Member-only story
Why Japanese Developers Write Code Completely Differently (And Why It Works Better)
I’ve been studying Japanese software development practices for the past three years, and what I discovered completely changed how I think about writing code.
While Western developers are obsessing over the latest JavaScript framework or arguing about tabs vs. spaces, Japanese developers are quietly building some of the most reliable, maintainable software in the world using principles that would make most Silicon Valley engineers roll their eyes.
The secret? They treat code like a Toyota Camry, not a Tesla.
The Philosophy That Changes Everything
Monozukuri: The Art of Making Things
In Japan, there’s a concept called monozukuri (ものづくり) — literally “the art of making things.” It’s not just about manufacturing physical products; it’s a philosophy that emphasizes craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and taking pride in the creation process itself.
Japanese developers don’t just write code. They craft it.
When I interviewed Hiroshi Nakamura, a senior engineer at a major Japanese tech company, he put it this way: “In the West, you write code to ship features. In Japan, we write code to last decades. The…
