Japanese Success Story - The Secret Recipe

Japanese Success Story - The Secret Recipe

By Aziz Mohammad

The Intergenerational Debt

It takes at least two to start a war, and ideally both the victor and the vanquished are obliged to share the responsibility for the damages inflicted. However, might is always right, and World War II was no exception.

While for the other partners to the crime, namely Japan's former allies and adversaries, retributions had mostly been confined to a handful of individuals been convicted as war criminals, Japan as a nation will continue to literally pay the blood money in perpetuity.

Thus, while no compensations are due to the families of the more than one hundred thousand innocent civilians who had perished in the killing fields of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the Japanese are expected to obediently entertain the seemingly endless stream of claims for the wrongs committed by their ancestors - the latest being from the comfort ladies.

Price of Prosperity

Perhaps as a penalty for Japan's remarkable economic recovery, Japan bashers are always quick to nudge her to shoulder the bulk of the funding for the international Official Development Assistance, as well as for other missions of mercy in the name of fulfilling her global responsibility.

Although Japan, like scores of other countries worldwide, is also adversely affected by the gloomy economic environment, the fact that powerful nations are pestering and cajoling Japan to revitalize her economy is a comforting tribute to Japanese influence on the global scenario.

A Tale of Toils, Tears and Determination

The transition from despair to determination had been agonizingly memorable, and the tougher things get the more creative the Japanese were said to become. The fact that Japanese products are no longer branded as the cheaper substitutes for the real things is a clear testimony of Japanese ingenuity.

National strategies were unanimously accepted and vigorously pursued by all. Maintaining a high propensity to save in order to generate surpluses for investment and for use in times of need had demanded sacrifices, to the extent of the general public having to adopt frugal lifestyles to curb consumer expenditure. Similarly, other strategies such as its anti-crisis response to recession or stagnation by expanding market shares abroad through concerted aggressive sales efforts in high-income countries, and abstaining from dependence on foreign capital to avoid domination by foreign multinational corporations had received the full support and commitment from the business community.

The present day Zaibatsus (giant family concerns) and Sogo Soshas (general trading companies controlling the country's import-export trade; acting also as bankers, insurers, warehousers, distributors and providers of up-to-date market information) should be constantly reminded of their predecessors' age-old winning recipe of profit and patriotism that had made them invincible in global commercial scuffles and had enabled their country to withstand previous onslaughts on their economy.

History acknowledges, and eager young minds should be made to understand, that the corner stone of the Japanese success story was the human factor; the human element had successfully outweighed Japan's lack of natural resources, particularly her dependence on imported raw materials and energy sources.

Their forefathers had placed their trust in traditional close-knit family ties that extended to business circles, a cooperative labour force disciplined by indigenous work ethics, conservative management practices that emphasized seniority-based promotions, loyalty to social superiors and consensus decision-making. These had ensured stability of the organization and security for all concerned.

Their readiness to acquire, adapt and improve new technological advancements, and hence their creativity, was driven by a more lofty sense of purpose among the masses.

A Cautionary Note

However, the slip from success to complacency is but a step away. Downfall is more painful and recovery more difficult for the generation that has been pampered with the good things in life.

Affluence is taking its toll on the Japanese. A particularly disturbing tendency is the prominence of individualistic considerations vis-a-vis the long term interest of the family. Their unwillingness to share with their would be off-springs their love, time and money as well as the common resources of this world, is manifested in the changing perception of the appropriate family size. The total fertility rate has fallen to crisis level, and with a longer life span, the percentage of the elderly is said to constitute a quarter of the total population. The working age population will have to contribute more in the form of taxes to support a growing proportion of those in the older age groups. This situation will continue to worsen if couples keep shirking their responsibility in raising a family.

If left unchecked, such uncaring attitude may subsequently be directed towards their parents once the latter ceased to be economically productive. While the majority of the greying population might not have to look forward to spending the rest of their lives in the cardboard homes on the pavements of the Shinjuku station, the possibility of being left in very peaceful and efficiently run, yet pitifully lonely old folks homes, is not an unlikely prospect.

The Big Bang

The Japanese government is serious in imposing the comprehensive Big Bang reform; reminiscent of the more domestic oriented Meiji era reforms. However, if complacency on the part of those involved in its implementation is allowed to persist, the planned deregulation in the form of globalization of money, information and people is not expected to achieve radical effects.

A More Positive Outlook

However, it is still not too late. Family disintegration and the culture of labour unrest are yet to gain acceptance in Japanese society. Although it has been said that after prolonged involvements abroad, the Gaijins 'just want to go home and drink Coke', the same has not been heard about the Japanese and their Sake, neither has their perseverance been found to be lacking inspite of challenging ventures overseas.

In this respect, guidance and inspiration should come from the past, for history tends to repeat itself at different times and places.

Thus, while lamenting and brooding about the past during the annual soul-searching mourning for victims of the atomic bombs may be regarded by some as counter-productive, such seemingly ceremonial rituals have served well in providing the regular emotional boost towards a common goal.

Indeed, the key to sustainable success is the continuous rejuvenation of the will to win. With unwavering unity of purpose, adjustments, particularly in terms of consolidation and concentration, would enable the Japanese people to weather the current economic turbulence.

Should the need arises, Sumo-san would not hesitate to go on diet in order to develop the agility of a Ninja master.

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