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Is it true that...

Dissipate

Dissipate

Diamond Member
...if a child in a Japanese family does not do well academically it brings shame to the entire family?

Someone told me this and I wondered if it was just a myth.
 
Originally posted by: Snagle
depends on the family of course, not like all japanese people feel exactly the same.
Click to expand...

I know that, but is there a cultural trend towards this attitude is what I am wondering.
 
Originally posted by: Dissipate
Originally posted by: Snagle
depends on the family of course, not like all japanese people feel exactly the same.
Click to expand...

I know that, but is there a cultural trend towards this attitude is what I am wondering.
Click to expand...

Yes there is. I've worked for Japanese companies all of my life. I've befriended many of them and this is true for the most part.

The minority are the ones who don't care about this. I've worked with someone who had a brother commit suicide because he couldn't follow in his fathers footsteps and be as successful as him.

The Japanese are very proud people and I can't put in words how much respect I have for them to be honest.

 
Originally posted by: Fish11
Originally posted by: Dissipate
Originally posted by: Snagle
depends on the family of course, not like all japanese people feel exactly the same.
Click to expand...

I know that, but is there a cultural trend towards this attitude is what I am wondering.
Click to expand...

Yes there is. I've worked for Japanese companies all of my life. I've befriended many of them and this is true for the most part.

The minority are the ones who don't care about this. I've worked with someone who had a brother commit suicide because he couldn't follow in his fathers footsteps and be as successful as him.

The Japanese are very proud people and I can't put in words how much respect I have for them to be honest.
Click to expand...

Given that is true, why don't a lot more Japanese become successful? If you go to Tokyo you aren't going to see everyone blinging it. Heck, you are probably going to even find homeless people just like in every other city.

Are you sure this shame thing is not just restricted to the 'upper crust' or even upper middle class of Japanese society?
 
Are you sure this shame thing is not just restricted to the 'upper crust' or even upper middle class of Japanese society?
Click to expand...

No, I'm not sure of that.

I'm almost 40 and have worked for a Japanese company for 20 of the 23 years I've worked. I've never been to Japan and can only base my opinion on the Japanese that work here at the place I do. I work for a Japanese company and it's about 75% American 25% Japanese. Most of the Japanese ARE management and come straight from Japan. The workers are probably 95% American 2% Japanese and 3% Burmese.

When we have problems with our machinery that can't be fixed, they send someone from Japan for a couple months over here. They may be upper echelon. I am not sure. I know they make a ton of money and anyone coming here from Japan wouldn't be a slouch. But they would put us to shame with their work ethics. Every one of them. They have so much pride that if the company they work for isn't a top notch company and especially if quality faulters, then they are shamed. Hence, their family is also shamed.

I'm best friends with the president of our companies daughter. She's Japanese and we've talked a lot about this stuff because I admire the Japanese so much.

I probably have a biased view and certainly a limited one but that's what I'vwe found in my 20 years. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Fish11
Are you sure this shame thing is not just restricted to the 'upper crust' or even upper middle class of Japanese society?
Click to expand...

No, I'm not sure of that.

I'm almost 40 and have worked for a Japanese company for 20 of the 23 years I've worked. I've never been to Japan and can only base my opinion on the Japanese that work here at the place I do. I work for a Japanese company and it's about 75% American 25% Japanese. Most of the Japanese ARE management and come straight from Japan. The workers are probably 95% American 2% Japanese and 3% Burmese.

When we have problems with our machinery that can't be fixed, they send someone from Japan for a couple months over here. They may be upper echelon. I am not sure. I know they make a ton of money and anyone coming here from Japan wouldn't be a slouch. But they would put us to shame with their work ethics. Every one of them. They have so much pride that if the company they work for isn't a top notch company and especially if quality faulters, then they are shamed. Hence, their family is also shamed.

I'm best friends with the president of our companies daughter. She's Japanese and we've talked a lot about this stuff because I admire the Japanese so much.

I probably have a biased view and certainly a limited one but that's what I'vwe found in my 20 years. 🙂
Click to expand...

I have had a similar experience. I go to a university that has a lot of Japaense and other Asian ethnic groups (University of California San Diego). They all have a work ethic that I had not seen before.
 
Originally posted by: Fish11
Are you sure this shame thing is not just restricted to the 'upper crust' or even upper middle class of Japanese society?
Click to expand...


But they would put us to shame with their work ethics. Every one of them.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting topic you bring up. I was reading a blog of a guy who lives and works in Japan, and his observations on the topic. While there is this ethic you talk about, such as insane workaholism and ability to devote all your time to your company if needed, there's also quite a number of things that set these companies back compared to their western competitors.

The things he mentioned were:

- extreme rigidity of the process. 'We are doing it as our fathers did' or 'These are the rules. We abide by the rules'

- Lack of ability to call the shots and make decision. There's not a single person who will take a risk in the company. Any kind of decision is delegated to the 'person above' and such and such, until the simplest inane changes have to be discussed at the board of directors' level.

- Extreme fear of bureaucratic machine. There was a horrific accident not that long ago: a high speed train smashed into a school bus crossing the railroad. What happened is that the school bus got stuck on the crossing, but the bus driver did not press the button that is present on every crossing for emergency train stop. Why? Because in Japan, the person who caused the delay in train schedule is responsible for monetary compensation caused by the delay. Which translates into millions.

So, the bus driver was trying everything to get the bus going, but he would not touch the emergency button. He was scared by the bureaucracy machine and a prospect of bankruptcy more than he was fearing for the kids' lives.

There were many other things I considered to be very peculiar.
 
I agree that it's a double edged sword.

You bring up some great points, paulney. 🙂

The bus driver, fearing the bureaucrastic society, made the wrong decision. But he made it for fear of losing money. What American driver would do that? Yes, passengers on a bus are much more important than any amount of money but that is my point, they think of things differently than we do. In this case, it was the wrong decision but for the most part, it's for the good of the people.

You also bring up great points that have much merit. I certainly can't argue with them. 🙂
 
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