Japan's Edge over American Industry

As I’ve mentioned before, investing in stocks in high school allowed me to take my dream trip to Japan. I went for a variety of reasons, but mainly to expose myself to something non-western. One of the things I was extremely impressed by was the efficiency, honesty, and collectivism.

On a trip from Hiroshima to Tokyo I left my CD case on the Shinkansen Bullet Train. A trip back to the lost and found revealed walls of small belongings from battered umbrellas to McDonald toys. I was amazed to find out that when you leave something in a public place you “expect” to get it back.

Another thing Americans have to pick up quickly is efficiency. Go up a busy escalator like the one at Akasaka Mitsuke station and you’ll notice everybody stands to the right leaving an empty clearing all the way up. Stupid me decides to stand in this clearing only to be bumped into by somebody rushing up the escalator. I realized they did this to allow people in a rush get to their destinations on time! If you look at any busy escalator in America you’ll see people standing willy nilly with those in a hurry stuck behind a wall of people.

It was in that very moment I realized why the Japanese car industry was able to hammer Ford and General motors so easily. From early childhood every Japanese born child is taught to be honest, loyal, and efficient. You get your things back when you leave them lying around because people are looking out for the group, not themselves. Likewise, things get done quickly and efficiently because you’re not working for Mr. Big Boss or even yourself, you’re working for EVERYBODY.