Is “Japanese work culture” just being unreasonable?

Hey everyone, I’ve been living and working in Japan for a little over a year now, and I love a lot of things about life here but I’m struggling with something that I’m not sure if I’m just overreacting about.

I work at a mid-sized company, mostly in an office environment. Lately, I’ve noticed that even small delays or minor mistakes get a lot more attention than I expected. For example: if a report is submitted 10 minutes late, even with a good reason, there’s an immediate email from my boss asking for an explanation. If a meeting starts 5 minutes late, someone quietly mentions it to the whole team.

I get that punctuality and diligence are important here, but it sometimes feels like there’s almost no room for human error. I’ve started noticing that coworkers avoid making small mistakes at all costs and honestly, it’s stressful. On one hand, I respect the discipline and efficiency. On the other, I sometimes feel like I’m constantly walking on eggshells, afraid of minor slip-ups.

I’ve tried adjusting by double-checking everything and leaving extra buffer time for meetings, but I still feel anxious. My Japanese coworkers seem calm and unbothered, and I wonder if it’s just me coming from a culture where minor errors are treated more casually.

So I wanted to ask you all:
1. Is this just typical Japanese office culture, or am I seeing a more extreme version of it?

1. How do you balance the pressure to be perfect with mental well-being here?

2. Any tips for staying sane while respecting these cultural norms?

Would really appreciate your perspective, especially from people who have experienced this for a while. I want to adapt, but I don’t want to lose myself in the process!