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Social Harmony Through Teamwork
Japanese teamwork can often be best observed in the field of
sports. Japan has been improving over the years in various team
sports and even in individual events there is a strong element of team
spirit and a visible desire to live up to the expectations of coaches,
teammates and fans, rather than simply to prove oneself as an
individual so much so that athletes are appreciated more for their
contribution to the team than for their individual performances.
This team spirit is rooted in a strong social value system. In Japan,
hard work and contributing to society are appreciated much more than
individual achievements even to the extent that often a relative
failure from well-meaning team work will be appreciated more than a
big individual success. As a result, individuals brought up in such a
value system also strive to be good team contributors and assess
themselves on the basis of how the team perceives them. This value
system helps to create a strong sense of homogeneity in society.
On the other hand, such a system also discourages individuals from
standing out and individual excellence can be hard to find. Hence it is
often said that Japan lacks leadership. But on closer inspection one
can find a different kind of leadership in society. Teachers (sensei ) are
very highly respected in Japan, as are seniors (sempai ) at schools and
in companies or sports, and they generally help and guide the
students, or juniors (kohai ). People of higher seniority, experience and
status often help younger team members from behind the scenes,
commanding respect in this less visible way rather than by personal
charisma. Instead of leadership from the front, there is more support
from behind and mentoring or guidance from above.
Understandably, its also not easy to change directions in this
Japanese-style system compared to the front-led leadership systems
more abundant in the West and this becomes a point of difficulty in a
new globalized world where high volatility and uncertainty need to be
dealt with. Although the Japanese system may help maintain lower
income disparities, lower crime rates and a social harmony which has
its own virtues for human life, Japan is no longer a sort of Galapagos
insulated from the global forces of change and faces the challenge of
striking a new kind of balance.
Social Conscience
Related to this notion of teamwork is a strong social conscience in
Japan. The clean streets and public places are a proof of this. Putting
society first and personal priorities second is often an observable
aspect of behaviour among Japanese people, which also leads to the
By Sanjeev Sinha
J
The world is constantly looking for new socio-economic models, as well as improving and
experimenting with the old ones, to find a way towards a better society one in which wealth is
distributed more evenly, crime and unemployment are low, the environment is protected, transport
systems are comfortable, and people are courteous and polite to each other. Japan has much of this but
the world doesnt know enough about it. It is useful to understand the underlying cultural strengths of
Japan, as well as the challenges the country faces, so that others may be encouraged to emulate some of
them. I would like to highlight a few of the key aspects of Japanese culture.
COVER STORY Japanese Culture Enigma or Soft Power? 2-1-2
apanese Cultural
Attractions in a Modern
& Global Context
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Author Sanjeev Sinha
Photo: Author
A kids dance group
Photo: Author
A small tea shop in Kyoto
A neat and clean local fish market
Street dancing at Awa Odori festival
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT March / April 2014 15
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COVER STORY 2-1-2
reputedly low crime rates in the country.
A notable example of Japanese social conscience was seen in the
aftermath of the great earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. Unlike
the scenes of looting, shoplifting and rioting that are a common
occurrence in other parts of the world in the wake of natural disasters,
no such behaviour was reported in Japan at all, only great acts of
people helping each other across the country.
Respect & Pride in All Kinds of Work
Recently the deputy prime minister of Singapore, Tharman
Shanmugaratnam, noted the system of students cleaning the toilets
and doing various other kinds of cleaning at Japanese elementary
schools, saying this leads to a respect for all kinds of work and makes
people better citizens.
This is indeed well entrenched in Japan. People with specific
vocations like gardeners, painters, plumbers, accountants and lawyers
are all treated with respect, like a sensei. In return this leads people to
have pride in their own work and a desire for full professionalism,
decorum and perfectionism, my next favourite item in this list.
Perfectionism & Constant Desire for Improvement
Recently I was invited for a discussion with the owner of a large
Japanese curry chain-shop and I learnt about their plans to enter the
Indian market. The president emphasized their high quality, food safety
standards and consistency, with which I agreed. I sometimes eat
Japanese curry which, though a small subset of the large variety
within Indian cuisine, is delicious and healthy, with hygiene maintained
from the farm all the way to the plate.
It also reminded me of the so called Kyo-French French food
improvised in Kyoto and now beginning to be appreciated even back in
France. We also discussed how Japanese car makers improved upon
American automobile technology and now have a major market share
back in the United States. The list goes on.
One can easily see the reasoning. First of all, its the Japanese
culture of specialization and perfection of delivery and service.
Everyone focuses on his or her specific job and goes on to master it.
At the same time within Japan the industrial/economic environment is
meticulously organized and goes through very carefully planned
improvements. The food ingredients for the curry would be carefully
produced or imported with stringent standards, then processed and
delivered in excellent condition right on time. Everyone in the supply
chain carries out his or her task with dedication and the whole system
works beautifully, leading to a consistently healthy, hygienic and
delicious curry on every plate. On the flip side, if a piece of the system
behaves differently than expected the whole process goes haywire,
though this is rare in Japan so far.
This explains why exporting finished products is one of Japans
strengths. Even in the case of overseas manufacturing, many Japanese
companies took along a whole set of services: a major Japanese car
manufacturer took along its auto parts logistics service provider to
India, and many other car manufacturers took along many of their
Japanese parts and service providers to China and almost replicated
the industry structure there in the 1980s and 1990s.
But nowadays, as technology spreads, there are more cost
competitive local suppliers of both components and services. This
creates a challenge for Japanese companies operating overseas,
especially in industrially developing countries where the processes are
fast changing and surprises are common.
As, for example, automobile companies from other countries are
better able to work with local suppliers and enjoy the cost advantage, it
puts pressure on Japanese companies to work more with the local
environment. That takes away the domestic advantage of a very highly
organized industry in Japan and necessitates being able to work within
less predictable circumstances, which Japan is not used to and has
been less prepared for in recent decades. It is a challenge but can be
overcome by a dynamic and holistic management style, and I look
forward to delicious Japanese curry in India.
Modesty
Unlike most other countries of the world, Japan does not put much
focus on the ranking of the richest people in the country. People
hesitate to display their wealth. As a hobby and a result of high income
many people do own expensive luxury cars but they often feel shy to
take them out as that would be to display their wealth.
Modesty is seen at all levels and situations in Japan. This also helps
create respect for each other and a relative lack of dissatisfaction between
the rich and the poor, which is another reason for lower crime rates. It is
also one of the reasons for perfection in small pieces of art and
technology. Rather than making large displays of their art works
Japanese artisans often focus on small objects like dolls and ikebana and
small pieces of technology reflected in miniaturized gadgets and toys.
Photo: Author
A sleeping cabin in a train
Photo: Author
Maneki-neko in Kanazawa
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JAPAN SPOTLIGHT March / April 2014
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Hospitality
All of the above can be seen in action by foreigners visiting Japan in
the form of the hospitality offered by the country, a culture of
omotenashi which has become a key slogan for the Tokyo Olympics in
2020. Taking pride in their own professionalism, restaurateurs are
always polite and courteous, the staff at the railway stations are always
willing to help and guide travellers, and at the peak of this culture are
the Japanese traditional ryokan across the country.
Coexistence of Tradition & Technology
The world has two distinct images of Japan: samurai and
shinkansen. Indeed, Japan lives up to both simultaneously. Its very
common to see centuries old traditions being followed in Japan, often
assisted by the latest technology and with attention paid to modern
safety and environmental standards.
Mitsubishi Estate recently rebuilt a more than 100-year-old building
replicating the appearance brick by brick, while making it into a very
high-tech art gallery with cutting-edge humidity, temperature and
lighting controls for protection of precious artwork and also making
the whole complex barrier-free for wheelchair access.
Humanity & Care
A very personal experience will give a good idea of these cultural
virtues. Last year I hurt myself while playing soccer. Not being able to
move due to intense pain, I had to call an ambulance. Hearing the siren
of the approaching ambulance barely three minutes later was a big
relief. They first checked my vital signs and took me to the nearest
hospital with an orthopaedic surgeon. There the doctor immediately
attended to me and had an X-ray taken, and after a thorough
inspection told me I would just need to rest my legs for a while and
there was nothing to worry about. They did ask for my name, age, and
medical history etc., but gave top priority to my physical condition,
and so far no one had bothered to check whether I had medical
insurance and the means to pay or not! The damage to the wallet was
indeed quite negligible. I also got a wheelchair and returned home.
A couple of days later, the good weather tempted me to go outside. I
was very touched by the specially positioned buttons for the physically
disabled both outside and inside the smoothly operating elevators,
besides the kind help from fellow passengers. Once on the road,
enjoying the new exercise of my arms rolling the wheels, I soon found
myself almost two kilometres away near my favourite temple at Tsukiji.
I realized how the pedestrian-crossings and walk-ways were
constructed with great care for even people with physical difficulties.
One another day when I stopped a taxi in front of my home, the
driver helped me into the taxi with a smile and folded my wheel chair
and put it in the trunk. I did not know my borrowed wheelchair had
such a folding capacity! I remembered a friend working in city
planning in Japan talking about their big focus on the concept of
Universal Design! I also remembered seeing blind people walking
briskly on the omnipresent yellow pathways and even changing trains
and buses with ease in Japan, often all by themselves. Many train
stations are now working on making themselves completely barrier-
free for wheelchairs, while many buses have special non-step
features for the same reason.
This concern for the weakest and most disadvantaged people in
society is quite remarkable. From my own experience, I could feel how
this helps to build a sense of security and mutual respect in society
which naturally leads to teamwork and eventually enhances the social
harmony and economic productivity of the whole system.
After the truly heart-warming experience of these few days, today
the doctor told me Im fine again and ready to play soccer. But I will
continue to notice those yellow pathways all over Japan with much
admiration from now on!
For the World to Learn
Other countries around the world could learn much from these
aspects of Japanese social culture. Developing countries, for example,
would do well to emulate the respect and pride in all kinds of
professions that is seen in Japan, while for countries in the rich
developed world adopting the Japanese culture of modesty would be
well worth considering.
But these Japanese virtues are sometimes not even adequately
recognized in Japan itself. I think its important for Japan to recognize
its own virtues, to maintain and consciously improve them, and to
promote them to the rest of the world.
Sanjeev Sinha is president of the Sun and Sands Group, advising on
crossborder investments and business strategies between India and Japan.
Photo: Author
The author helping to carry a mikoshi (portable shrine)
Photo: Author
Retractable chopsticks that fit neatly into a small bento box
JAPAN SPOTLIGHT March / April 2014 17


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Thursday, January 31, 2013



Cross-Sector Teamwork Key To Overseas Success: Sinha
BY SANJEEV SINHA
Japanese companies have been eyeing India seriously for the last few years.
When talking with the CEO of a large retailer recently, I learned of some of the concerns these firms have
about the inadequacy of India's logistics infrastructure. That said, I have also heard from Japanese logistics
companies looking for Japanese clients in India.
Similarly, Japanese firms have come to me looking for real estate in India to
use for factories, offices and homes. Meanwhile Japanese real estate service
companies and architectural firms are also looking for Japanese clients in India
so they can enter the market, as they believe that will be the easiest way for
them to start business there.
In India, Industrial zones have become very popular these days. Some of my
company's contacts there are looking not just for clients but also for
infrastructure and even services and investment from Japan for new industrial
zone projects.
Japanese investors, on the other hand, feel more comfortable following Japanese companies in their
overseas business, and there are even major government-led funds to help promote Japanese industry
overseas, such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency,
the Innovation Network Corp. of Japan and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.
A major Japanese player in the field of plumbing recently told me about its concerns about the availability
of skilled labor in India and shared its thoughts about promoting schools in India to address this issue.
Japanese carmakers had to bring their personnel from India to Japan for expensive training.
All developing countries face a common chicken-and-egg problem as above. These nations offer huge
growth prospects, but because they are by definition still developing, they often have inadequate
infrastructure and human resources, as well as the need for investment to support these areas.
Indeed, the recent deregulation of foreign direct investment in multibrand retail in India necessitates more
investment in infrastructure. A holistic team approach is also required from Japan to be effective in this area.
Japan has a huge pool of technology and capital as well as the expertise for large infrastructure projects and
vocational education.
Recently, a Japanese carmaker opened its own school in India, a move that was warmly welcomed by the
local people and another major carmaker is planning a school jointly with an Indian Institute of Technology.
As the presidential adviser to the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, next week I will be
visiting the Indian Institutes of Technology along with Indian Institute of Management, industry and
government organizations working on creating academic corporate partnership consortia with the aim of
creating joint educational and R&D programs.
Policymakers play an important role in infrastructure projects, hence the need for cooperation among all
sides: academia, industry and government. With modern management technology, it is becoming easier to
manage such complex multilateral projects. In pursuit of growth markets like India, it is imperative for Japan
to combine its strengths in technology, human resources and financial capital to expand its presence in
developing countries.
(President, Sun and Sands Group)

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