Many of those are good things, but there's an ugly side to it and I suspect many of those enforcing conformity are not doing it out of noble intentions.

One example that my wife told me about is that Japanese kids with naturally lighter hair color have been made to dye their hair darker, in order to conform with school codes. That is conformity for conformity's sake and it is very grating to American sensibilities.

Undisciplined

ideasfromtheedge

Don’t Care About Others

cryotosensei

I think there are several factors that contribute to this robust conformity in Japan: unspoken rules of engagement, consideration of other people’s feelings, deference to authority and even to people who are just 1-2 years older than you, a fear that if they step off the well trodden path, they don’t know how to proceed further, etc.

Those who find the social norms suffocating in Japan will find ways to live and work overseas