The Intergenerational Debt

It takes at least two to start a war, and ideally both the victor and the vanquished are obliged to share the responsibility for the damages inflicted. However, might is always right, and World War II  was no exception.

While for the other partners to the crime, namely Japan’s former allies and adversaries, retributions had mostly been confined to a handful of individuals been convicted as war criminals, Japan as a nation will continue to literally pay the blood money in perpetuity. Thus, while no compensations are due to the families of the more than one hundred thousand innocent civilians who perished in the killing  fields  of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the Japanese are expected to obediently entertain the seemingly endless stream of claims for the wrongs committed by their ancestors - the latest being from the comfort ladies.

Price of Prosperity

Perhaps as a penalty for Japan’s remarkable economic recovery, Japan bashers are always quick to nudge her to shoulder the bulk of the funding for the international Official Development Assistance,  as well as for other missions of mercy in the name of  fulfilling  her global responsibility.

The nations that used to brag on bringing Japan to her knees have since been accustomed to swallowing their snobbish pride. Relying on the Japanese  to prop up their economies is an accepted way of life for  leaders of developed nations. Tough talks on  forcing open  Japanese trade barriers, claims on the vulnerability of her bubble economy, and threats of reviewing her defence agreements are mere ploys to remind  Japan that unless the trillions of Yen loans are forthcoming, or outstanding debts renegotiated in their favour, those issues could be bloated to her disadvantage. Once their financial needs have been addressed, the loud criticisms  tend to dissipate into apologetic whimpers.

Although Japan is inevitably affected by the gloomy economic environment in this part of the world, the fact that powerful nations are pestering  and cajoling Japan to revitalise her economy is a comforting tribute to Japanese influence on the global scenario.

A Cautionary Note

The transition from despair to determination had been agonizingly memorable, and the tougher things get the more creative  the Japanese were said to become. The fact that Japanese products are no longer branded as the cheaper substitutes for the real things is a clear testimony of Japanese ingenuity.

However, the slip from success to complacency is but a step away. Downfall is more painfull and recovery more difficult for the generation  that has been pampered with the good things in life.

Affluence is taking its toll on the Japanese. A particularly disturbing tendency is the prominence of  individualistic considerations vis-a-vis the long term interest of  the family. Their unwillingness to share with their would be off-springs their love, time and money as well as the common resources of this world, is manifested in the changing perception of the appropriate family size. The total fertility  rate has fallen to crisis level,  and with a longer  life span the percentage of  the elderly would soon constitute  a quarter of the total population.  The working age  population  will have to contribute more in the form of taxes to support  a growing proportion of  those in the older age groups.  This situation will continue to worsen if couples keep shirking their responsibility in raising a family.

If left unchecked,  such uncaring attitude may subsequently be directed towards their parents once the latter ceased to be economically productive. While the majority of the greying population might not have to look forward to spending the rest of their lives  in  the  cardboard homes on the pavements of the Shinjuku  station, the possibility of being left  in very peaceful and efficiently run, yet inevitably  lonely old folks homes, is not an unlikely prospect  .

The Big Bang

The Japanese government is serious in imposing the comprehensive Big Bang reform;   reminiscent of the more domestic oriented Meiji era reforms. However, if complacency on the part of those involved in its implementation is allowed to persist, the planned deregulation in the form of globalization of money, information and people is not expected to achieve radical effects.

Looking Back

However, it is still not too late. Family disintegration and the culture of labour unrests have yet to gain acceptance  in  Japanese society.  Although  it has been said that, after prolonged  involvements  abroad  ‘The Americans just want to go home and drink Coke’, the same  has not been heard about the Japanese and their Sake, neither has their perseverance been found to be lacking inspite of  challenging  ventures overseas.

In this respect, guidance and inspiration should come from the past,  for history tends to repeat itself  at different times and places.

Thus, while lamenting and brooding about the past during the annual soul-searching  mournings for  victims of the atomic bombs  may be regarded by some as counter-productive, such seemingly ceremonial rituals have served well in providing the regular emotional boost towards a common goal.

The present day Zaibatsus (giant family concerns) and Sogo Soshas (general trading companies controlling the country's import-export trade; acting also as bankers, insurers, warehousers, distributors and providers of up-to-date market information) should be constantly reminded  of  their predecessors' age-old  winning recipe of profit and patriotism that had made them invincible in  global commercial scuffles and had enabled their country to withstand previous onslaughts on their economy.
 

National  strategies were unanimously accepted and  vigorously pursued by all.  Maintaining a high propensity to save in order to generate surpluses for investment and for use in times of need had demanded sacrifices, to the extent of the general public having to adopt frugal lifestyles to curb consumer expenditure. Similarly, other strategies such as its anti-crisis response to recession or stagnation by expanding market shares abroad  through concerted aggressive sales efforts in high-income countries, and  abstaining from dependence on foreign capital  to avoid domination  by foreign multinational corporations had received the full support and commitment from the business community.

History acknowledges, and eager young minds should be made to understand, that the cornerstone of the Japanese success story was the human factor. Their forefathers had placed their trust in traditional close-knit family ties that extended to business circles, a  cooperative labour force disciplined by indigenous work ethics,  conservative management practices that emphasized seniority-based promotions, loyalty to social superiors and concensus decision-making. These  had ensured stability of the organization and security for all concerned. Their readiness to acquire, adapt and improve new technological advancements, was driven by a more lofty sense of purpose among the masses. Thus, the human element had successfully outweighed  Japan's  lack of natural resources, particularly her dependence on imported raw materials and energy sources.

Indeed, the key to sustainable success is the continuous rejuvenation of the will to win. With  unwavering unity of purpose, adjustments, particularly in terms of  consolidation  and concentration, would enable the Japanese people to weather the current economic turbulence.

If  the need arises, Sumo-san would not hesitate to go on diet in order to develop the  agility of a Ninja master.
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NOTE:  An early version of the article was published in  the Souvenir Yearbook of  the United Nations Statistical  Institute For Asia And The Pacific, Tokyo, Japan in March 1998.