hosting our school’s annual winter festival, an event that was filled with food, games, and good times with our friends. The day went so smoothly that I couldn’t possibly imagine what we needed to talk about. Couldn’t we just go home and rest? Why spoil the happy mood by focusing on our weak points?
But as my classmates made their way to the center of the room, they shared none of my grumblings. Students eagerly raised their hands, pointing out what we could’ve done better and what we should take note of for next year. The discussion was…
