quick look on invaluable Japanese culture (4) continuity
(4) Continuity
Japanese tend to value continuity highly which is available only in the safe and orderly society . In China people believe in the theory of the evolution and when a dynasty was turned down by another dynasty, the latter destroied every culture, family and achievements of the former. They can not expect continuity at all not only in a dynasty but also in a society itself.
the Imperial household
The Japanese word “inochi” which means life originally came from the old idea of conveying the way of living from parents to children.
Japanese society has been taking great care of conveying know-how for way of living. We can see a good living sample of that idea in the Imperial household which has by far the longest continuity among world Royal families.
While royal families in Europe last a few hundreds years, Japanese Imperial family last at least more than 1500 years. And the family pray in every morning for the founder of the family, for all following Emperors and also for founders of every family in Japan for their infinite prosperity.
Mr. Otto Kalon who was professor of Bonn university in Germany, was struck to find the fact that Showa Emperor could remain at his post even after the dreadful defeat in the World war second and moreover Emperor was warmly welcomed by the people of the districts he visited.
It was so natural among Japanese that we did not recognize how rare it is for the ruler to remain at the post after a defeated war.
Above shows an exceptionally intimate and matured relation between the Imperial household and the public in Japan.
long life enterprises.
Another example to show the continuity of the Japanese society is the numerous number of long life enterprises. It is one of Japanese tremendous achievements that there are over 1100 enterprises which have more than 200 years history.
Moreover, there are over 22000 enterprises in Japan which have more than 100 years history, while there are none in Asia and only a few thousands enterprises in Europe.
When we look at those long life enterprises, we find common policy of managing enterprise. They stubbornly stick to their principle policy but at the same time they are flexible enough to modify themselves when it is required by the change of circumstances.
Until recently most Japanese enterprises which take continuity of enterprise for granted, put first priority on life time employment and seniority in personnel affairs.
Above system which originated from farm villages, is designed to keep their traditional policy unchanged.
Enterprises do not exclude seniors but respect them and utilize their experiences. Enterprises developed the system that seniors pass on know-how to younger generations.
We find in every field of Japanese society such efforts for conveying knowhow from the old to the young. For example, refreshing shrine periodically and yearly village festival are designed to give chances to the young to learn from the old.
Refreshing the shrine (asahi. com)
