Michael Cash wrote:
>
> That old chestnut needs to be retired on a full pension already. The
> operant expression these days would be the one which makes mention of
> squeaky wheels and grease.

In what way is it an old chestnut.  AFAIK the nail that gets hammered is an
old Japanese saying while the squeaky wheel being greased in an American one
which has not been adopted into Japanese culture.  The two though nicely
contrast the cultures though.

Thought the following might give a nice insight into the problem and its
solution

http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/internationalstudies/japan/japaninstitute/p-12/lessons/4-%20Decision%20Making%20in%20Japan/groups.pdf

Tony