AOTS E-Newsletter: Insight (Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies)
2025/02/28 (Fri) 10:30
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February 28, 2025
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<Index>
1. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies.
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1. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies - February 2025
When I first mentioned Eiichi Shibusawa in this column, I stated that the motto which he continued to invoke was "the Analects and the abacus."
In this edition, I would like to discuss "the Analects and the abacus" again.
"The Analects" is the title of a famous Chinese classic, but Shibusawa used it as a word that indicated the idea of morality, ethics, and living right.
The abacus was a calculating tool used by Japanese merchants at the time, but he used it to mean the economy, business, and profit-seeking activities.
While morality and moneymaking tend to be seen as opposed, he advocated that a balance between the two should be achieved.
Why did Shibusawa end up advocating his philosophy of "the Analects and the abacus" to society at large?
It was prompted by a particular incident.
It happened in 1902, when he was 62 and already a central figure in Japan's business world.
He went on a tour of the West, during which a member of the British Chambers of Commerce made a complaint, saying "Japanese merchants lack morals and conduct fraudulent transactions or shady deals without shame.
They only try to make money for themselves, even if it causes trouble for other people or society.
We can't do business with someone who can't be trusted."
He appealed to Shibusawa to do something.
Shibusawa was shocked by the low morals of Japanese merchants.
Upon returning to Japan, he immediately began to advocate his motto of "the Analects and the abacus."
He continued to explain that society could not achieve healthy development unless "morality and business" were reconciled and a balance was found.
His arguments became a book, "The Analects and the Abacus," as well, which people still read today, long after Shibusawa has passed away.
Actually, prior to recent times, there was a period when Shibusawa's way of thinking had been forgotten even in Japan.
It was during the global financial crisis caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers that attention once again focused on "the Analects and the abacus."
As immoral, money-worshipping capitalism seemed on the verge of destroying the world, Japanese business leaders sought a new path to follow with the aim of reviving the economy.
As a result, attention turned back to Shibusawa's way of thinking.
Many companies, both big and small, came to realize once more the importance of having the right business philosophy.
Since the latest global trends, such as CSR and the SDGs, are aligned with the approach of "the Analects and the abacus," the book, "The Analects and the Abacus" has recently been translated into English, Chinese, and other languages and is starting to gain wider recognition around the world.
To be continued in the next edition.
Stay tuned for the next AOTS E-Newsletter.
Rikio Suma, Author
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Copyright 2016 The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, 30-1, Senju-Azuma 1-chome, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8534, JAPAN
February 28, 2025
https://www.aots.jp/en/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"AOTS E-Newsletter" is published by the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*This email has been sent from a send-only address.
There have been more and more cases of subscribers not receiving AOTS E-Newsletters via Yahoo address or Gmail address.
If you are using Yahoo address or Gmail address and willing to continue to receive the AOTS E-Newsletters without fail, we recommend changing your email provider to another one.
It may be possible to avoid such a case by unblocking "johochosa@aots.jp" if your email provider offers such a service.
<Index>
1. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies - February 2025
When I first mentioned Eiichi Shibusawa in this column, I stated that the motto which he continued to invoke was "the Analects and the abacus."
In this edition, I would like to discuss "the Analects and the abacus" again.
"The Analects" is the title of a famous Chinese classic, but Shibusawa used it as a word that indicated the idea of morality, ethics, and living right.
The abacus was a calculating tool used by Japanese merchants at the time, but he used it to mean the economy, business, and profit-seeking activities.
While morality and moneymaking tend to be seen as opposed, he advocated that a balance between the two should be achieved.
Why did Shibusawa end up advocating his philosophy of "the Analects and the abacus" to society at large?
It was prompted by a particular incident.
It happened in 1902, when he was 62 and already a central figure in Japan's business world.
He went on a tour of the West, during which a member of the British Chambers of Commerce made a complaint, saying "Japanese merchants lack morals and conduct fraudulent transactions or shady deals without shame.
They only try to make money for themselves, even if it causes trouble for other people or society.
We can't do business with someone who can't be trusted."
He appealed to Shibusawa to do something.
Shibusawa was shocked by the low morals of Japanese merchants.
Upon returning to Japan, he immediately began to advocate his motto of "the Analects and the abacus."
He continued to explain that society could not achieve healthy development unless "morality and business" were reconciled and a balance was found.
His arguments became a book, "The Analects and the Abacus," as well, which people still read today, long after Shibusawa has passed away.
Actually, prior to recent times, there was a period when Shibusawa's way of thinking had been forgotten even in Japan.
It was during the global financial crisis caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers that attention once again focused on "the Analects and the abacus."
As immoral, money-worshipping capitalism seemed on the verge of destroying the world, Japanese business leaders sought a new path to follow with the aim of reviving the economy.
As a result, attention turned back to Shibusawa's way of thinking.
Many companies, both big and small, came to realize once more the importance of having the right business philosophy.
Since the latest global trends, such as CSR and the SDGs, are aligned with the approach of "the Analects and the abacus," the book, "The Analects and the Abacus" has recently been translated into English, Chinese, and other languages and is starting to gain wider recognition around the world.
To be continued in the next edition.
Stay tuned for the next AOTS E-Newsletter.
Rikio Suma, Author
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Others
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<Inquiries>
https://www.aots.jp/en/contact/
<Past Issues>
https://h.bme.jp/bm/p/bn/list.php?i=hri_hida&no=all
<Unsubscribe or change your registered e-mail address>.
https://www.aots.jp/en/publications/newsletter/
*If you want to change your registered email address, please unsubscribe once with your old address and register your subscription with your new address at the above website.
<Privacy Policy>
Your personal information is protected and is not made public.
Any information you provide through AOTS website and email will only be used by us to provide you with AOTS E-newsletters, occasional information and related questionnaires.
Copyright 2016 The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, 30-1, Senju-Azuma 1-chome, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-8534, JAPAN