Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Masatsugu, Mitsuyuki.
The modern samurai society.
Includes index.
1. Japan—Social conditions. 2. National characteristics, Japanese. 3. Management. I. Title. HN723.M29 306'.0952 81-69363
ISBN 0-8144-5730-4 AACR2
© 1982 AMACOM Book Division
American Management Associations, New York.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
This publication may not be reproduced,
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or transmitted in whole or in part,
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AMACOM, 135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020.
First Printing
to
Kiyoko
in appreciation of three decades of partnership
PREFACE
Today, many Japanese jet out of their native islands and go abroad. Almost every one of them is, without notice, snapshotted from unexpected angles, at the corner of a thriving street or in front of an historical landmark. The next morning, or even a few hours later on the same day, the photo is printed on glossy paper and is presented forcibly to the Japanese visitor for sale.
To be sure, his curiosity compels him to peep into the picture and meet himself. With pleasure or surprise, or even a bit of sorrow, he discovers from the profile a person he has not been aware of and says, "Oh, no, is this me? What a unique human being I am!" Beyond expectation, he experiences genuine emotion about himself.
The nation as a whole is so as well. Until the people are exposed to themselves objectively, they do not know who they are. The Japanese have lived happily together for centuries, speaking one language and maintaining their homogeneity within the narrow island country. Their insularity has created such distinctive cultural characteristics that people throughout the world have claimed that Japanese thought and culture is the most enigmatic and paradoxical of all national traditions. The major reason is that for many years the culture was never truly exposed to foreigners.
Recently, however, the Japanese have been brought onto the world stage by the frenzied activities of journalists. Many views of Japan have been put forward by foreign scholars and writers, who have begun to expose the nation to the eyes of the world.
Japan's successful struggle in the international economy has attracted particular attention. As a result, the Japanese people are becoming aware of themselves for the first time and Japan is now being flooded with study missions from both developed and developing countries.
Nevertheless, the reticence of the Japanese people would never allow them to express themselves fully, so the descriptions of Japan always come from foreigners. Although the freshness of foreigners' eyes often leads to new discoveries, their analyses are inevitably made from outside angles. Though not incorrect, their portrayal is nonetheless an outsider's point of view.
For instance, they are likely to uphold the techniques of quality control in the production lines as the key to Japan's economic achievement without truly understanding what is be hind the techniques. Or they are likely to point out "Japan Incorporated" as the successful manipulator of the economy, and the lifetime employment system of Japanese management as the source of the people's loyalty and enthusiasm, without detecting the cultural traits supporting such systems.
The truth is that the success of such unique Japanese systems as lifetime employment, seniority-based promotion, and the QC circle lies in the fact that Japanese management has been able to tactfully incorporate into them two critical features of Japanese culture: "diligence" (kimben), the duty of an agricultural race; and “dependence” (amae), the fundamental characteristic of Japanese society. This point has never been sufficiently understood by foreigners—nor has it ever been explored on the public stage by the Japanese people themselves.
This very fact is what compelled me to write about Japan and Japanese industry in English. Instead of taking an academic approach to the subject, I have adopted an historical approach by presenting real-life examples and a logical analysis of what makes the Japanese people and Japanese management tick. I have tried hard not to be biased by my patriotism. My past experiences in working with Americans as an adviser on Japanese personnel, in working as a samurai for a large Japanese company, and in working with Europeans and other nationalities on the staff of the United Nations have greatly helped me keep my writing unbiased.
This book is an honest and, I hope, unambiguous presentation from a Japanese to non-Japanese. It would be my great pleasure if the book assisted readers in learning more about the Japanese people and Japanese management.
In writing the book, I was assisted by Jeffrey R. Hunter and by Yoshie Masatsugu, who translated some of my own special materials. Their dedicated service expedited my work, and I wish to express my thanks for their strenuous efforts. I am also indebted to Robert A. Kaplan, who gave me constant encouragement, and to Louise Marinis and other members of the American Management Associations who kindly rendered their valuable services in the production of the manuscript.
Mitsuyuki Masatsugu July 1981
CONTENTS
PREFACE 3
1.ISOLATION SPAWNED THE CULTURE 6
Group-Directed Individualism 10
Sumo Wrestling 10
Prime Minister's Individuality 11
Group Approach to Quality Control 12
Pragmatic Religion 13
Shinto 14
Buddhism 15
Christianity 15
The Rank-Conscious Society 19
Feudalistic Capitalism 21
Japan Incorporated 23
Subcontracting Systems 25
2. THE "SELF" OF THE JAPANESE 26
Presentation of the Self 26
Hanko Instead of Signature 27
Kao (Face) 28
Hara (Belly) 29
Seppuku and Suicide 30
Mieppari (Self-Display) 32
The Blend Society 33
"Not for Myself” 35
Osusowake (Sharing) 36
Medetai (Felicitations) and Omedetai (Naivete) 37
Wabi and Sabi 38
The Defeat of Vending Machines 39
Vertical Relationships 40
Two Supervisors 41
The Tortoise and the Hare 43
Horizontal Terror 44
Giri and Ninjo 45
The Double-Structured Self 47
Tatemae (Public Front) and Honne (Private Intention) 47
Company Consciousness and Work Consciousness 48
Work Machine and Consumption Machine 49
Group Logic and Individual Desire 50
3. HUSBAND AND WIFE IN TRADITIONAL SOCIETY 52
Arranged Marriage 52
Marriage for Ancestors 53
Conjugal Relations 54
Controlled Emotion 54
Not Sexy but Amorous 55
Ki and Freedom 57
The Magic of Language 57
Words of Affection 58
Voiceless Affection 59
Unilateral Affection in Deeds 60
The Divided Frame of Life 61
Self-Sacrifice Under Industrial Feudalism 62
Two Homes 63