Japanese standard

The other day when I visited a professor in Nagoya University, one of the students in his lab explained his research to me. He looked quite serious about convincing me his experimental results. I asked him.
"What hopefully is the use of your research?"
"Well, I hope it will be used in the flat panel TV."
"Then what do you think is the problem for its application?"
"Well.... maybe its life.... And intensity. and.." he replied glancing from time to time at the professor as if to say "help me please."
Then the professor answered my question.
This is a typical scene whenever I visit university labs in Japan. In US, in Germany, in Austria, Switzerland, I have visited many universities and had students explain about their researches. But few students are like that. They look quite confident with unwavering eye-contact throughout their explanation and answering my question. No one look to their professor for help. They look exactly taking whole responsibility for what they are doing. I wonder where this difference comes from... To be continued. No time today.
　I asked the student one last question
"Do you like your research?"
He said. "...はい。まあ。" Again he looked to his dear professor.