| The Intergenerational Debt | | | | promotions, loyalty to social superiors and consensus |
| It takes at least two to start a war, and ideally both | | | | decision-making. These had ensured stability of the |
| the victor and the vanquished are obliged to share | | | | organization and security for all concerned. |
| the responsibility for the damages inflicted. However, | | | | Their readiness to acquire, adapt and improve new |
| might is always right, and World War II was no | | | | technological advancements, and hence their |
| exception. | | | | creativity, was driven by a more lofty sense of |
| While for the other partners to the crime, namely | | | | purpose among the masses. |
| Japan's former allies and adversaries, retributions had | | | | A Cautionary Note |
| mostly been confined to a handful of individuals been | | | | However, the slip from success to complacency is |
| convicted as war criminals, Japan as a nation will | | | | but a step away. Downfall is more painful and |
| continue to literally pay the blood money in | | | | recovery more difficult for the generation that has |
| perpetuity. | | | | been pampered with the good things in life. |
| Thus, while no compensations are due to the families | | | | Affluence is taking its toll on the Japanese. A |
| of the more than one hundred thousand innocent | | | | particularly disturbing tendency is the prominence of |
| civilians who had perished in the killing fields of | | | | individualistic considerations vis-a-vis the long term |
| Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the Japanese are expected | | | | interest of the family. Their unwillingness to share |
| to obediently entertain the seemingly endless stream | | | | with their would be off-springs their love, time and |
| of claims for the wrongs committed by their | | | | money as well as the common resources of this |
| ancestors - the latest being from the comfort ladies. | | | | world, is manifested in the changing perception of the |
| Price of Prosperity | | | | appropriate family size. The total fertility rate has |
| Perhaps as a penalty for Japan's remarkable | | | | fallen to crisis level, and with a longer life span, the |
| economic recovery, Japan bashers are always quick | | | | percentage of the elderly is said to constitute a |
| to nudge her to shoulder the bulk of the funding for | | | | quarter of the total population. The working age |
| the international Official Development Assistance, as | | | | population will have to contribute more in the form of |
| well as for other missions of mercy in the name of | | | | taxes to support a growing proportion of those in |
| fulfilling her global responsibility. | | | | the older age groups. This situation will continue to |
| Although Japan, like scores of other countries | | | | worsen if couples keep shirking their responsibility in |
| worldwide, is also adversely affected by the gloomy | | | | raising a family. |
| economic environment, the fact that powerful | | | | If left unchecked, such uncaring attitude may |
| nations are pestering and cajoling Japan to revitalize | | | | subsequently be directed towards their parents once |
| her economy is a comforting tribute to Japanese | | | | the latter ceased to be economically productive. |
| influence on the global scenario. | | | | While the majority of the greying population might |
| A Tale of Toils, Tears and Determination | | | | not have to look forward to spending the rest of |
| The transition from despair to determination had | | | | their lives in the cardboard homes on the pavements |
| been agonizingly memorable, and the tougher things | | | | of the Shinjuku station, the possibility of being left in |
| get the more creative the Japanese were said to | | | | very peaceful and efficiently run, yet pitifully lonely |
| become. The fact that Japanese products are no | | | | old folks homes, is not an unlikely prospect. |
| longer branded as the cheaper substitutes for the | | | | The Big Bang |
| real things is a clear testimony of Japanese ingenuity. | | | | The Japanese government is serious in imposing the |
| National strategies were unanimously accepted and | | | | comprehensive Big Bang reform; reminiscent of the |
| vigorously pursued by all. Maintaining a high propensity | | | | more domestic oriented Meiji era reforms. However, |
| to save in order to generate surpluses for | | | | if complacency on the part of those involved in its |
| investment and for use in times of need had | | | | implementation is allowed to persist, the planned |
| demanded sacrifices, to the extent of the general | | | | deregulation in the form of globalization of money, |
| public having to adopt frugal lifestyles to curb | | | | information and people is not expected to achieve |
| consumer expenditure. Similarly, other strategies such | | | | radical effects. |
| as its anti-crisis response to recession or stagnation | | | | A More Positive Outlook |
| by expanding market shares abroad through | | | | However, it is still not too late. Family disintegration |
| concerted aggressive sales efforts in high-income | | | | and the culture of labour unrest are yet to gain |
| countries, and abstaining from dependence on foreign | | | | acceptance in Japanese society. Although it has been |
| capital to avoid domination by foreign multinational | | | | said that after prolonged involvements abroad, the |
| corporations had received the full support and | | | | Gaijins 'just want to go home and drink Coke', the |
| commitment from the business community. | | | | same has not been heard about the Japanese and |
| The present day Zaibatsus (giant family concerns) | | | | their Sake, neither has their perseverance been |
| and Sogo Soshas (general trading companies | | | | found to be lacking inspite of challenging ventures |
| controlling the country's import-export trade; acting | | | | overseas. |
| also as bankers, insurers, warehousers, distributors | | | | In this respect, guidance and inspiration should come |
| and providers of up-to-date market information) | | | | from the past, for history tends to repeat itself at |
| should be constantly reminded of their predecessors' | | | | different times and places. |
| age-old winning recipe of profit and patriotism that | | | | Thus, while lamenting and brooding about the past |
| had made them invincible in global commercial scuffles | | | | during the annual soul-searching mourning for victims |
| and had enabled their country to withstand previous | | | | of the atomic bombs may be regarded by some as |
| onslaughts on their economy. | | | | counter-productive, such seemingly ceremonial rituals |
| History acknowledges, and eager young minds should | | | | have served well in providing the regular emotional |
| be made to understand, that the corner stone of the | | | | boost towards a common goal. |
| Japanese success story was the human factor; the | | | | Indeed, the key to sustainable success is the |
| human element had successfully outweighed Japan's | | | | continuous rejuvenation of the will to win. With |
| lack of natural resources, particularly her dependence | | | | unwavering unity of purpose, adjustments, particularly |
| on imported raw materials and energy sources. | | | | in terms of consolidation and concentration, would |
| Their forefathers had placed their trust in traditional | | | | enable the Japanese people to weather the current |
| close-knit family ties that extended to business | | | | economic turbulence. |
| circles, a cooperative labour force disciplined by | | | | Should the need arises, Sumo-san would not hesitate |
| indigenous work ethics, conservative management | | | | to go on diet in order to develop the agility of a Ninja |
| practices that emphasized seniority-based | | | | master. |