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Much
is made of the Japanese work ethics.
In fact during the 70s and 80s, the predominant position of
Japanese companies scared the rest of the world to a point that senior
managers were learning Japanese, visiting Japanese manufacturing plants,
and talking about kanban and
just-in-time (JIT) as they talk about
digital economies and e-commerce today.
Japanese business practices of fair treatment of employees, flat
organization structures, and total commitment to work were hailed as the
standards to follow.
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The
situation is much different today. While
no reliable alternative has emerged, it does not seem likely that Japanese
business practices are likely to be re-embraced.
The bad loans in the banking sector, slow reaction to need for
change in the manufacturing sector, and continued inaction by the
Government of Japan – these are not likely to inspire many executives to
look to Japan for guidance. Japan
is mired in recession and this is significantly impacting the
socio-economic structure as well. Japan
is getting old, birthrate is declining, and the close-knit family
structure is gradually disappearing.
The social values that resulted in the current mess emerged during
the
bubble – work was foremost during those days even if it came at the
expense of family. The
tightly controlled media in Japan extolled the virtues of a housewife
tirelessly raising a family while the absentee husband built an economic
superpower. No sacrifice was
large enough when the success of Japan, Inc. was concerned.
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 Japanese
men today are lost. While the
country no longer provides the opportunities of 10-20 years ago, the
current generation still can not figure out what to do with their lives. The generation that practically lived at the workplace during
the bubble has no outlet for its pent-up energy now
that the Japanese
companies do not need them to work beyond 5 PM.
While many of these men still hang out at their offices, it is not
because they are getting any real work done – they have nowhere to go.
Their wives and children developed their own networks and lifestyle
during the days of ‘absentee husband’ and ‘absentee father’ –
they do not need him any more, except to pay the bills.
What about golf
outings, expensive dinners, and drinks at exclusive
hostess bars – companies are no longer picking up the tab.
For
all those men who sacrificed their youth sitting in their offices or
listening to demanding customers, this is a time of great frustration.
A ten year gaijin resident of Tokyo writes, “I think that
Japanese men are not heroes, but victims of an economic machine that uses
its people like wood pulp to turn out paper (bills) so that everyone else
can have a good time. Sure
they sacrifice themselves, but all this ends up in is mundane and absurd
suffering, wasted time, and a death spent pondering the fact that they've
been denied human interaction with those that they're supposed to love the
most.” When Meesh Matsumoto
tried to
admire the contributions of Japanese men towards making Japan such a great
country, she asked some tough questions, “The Japanese men are pretty
cool, but they are not the master race.
No one is. They may
have done a lot for their country but so are men (and women) all over the
world.”
We
still believe that Japanese men played a critical role in making Japan the
second
largest economy in the world.
The economic problems facing Japan today are not of their making
– there are certain fundamental flaws with the Japanese economic system
and an average salaryman had nothing to do with it.
The bursting of the technology bubble in the US should further
illustrate to women and men all over the world that there is life beyond
work. An average company employee never truly reaps the rewards of
economic success. Those who
believe otherwise and sacrifice their personal lives as well will regret
when the reality strikes back. It
is a good time for Japanese men to rethink their missions in life and it
is not too late for them to reconnect with their families and loved ones.
Brian Albrecht, who has
worked in Japan advises Japanese men that, "Work should not rule their
lives and companies should not control their lives. They should try
to understand that they are working for their families and that their
family is MORE IMPORTANT than their job."
Recommended: Has
Japan lost its soul? Japanese
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Japanese
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view of Japanese businessmen
Information
about Japan Japan
as a homogeneous society Honne
and tatemae Faking
it Life
of a salaryman
Discrimination
in Japan Making
friends in Japan Generation
gap in Japan Dissolving
stereotypes of Japan
How to find work in
Japan
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