THE KANSAS CITY KANSAN

– Oct. 1, 2002 –

Editor’s note: State Sen. Chris Steineger, D-Sixth Dist., recently returned from a trip to Japan, where he studied Japanese agriculture under a fellowship from the Japan Society of New York City. Here, he reports to the community what he discovered.

All people on earth are created the same, all have strengths and weaknesses, and all of us can learn good traits and ideas from others. Living in Japan two and a half months allowed me to observe some positive qualities of the Japanese people.

Education valued highly

In America we value education, but many children get left behind and drop out. In Japan the phrase “Leave no child behind” is more than a slogan, it is reality. The Japanese government invests more in educating their young people than we do. More importantly, Japanese parents put more emphasis on education than we do. The high school graduation rate is higher than in the United States, and more kids enter and graduate from college. The majority of Japanese school-age children attend school on Saturdays, and English is mandatory as a second language for students in all public schools. Many parents pay for extra tutoring classes for their children in the evenings.

Quality over quantity, or quality over size

This value is embedded throughout the Japanese way of life. In this way they are more like Europeans than Americans. It’s not the size of the flower bed, but every plant has been carefully selected, cared for, and every flower blooms beautifully! A better built and well maintained smart-sized car, not a big, fast one. A smaller but high quality cut of meat, not a big steak. Healthy food in smaller portions, not super-sized burger and fries. A smaller home, but very well built with high quality materials.

Courtesy, helpfulness

Most Westerners who have traveled in Japan tell a similar story of being lost and looking at a map. A Japanese person approaches and asks if he or she may help. Not only do you get directions but often the Japanese will go out of their way to walk you to your destination, put you on the correct train or bus, find the restaurant you’re looking for, etc.

Personal responsibility

On average, the Japanese exhibit personal responsibility on a day-today basis to a greater degree than Americans do. This includes personal courtesy to others, reliability, timeliness, dedication to job and employer. They don’t litter. At business meetings, my Japanese counterparts usually had dutifully researched Kansas, my research project and me!

Loyalty to the group

In the work place, the individual is far more responsible and beholden to the group: the colleagues at the office, or the other guys on the production line, or the other waitresses, cooks and even dishwashers at the restaurant. The group works together, eats together, parties together, and even vacations together. If someone takes a few days vacation on their own, they will bring back gifts for the co-worker as “atonement” for being absent and placing a burden on the group. In the United States, individuals get laid off; in Japan, the group will collectively take a pay cut, before anyone gets laid off.  A good comparison might be the loyalty a squad of Marines or Army rangers feel among themselves.

Service and personal commitment in retail

Japan is still a small, mom-and-pop shop culture, and with it, a high level of personal commitment and service by the owners who often are third or fourth-generation owners. Whether it’s the shoe shop, book store, gas station or restaurant, these owners try very hard to understand what you want and get it for you. They carefully and artfully wrap every purchase as though it were a Christmas present. Windshields always get cleaned.

Dining orders and needs are responded to with “Hai!” (I understand and will get it immediately!)

Craftsmanship and attention to detail

A great strength of the Japanese people is their belief in and commitment to quality and detail in traditional crafts as well as modern industrial goods. The Buddhist traits of patience and even temperament manifest themselves in these values. “Any job worth doing, is worth doing right” is more than a slogan, it’s part of life. From the painstaking and exquisite detail in the ancient crafts of wood block carving or cloth dyeing, to the way a wiring harness is attached inside a new Toyota, or the way fish is sliced, prepared and presented on your plate at a restaurant, craftsmanship and attention to detail are always present.

The Japanese people have a great capacity to tolerate crowded conditions and yet maintain a calm, polite demeanor. Their valuing of education and quality as a society will keep them competitive in the worldwide marketplace.

10/08/2002