Basic HTML Version
Japan's success, however, is not
adaptation, innovation or creativity.
Neither is it devotion to individual
effort and hard work.
The real key to success is cooper–
ation.
Cooperatlon and Hard Work
While J apan as a whole epitomizes
the "spirit of competition" with
regard to its nervous trade partners,
within each company the opposite
principies of teamwork and cooper–
ation hold forth.
Because of these factors the J ap–
anese have the edge over competi–
tor countries where labor and man–
agement and often government are
all too often pitted against one
another.
Westerners may laugh at stories
about Japanese workers singing
company songs before the morning
work shift-or doing group cal is–
thenics to "work up the blood"
before charging the work area–
but these teamwork and loyalty–
molding techniques work. Ask any
American worker in J apanese–
owned plants in the United States
where similar but modified prac–
tices have been adopted. They'll tell
you their benefits.
Journal ist Brian James, writing
in the British newspaper,
The Dai–
ly Mail,
wrote a three-part series in
his newspaper (November 29, 30
and December 1, 1982) warning
his readers of an "Asian-run world
by the year 200
l."
The world, Mr. J ames said, "is
tilting out of our control. Within
20 years, the Asían nations could
substantially control what happens
to the economies of the rest ... in
effect, who works, who eats."
He saw a display of robots at an
industrial exposttlon. Japan has
nearly 80,000 robots performing
routine work today.
By far the leading nation in " ro–
botics," J apan is expected to have
10,000,000 of the human-replacing
machines by the end of the century;
roughly one robot per 1O Japa–
nese.
At the exposition one Western
observer said, " 1 have seen the
future-and it works." His more
perceptive companion said: " 1 have
seen the future ... and it's me
NOT
working."
Decadent West Loslng the Race
Author James then compared the
J apanese dynamo with the declin–
ing, decaying cultures of the
English-speaking wor ld:
" Look at Britain. We were like
them once; full of religion, belief in
the value of work, fair day's pay
and all that. Times change.
"Look at America. Thirty years
ago you'd have said the same about
them; dynamic, go-getting. Then a
new generation comes along. They
run into problems; drugs, slum cit–
ies, disrespect for el ders and
authority, abandon old ideas on
thrift or possessions."
Significantly, aut hor James
asked of his British countrymen–
"Will
we
be the coolies of the 21st
century?"
As if to answer the question, he
relayed an incident that occurred at
a late evening business dinner in
Tokyo. With bis normal inhibitions
a bit relaxed, a J apanese business–
man told Mr. J ames:
"We know how we want the
future. We will use the U.S. as our
grain bowl, and Australia as our
mine." And Europe? "Europe," he
said, "Yes, that will be our bou–
tiqu~."
Growlng Dlsrespect for Amerlca
Astute J apanese observers can see
what's happening inside the United
States and other skidding powers of
the West. One such observer is Eiji
Kobayashi, professor of economics
at the University of Nara in Japan.
He has visited America five times
and is greatly disturbed at the
changes he has seen taking place.
He told reporters for an American
political journal:
" I n the past several decades,
Americans have grown less disci–
pl ined and less hard-working. They
are more decadent and concerned
only with their own self-interest."
Japanese, said Professor Kobaya–
shi, "see the United States growing
weaker and weaker-not just eco–
nomically, but also militarily.
America is no longer a model for
us, technologically.... As Japan
has grown as a great economic
power, we have more frictions and
confiicts with your country, and
economic friction often leads to
greater contlicts."
When he first visited the United
States about 20 years ago, Professor
Kobayashi continued, " 1felt a certain
inferiority, because America was so
much more prosperous than Japan.
Like most J a panese, 1 admired
America. But today, the situation is
reversed. Japan is much more pros–
perous and efficient than the United
States. Our sense of inferiority has
turned into a feeling of superiority.
My admiration for America has been
shattered. But 1 very much hope that
your country will recover its former
strength and prosperity."
It
certainly doesn't help relations
Yasuhiro
Nakasone
Western writers have
traditionally portrayed
Orientals as enigmatic and
inscrutable. But such labels
have never been applied lo
Japan's new prime minister,
Yasuhiro Nakasone.
controversia! polilicians.
decisions. He strongly
identifies with !he
deep-seated traditions and
aspirations of his country.
Japan's
New
·Prime
Minister
Yasuhiro Nakasone's
views have never been a
secret lo anyone. During !he
course of his 35 years in
politics. he has gained a
reputation for unusual
franl<ness and candor . He is
regarded as one of Japan's
most outspoken and
Nakasone-san
has made
strong friends - and fierce
enemies. His supporters
describe him as brilliant,
perceptive and decisive. His
political
toes
label him
" dangerous,"
"opportunistic" and " rabidly
nationalistic." Some even
brand him " militaristic."
The new prime minister
projects an unmistakable
image of strength. His
trademarks have been
decisive action and bold
The economic and
political troubles facing !he
Free World's second-largest
economy may require jusi
such a firm hand at !he
helm. As one analyst has
observed. " Nakasone could
be that rare leader who
arrives al jusi !he right
historical moment."
No one doubts that
Yasuhiro Nakasone, 64, will