Japan's group mentality stumbles with frequent kicks from the Western mind.
Too often, group-think translates to no creativity, no backbone, no individuality. Japan's reputation as a nation of the group versus the individual is used as a convenient explanation for many things Westerners dislike about Japan, things that center around conformity, regulations, and norms.
One of the most quoted Japanese proverbs, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," frequently smirks down in English publications as proof of Japanese traditional, narrow views.