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This weekend, my reading led me to reflect on the familiar childhood game of musical chairs and the different perspectives it offers. As children, many of us were introduced to this game, and it has appeared in various forms throughout our lives.

The Traditional Game: A Battle for Survival

In the traditional version of musical chairs, ten kids compete for nine chairs. When the music stops, the child without a chair is out of the game. Each round, a chair is removed, and another child is eliminated until only one remains—the winner.

This version of the game teaches kids to hustle, race, and do whatever it takes to secure a chair. It becomes a battle where success means outcompeting everyone else. The underlying message is clear: to succeed, you must eliminate others.

This fosters a culture of “Myself first,” and exclusion becomes an ingrained lesson.

The Japanese Version: A Lesson in Cooperation

In Japan, there’s a different take on musical chairs. Here, ten kids also start with nine chairs, but the rule is that if any one child cannot find a chair, everyone loses. When the music stops, the children work together to ensure everyone finds a seat. They help each other, sometimes even sitting on each other’s laps as the chairs decrease, ensuring no one is left out. In this version, there are no losers—only winners.

The Japanese version teaches children that true success lies in helping each other. Cooperation and inclusion become the core values.

Shifting Perspectives: From Competition to Cooperation

These contrasting versions of the same game highlight two different cultural approaches to success. The traditional game promotes competition and exclusion, while the Japanese version fosters cooperation and inclusion.

In life, real success is not about beating others but about working together and supporting one another. By embracing the spirit of cooperation, we can create an environment where everyone thrives.