"Transformation of Japanese society"
For the past 6 months, we have aimed to explain the Japanese sense of values
and customs by plainly giving examples that allow foreigners to understand
Japanese people better. I hope it serves as a certain reference for foreigner's
who are planning to do business in Japan although it is evident that the
writer's individual sense of values and individual subjectivity might be
reflected in the articles. However, it is also evident that Japan has accomplished
considerable social change in the last half year since this magazine began.
In the economical field, the protectionism-convoy fleet system, which had
supported the postwar economic growth era, stopped functioning. Because
of that the conventional industrial structure that put values on coexistence
and co-prosperity began to collapse and instead a new order has been organized.
The finance, construction and real estate businesses that have received
benefits under various barriers to entry or regulations have now been weakened.
Instead the auto industry and the semiconductor manufacturing industry
which compete in the international market by self-reliance have now started
to lead the economy. Moreover, companies like YAMATO TRANSPORT and Don
Quixote have been eliminated by barriers to entry or regulations which
will bring new added value to Japanese society from the inner side of our
quest to deregulate and have free competition. The flow to total optimization
systems has led to the collapse of the family principle and agricultural
people-systems. This would include the seniority system and lifelong employment
system which has been replaced by the functional basis hunting-people-system.
In Japan, it has become a virtue for Japanese sports players to give 100% of their life to a game and to follow the directions of their constituents stoically not only on the field but also in daily life just like a monk practicing asceticism. Therefore, we have seen a repeated scene where an athlete finishes with an undesirable result because he or she was not able to demonstrate enough power of their own during international competition. There is also the fear of failure and the thought that they are not competent enough to win. However, the players that challenge themselves in foreign countries and who play an active part on the world stage like Nomo and Ichiro in baseball, Nakata in soccer, or Maruyama in golf have started to arise. What they have in common is that they are mavericks, who have decided to protect their own style stubbornly even though it has been opposed by their constituents in Japan.
Also in respect to politics, at the time of the U.S.-Soviet cold war, Japan
secured a stable room in international society from the umbrella of the
peace constitution and Japan-US Security Treaty. However, it is no longer
allowed for our country to be indifferent to the disputes of a third power
after the Gulf War. It means that this country called Japan has gotten
out of the postwar period gradually with a certain amount of dignity and
grace. It is now recognized as occupying an important position in international
society therefore, Japan has to take responsibility in accordance with
its position.
Thus, the fact Japanese people have become independent and have been asked
for identity in various aspect of the society seems to mean that Japanese
society has been ripened and started to follow the way to global standard
by breaking peculiarity from inner side.
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