Person with No Aspiration Is Like a Ship without a Rudder, a Horse without Reins.
Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
■Japan Guilt Theory That Is Still Prevalent
The Japan Youth Research Institute, a foundation of which I am a member of the board of directors (Mr. Tamotsu Sengoku is the Head Director), is often asked by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to conduct a survey on the attitudes of young people. Every time I see the results of a comparison survey among Japan, the U.S., China, and South Korea, I am surprised to find that the youth in our country have such small dreams for the future. Their pride and love for the country is also extremely limited.
Each time I face the reality of the youth in our country, the bearers of tomorrow, my heart aches and is troubled.
More than half a century has passed since Japan lost WW��. However, the occupation policy which continued for 6 years and 8 months after the war, especially “the War Guilt Information Program” (the policy to imprint the guilt of war onto the population) upon the initial stage, thoroughly penetrated the Japan Guilt Theory through the population, which has been prevalent for long periods.
Caucasians were colonizing other countries on a global mass scale for 5 centuries. Amid such movements, our ancestors succeeded in establishing a modern state from the end of the Edo Period*1 to the Meiji Period*2. It was a significant milestone of our people in the modern history to have become one of the top 5 countries in the world despite being a colored race. There is no doubt that this great accomplishment is the result of high aspirations and big dreams of our ancestors.
However, our country fought with great power and was defeated in the Showa Period. It was 62 years ago. Japanese people were overcome with the tremendous shock of the defeat. Then a tactful occupation policy followed, making Japanese blind to the essence of winning or losing the war.
As Clausewitz described, war is “a continuation of politics by other means”, and is a conflict of national interests of both sides. Winning or losing the war has nothing to do with justice. Once one side wins, “Might is right.” Everything is controlled based on this theory, and all the history is written by the hand of the winner. Japanese people couldn’t even understand this reality. Even now, after half a century from then, Japanese are not aware of this fact, and many are still inflicted by masochistic view on history.
With such a “woeful state” of adults, it is extremely difficult for youngsters to love their county and have dreams for the future. How can they live with high aspirations?
*1The Edo Period: 1603-1868
*2The Meiji Period: 1868-1912
■What We Have Lost in Exchange for Affluence
I find that another big reason explaining the survey results is the affluence of this country.
Although Japan is a country with few natural resources, it has established world-leading wealth now. All the 6.5 billion human beings hate poverty and are aiming at affluence. In view of this reality, affluence itself is nothing of concern. Whether it is a result of working hard or God-given, you just need to simply thank God.
However, Japanese people intoxicated with affluence need to modestly listen to what global intellectuals have to say:
“Although affluence is the goal for all the human beings, strangely, once you get there, inevitably the energy to aspire will weaken, and the ability to persevere will wilt.” Without doubt, “the energy to aspire will weaken” means to become unable to visualize dreams. “The ability to persevere will wilt” refers to the loss of patience. Reflect on the reality of our country. The above mentioned survey results. Suicides exceeding 30,000 every year according to government press releases. Phenomena of killing those you find disgusting without a bit of patience and hesitation. These are exactly as pointed out by the global intellectuals.
Looking back on the status of Japan before the war, we were incomparably poor. There was no need to tell the then youngsters to envision big dreams, as they used to head for large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, with abundant spirit of “Come to me, more difficulties. Although my ability is limited, I will try and see what I can do.”
Some of the mothers seeing off such youngsters were illiterate, but used to talk to their sons, “Please make sure to avoid doing anything that could be an object of contempt.” The sons had strong aspirations to be successful and cure the chapping that their mothers had been suffering from. Therefore, they could endure whatever hardships. As many as 600,000 Japanese in Manchuria (Northeastern China) upon the defeat in WW�� were detained in Siberia. Among them, 60,000 people died from hunger or were frozen to death.
When the cenotaph of the victims was established in Khabarovsk, Mr. Ryuzo Sejima, the former Chairman of ITOCHU Corporation, who used to be detained for as long as 11 years, his wife, and I visited the place. Mr. Sejima stood in front of the former concentration camp and told me that it was difficult to survive without having dreams and firm resolve: “Whatever happens, no matter how tough it might be, I will set foot in my motherland.” “I will never die until I see my beloved wife.” His remarks were infinitely painful, very heavy, and very noble.（Mr. Ryuzo Sejima passed away in the early morning of September 4. May he rest in peace.）
■What Saves Japan from the Current Status
When I was leading Asahi Breweries, Ltd. at the time its performance was at rock bottom, I used to be enchanted by the pictures of Vlaminck. Many of his pictures are dark, mostly painting muddy roads or stormy scenes. However, the pictures never fail to have a strong light spotting from the upper right. When you are at rock bottom, you can’t help but searching for even a modest ray of light. A ray of light can give you the power to live, when you are in darkness.
The famous Shoin Yoshida*3 preaches: “Once you have aspiration, your vital energy will become even more vigorous.”
I was taught the words of Wang Yangming*4 at military school: “Person with no aspiration is like a ship without a rudder, a horse without reins.”
Dogen*5, the founder of the Soto school of Zen, also teaches us: “You are sure to achieve what you think desperately. If you are desperate, you are sure to come up with the means to achieve your goal.”
I firmly believe that there is nothing but education and discipline that can save Japan from the current status.
Let me tell you this, the readers of “Chichi”. Even without citing the above examples of ancient times, Mr. Shinmin Sakamura, with whom you are familiar, always preached in his life of 96 years: “Pray, and any flower of yours will bloom.” “Where there is aspiration, there is a way.” The light you shed on a corner around you is sure to become countless waves illuminating this country, giving birth to youngsters with many dreams and high aspirations one after another.
*3Shoin Yoshida (1830−1859) was a Japanese scholar and teacher. He is cited as the spiritual leader/opinion leader of the Meiji Restoration.
*4Wang Yangming (1472 1529) was one of the most influential philosophers in the Confucian tradition. He is best known for his theory of the unity of knowledge and action.
*5Dogen was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure of his time, as well as being an important philosopher.
Leaders Should Never Become Indecent
Jiro Ushio, Chairman of USHIO INC.
■There Are “Three Highs” for Leaders As Well
I had close friendship for nearly 40 years with Mr. Saburo Shiroyama, a novelist who passed away in March.
He was slim by nature, but since his wife passed away 7 years ago, he became frail to the extent his weight was temporarily under 40kg. We used to enjoy playing golf together 3 or 4 times a year, but he began to leave in the middle of the rounds. He lost the vigor he used to have, and I had been concerned about that.
Mr. Shiroyama occasionally participated in “the Gathering with Mr. Sohei Nakayama”, in which I had been participating in since about the year Showa 40 (1965). There he shared stories with profound implications, with us.
One of the most impressive stories I heard that I still remember now, is that we were told that there are “three highs” for leaders just like young women who desire “three highs (high educational background, high income, and high height)” as conditions for an ideal marriage partner.
First “high” is “high stability”. Speaking of people in the management, their business performance must be stable. In the case of leaders in whatever fields other than management, it is important to have their own solid criteria about life and a direction to pursue.
The second “high” is “high sensitivity”. People with high stability tend to be inferior in terms of sensitivity. However, high sensitivity is required to deal with dizzying pace of changes of the times.
The third “high” is “high blandness”. Selflessness, unpretentiousness, no appetite for fame and positions, and little material greed. In a nutshell, it is an especially important requirement for leaders not to be indecent.
Mr. Shiroyama mentioned he was comfortable if people interpreted that he liked those with these “three highs”. It seems people he preferred to write about were those who satisfied the “three highs”, including Koki Hirota*1 of “War Criminal: The Life and Death of Hirota Koki” and Reisuke Ishida*2 of “Rustic, Savage, but Not Indecent”.
*1Koki Hirota (1878-1948) was a Japanese diplomat, politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937. Following
*2Reisuke Ishida was the Head of the Japanese National Railways from 1963 to 1969.
■Never Become Arrogant Even in Favorable Circumstances
Through my experiences, I realize the importance of Mr. Shiroyama’s warning, that leaders should never become indecent.
As previously introduced in this Prefatory Note, I met great criticism from the public when I was young. It was because the company, of which I served as an outside director at my friend’s request, went bankrupt. I visited Mr. Wataru Tajitsu, who was the then president of Mitsubishi Bank, Ltd. (current The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.) that we had business with, for apology. Upon then, Mr. Tajitsu kindly advised me, “You were not protective enough and you have to reflect on that. However, what is good about you is you are not indecent. You should never lose the virtue in the future.”
Also, when I was working on creating a private-sector-led society with Mr. Toshio Doko at Doko Ad Hoc Commission on Administrative Reform, Mr. Doko spotted and argued, “People talk about the issues surrounding respecting the bureaucrats and looking down on the citizens. However, the situations were not triggered because the bureaucrats were arrogant. It was rather the indecent mindset of the citizens, who tried to suck up to the bureaucrats, triggering the situations.”
It is difficult to keep posture of not being indecent. There are countless examples of respected leaders, who were with honest poverty in pioneer days, expose indecency and lose modesty when their work succeeds. I think it is a more difficult theme to never become arrogant even in favorable circumstances, than to stick to honest poverty in adversity.
Mr. Shiroyama’s last novel, “Commanders’ Suicide Attack”, underlines that how many people had to suffer from the selfishness of leaders. I would like to take each word left by Mr. Shiroyama as an important warning for leaders, and continue thinking about it.
Be Considerate of Others
Hidesaburo Kagiyama, Advisor of YellowHat
■People with No Sparkle in Their Eyes
“Although there are many people who are alive but live like zombies, you are still alive even after you have passed away.”
These are the words of Ms. Michiko Sato, a poet who lives in Osaka, presented to the deceased boy, Migaku Okui.
The boy Okui was considered a genius, but sadly, he was suddenly killed in a traffic accident. The paintings he left were put together and published as a book entitled “Shouts of a 19-year-old,” which is fabulous.
Currently in Japan, I have seen an increase in the number of people with no sparkle in their eyes, nor light or power in their words. Recently, I have seen the unlively faces, figures, attitudes, and behaviors of people I happen to come across with on public transit or to pass by on the street, and they have made me think there are many people who personify Ms. Sato’s expression: “There are many people who are alive but live like zombies.”
Some of them may have become exhausted by being cracked by the irrationalities of society, or have been suffering every day from excessive expectations by their companies. Also, some of them are responsible for their own demise, as they made wrong decisions in life. The “ki” or vital energy from them has a common negative, passive, and dark image.
■Live a Way of Life with Consideration and Class
On the other hand, in Japan now, if you ask if all the people taking actions based on having a positive and active way of thinking are all “lively and living humanly,” the answer is not necessarily “yes”. People who disregard others to satisfy their own desires, showing egoism, though living life with enthusiasm. People who ignore others for their own benefit. People who do not try to understand other’s efforts, burdens, sincerity and continue to gain from them endlessly, also fit the definition of the “living dead”.
The cause of this is that they live without a humane heart. The selfishness is active, rather than passive, and therefore, has become a negative legacy in society, by producing people, who are suffering and exhausted, one after another.
“The Black Gold”, a British independent film depicting the reality of the coffee industry, which continues to prosper, tells you the predicament of the commercial farms producing coffee. (The film is not screened in Japan.) The commercial farms can get only 1/1000 of the price of coffee, whose taste and flavor we fully enjoy.（Morning edition of the Tokyo Shimbun on February 21.）
We would like to take thought for the fact that our activities to enjoy the pleasure alone and to show our egoism, are forcing tough labor on others, and agonizing many people including those who live immensely apart from us. It is important to notice that our desire “to purchase even 1 yen cheaper only for myself” is the cause of producing worn-out people.
One of the proverbs of Mr. Kanjiro Kawai* says, “Going to purchase a product, going to purchase myself.” I believe that it is a graceful way of living to take into account other people’s feelings, which can not be seen with eyes, and be considerate of others, rather than gorgeously decorating your outlook.
*Mr. Kanjiro Kawai (1890~1966) was a Japanese potter, who was also active in writing.
The only distinction among people is “whether they have class or not.” There is no one in between, so those who are without class are all vulgar. This is what I have learned from Mr. Tanaka, who lives in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Currently in Japan, there has been more and more number of people, who are without class.
In order to realize a “Beautiful Country, Japan”, which Prime Minister Abe is aiming for, it makes more sense for Japanese people to become people whose way of living is with consideration and class. Such a way of living is exactly the way of living that of having “life even after passing away,” according to the words of Ms. Sato.
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