The Japanese Way: Part 1

Although it has been years I visited Japan and I have been to several other countries after that time, I still remember very vividly the days I spent in Japan. It is indeed a dreamland that influences the visitors’ mind in a very positive way.

The Japanese are very organized and disciplined people. They follow the rules and dislike anyone playing foul. I observed this every day while travelling in trains. Japan’s geographical area is much smaller as compared to its population. You will see a horde of people rushing out of the railway stations whenever the train arrives. But I was amazed at the discipline among the people waiting at the platforms. The spots where the doors of the train’s cars would open are clearly marked on platforms. People stand in queues without ever breaking the rules. They wait for the outgoing passengers before entering the train car. The trains are usually overloaded and there are always some people hanging out trying their best to get in. It is interesting to notice that there are railway employees whose job is to push the hanging-out passengers inside to let the doors close before the train starts to move. The passengers must say “Domo Arigato” meaning ‘Thank you’ to the pushers. People use bicycles to reach railway stations. The huge bicycle stands are full of bikes. Most of the people of Japan use trains for commuting because it is safer, faster and cheaper than driving to work in your personal car. Inside the train people read “Mangas” the Japanese comics.

Professional honesty is a hallmark of Japanese nation. It is a characteristic that really makes them a great nation. I once went to a shop to buy some food items. As a Pakistani I asked the shopkeeper if the food items were fresh. I noticed that my question made the shopkeeper sweat. His face became red and he did not know how to answer my question. I felt very sorry and apologized to the shopkeeper. The next day I related the incident to my professor. He warned me not to ask people any query that questions their honesty because if a thing is in the shop it is always good and up to the required standard. Therefore, there is no need to ask about its quality.

Japanese honesty, professionalism and dedication are the traits which has won the hearts of the customers throughout the world. Anything made-in-Japan means the thing is always perfect. Japanese cars, electronic goods and even the children’s toys are always accurate and durable. I noticed, while living with them, that perfectionism is given great emphasis right from the start when the child starts going to school. The children are taught to make correct strokes when writing words. Writing of Japanese language is pretty difficult but that’s what they learn with great perfection. The same perfectionist attitude is reflected in everything they do.

‘Feelings of responsibility’ is another outstanding feature of Japanese society. One day I read the news about a professor of Tokyo University who had been accused of giving undue scores in examination to one of his female students in return to win her heart. The professor clarified to the news media that the story was not true. The case was under investigation. I was told by my professor that tomorrow you will read the news that the accused faculty member has resigned from his job. I was really surprised when the newspapers reported the next day that the faculty member had resigned from his job. I asked my teacher why the accused did not fight his case if he was not guilty. My teacher said that the accused person under such circumstances would never fight the case. This is called ‘The Japanese Way’: once you are accused, you have to resign from your job. There is no legal obligation or binding on the accused person to quit the job. But this practice carries tremendous social pressure.

I happened to meet one of the former senior executives of a very renowned car manufacturing company. He was the manager of the designing section. He had left his job with the car company and was looking for another suitable opening. I asked him how come he quit such a lucrative job. The man said that one of the employees of his section was accused of embezzlement. I said but it wasn’t your fault. His only answer was: “Well, I had to do it because that’s the Japanese way.” In Japan if a subordinate is found guilty, the manager or supervisor has to resign from his/her job. What a great nation. They follow the rules of the game very honestly and sincerely.

I used to meet several people on my way to my university. Once I met a young man who looked a little weird. He came closer to me, asked if he could talk to me. He told me that he was a drop out from his school because of his depression and anxiety. He said that he did not have enough funds to get psychological treatment. But he was in consultation with a psychiatrist and was on medication. I gave him my phone contact and offered to help him with free psychological counseling at the University’s clinic. He promised that he would give me a call to make an appointment. The next day he called me and said that he would not be able to go for counseling with the University’s psychologists. He informed me that he had spoken to his psychiatrist who had explained to him that the therapy he was receiving was the best for him. Therefore, he had decided not to go for any other consultations. I was informed by my colleagues at the University that the Japanese would always ask their current supervisor before deciding to change consultant.

Professor Egawa, a black-belt in Karate and a very hardworking research worker in Clinical Psychology, one day agreed to write a book on the “Psychology of Martial Arts” as a joint venture with one of my research colleagues. After a few days he tendered his apology. He had discussed his plan with his Karate master who told him that he was still not fit to write a book on Karate. So, Professor Egawa backed out. I knew and also my colleague knew that Professor Egawa’s decision was not final unless he sought the advice of his seniors. I appreciated this typical Japanese way.

One of the first things that I noticed in Japan was that there is no concept of tips. On my first visit to a restaurant when I offered the tip to the waitress, she was very embarrassed. She pulled back, waved her hands in annoyance saying “No Tip, No Tip”.  Although it was very embarrassing for me too because I should have known these Japanese practices, known as “The Japanese Ways” before arriving Japan.

Japanese children are very obedient to their parents. One main reason is that the parents are the children’s main referees. They are the chief signatories on the children’s character rolls. No child or adult young man is allowed admission in an educational institution or employment in a business organization unless the parents sign and guarantee the character and behavior of the child. It is very interesting to see young boys and girls accompanied by their mothers thronging the admission office of universities and colleges for the entrance examination. No student comes for admission unaccompanied by his or her mother. In Japan the admission process in elite educational institutions is highly competitive. The students have to work very hard in order to pass the entrance examination.

Gratitude or saying ‘Thank you’ or bidding farewell is almost a ceremony in itself which is repeated and takes some moments in the act of repetition. It’s a very common scene when two people at the train station or anywhere are ready to depart. They keep bowing to each other. The train arrives, the passenger enters the train, the doors close, the train leaves but the host who came to see his friend off is still bowing to pay his thanks and gratitude to the visitor. What a lovely and sincere way to express gratitude. The same scene is a common sight at the elevators. The departing person has entered the elevator, the doors have closed but the host is still bowing in gratitude saying bye to the departing friend. What a lovely Japanese way of say thanks and bye. Customers at the super-stores and malls are greeted by Japanese girls who keep bowing to them welcoming them and bowing again when they depart the stores. The customer is given the impression that he/she is a very important person.

The time when I visited Japan, there were a few people who had survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I often saw a few of them sitting at a busy intersection. As I tried to click them on my camera, a Japanese man came, put his hand very politely in front of the camera and told me that I was not allowed to photograph them. I was not legally prohibited from capturing them on my camera. But the Japanese people are very sensitive to the victims of the most devastating tragedy that ever happened in the history of mankind. I respected the gesture of the gentleman, apologized to him and shut my camera.

By Mumtaz Shah