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gaijin4life
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 150
Location: Westside of the Eastside, Japan
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 Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:02 am Post subject: `The Dignity of the Nation` Fujiwara book (off topic ..) |
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Although off-topic, this might interest people interested in being in and working in Japan ..
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fb20070708a2.html
This is an English translation of the book by Masahiko Fujiwara (a mathematics professor) that caused alot of discussion when it was released last year.
- Views ? Thoughts ? Impressions - of the book; its ideas and such statements as these -
Quote from the book: "It may take time, but I believe it is the Japanese, and no one else, who are now capable of saving the world."
From the review - `Now that slavery has been abolished, "freedom" has lost its meaning, and is merely the promotion of egotism: "Getting rid of freedom would be better for human happiness." `
And his solution: "I believe that the samurai spirit will save the world." Money-based social structures must be replaced with ethics based on Bushido, the way of the warrior.` |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:14 am Post subject: |
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The link to the critique of the book would probably echo my own feelings. This book doesn't seem to say anything new, and the proposed replacement is laughable at best. The 'samurai spirit' is at best used as an excuse in Japan for management getting away with 'murder' and abusing the staff. 
Last edited by gaijinalways on Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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furiousmilksheikali
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:49 am Post subject: |
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Samurai spirit!  |
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furiousmilksheikali
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| Japan has four seasons! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| While the samurai rendered loyalty to his master, the master responded with �benevolence� to his followers, showing how bushido was a two-way process. Other writers stressed the need for a samurai to set an example to the lower orders of society by his conduct. A samurai had to be ready to fight as his master required, but such opportunities should not be squandered. It was not in accordance with bushido for a samurai to lose his life in a street brawl. Nor should he be ostentatious in his dress or his appearance, but self-controlled and restrained. The symbol of this restraint, as it was of the samurai status, was the possession of two swords. |
The quote above was taken from the definition of "bushido", found on answer.com.
Loyalty to master = loyalty to company, I presume, hence Fujiwara's hopes of returning to lifetime employment. Is his own job in danger of falling through? There is a reason for lifetime employment dying out here -- companies do not respect their employees.
Which leads to the next part about showing benevolence.
Company bosses telling employees to do illegal things, whether juggling the account books, or performing a bit of insider trading, or putting other meats in food products where they don't belong, withhold information or outright lie about radiation leaks or food poisoning and their causes, etc.
Government officials on major kickbacks, then retiring into major positions with the kickback companies themselves. (theoretically on its way out, but I'll believe it when I see it)
Major foul-ups on the pension system here, KNOWN BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FOR 30 YEARS, yet ignored.
Oh, yeah. Benevolence. Loyalty to that is not worth it.
So, the loyal samurai sets an example to the lower masses. What example did they set? Strutting around showing off how much better they were than others? Acting tough by carrying weapons? I need to read more about this point, but on the surface, I'm not impressed. As the critique stated, the code of bushido is not a typical Japanese concept anyway.
Samurai had to be ready to fight for his master = workers have to be ready to do anything for the company. Does that include long hours of overtime to the point of dying at one's desk? I wonder how that compares to getting an American education (eg, MBA) or work experience abroad, then returning to Japan to use it, only to be told to shut up and do things "the Japanese way".
Don't be ostentatious in dress = kids today should cut their hair, restore its color to black, stop sporting tattoos, and get a regular job? Dress like everyone else so that it is impossible to tell one another apart? Perhaps Fujiwara's wife and daughters are buying too many western clothes.
Self-controlled and restrained = Sounds like the age-old generation gap problem between middle-aged adults and teens or college-aged kids. Been going on for centuries everywhere. Let's just isolate the whole darned country again for another 250 years, ok? |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: |
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Hence my point. Loyalty does not equate thinking about consequences and/or a moral code. That's why some of the rampant nationalism in Japan is a bit discomforting, especially when it is exhibited by politicians. I guess because what they're saying is a  true expression of commonly shared feelings and popular opinions, it's okay (versus the Defence Minister's truthful comments that forced him to resign). |
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MrCAPiTUL
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 232
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| It is a bit over the top and it is regurgitated material, but the same could be said for most books! lol. Has basic math drastically changed over the past 30 years to warrant a countless variety of texts on the subject? Having that said, you have to agree with some of its points (as mentioned in the article). Capitalism is exploitative in nature. There is a breakdown in societal values in the west. There isn't much honor, either. Is that exclusive to the west? No. But, the west has, in fact, dictated the world system for quite some time now. Is Japan feudal past the answer to the world's problems? lol. Not entirely. But, I DO think much can be gotten and utilized from tradition. I think every culture has something that is useful in creating a utopian society. |
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shuize
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| furiousmilksheikali wrote: |
| Japan has four seasons! |
Ha. Ha.
Are you sure? I have to ask because I don't think I've actually heard that from -- every -- Japanese person I've ever met.
| Quote: |
| "It may take time, but I believe it is the Japanese, and no one else, who are now capable of saving the world." |
Then the world is doomed.
ETA: I like that "and no one else" part. Maybe it's his plan to save the world with modesty and inclusiveness. |
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Gypsy Rose Kim
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 151
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:03 am Post subject: Re: `The Dignity of the Nation` Fujiwara book (off topic ..) |
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That was a pretty well-written review. I used to be quite anti-Japan Times, but I may have to give it a second look. That IHT can be a bit expensive, after all.
Anyway, I'll be the first to admit that a samurai is about the sexiest thing to ever exist, and if there was still one around I'd be happy to give up my freedom and serve him in any way required. Even if it meant dwelling in poverty, working my ass off, and only admiring him from afar. I do not jest. In that respect, I do think there is some truth as to the nature of human beings in Fujiwara's ideas.
The samurai are long gone, however. There are those who still embody the same spirit and power, but they are strewn all across the world. It's seems contradictory to say that it's the right way for people of all nations, but that it only comes from Japan.
| gaijin4life wrote: |
| "It may take time, but I believe it is the Japanese, and no one else, who are now capable of saving the world." |
If he said, I believe the Japanese way *could* save the world, it'd be much stronger. The way it's phrased makes it seem like a joke. It's like some kooky prediction from an old man.
The last thing is, he seems to focus to much on American culture vs. Japanese culture, without taking into account that there are thousands of other ways of doing things.
Still, a good thread, g4l. Thanks! And thanks for getting me to take another look at the Japan Times. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:37 am Post subject: |
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MrCAPiTUL posted
| Quote: |
| you have to agree with some of its points (as mentioned in the article). Capitalism is exploitative in nature. There is a breakdown in societal values in the west. There isn't much honor, either. Is that exclusive to the west? No. But, the west has, in fact, dictated the world system for quite some time now. |
Hmm, I guess if you include Roman and Greek times, that would be true.
Breakdown in social values? Completely? You haven't seen that here? Maybe our defintions are different for that kind of thing. When people are regularly killing their sister/brother/father/mother/grandparents (and by regular, I mean stories in the news practically every week), there is some kind of breakdown.
As to capitalism being exploitive, feudalism wasn't? Unfortunately, even 'socialism' as it has been practiced hasn't been exactly 'equal'. The Japanese systme has worked very well for large Japanese companies (and their employees ) in the past, but small companies (which currently employ about 3/4 of Japanese workers) hardly were/are in a position to treat their workers well.
Honor? Have you looked at the level of corruption and greed in Japan past and present? |
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