2 posts tagged “japan”

Earlier this year, we reported the difficulties that Japanese had with western management practices, particularly those regarding performance management.  Apparently that's not the only aspect of western culture that has the potential of causing psychological damage from those who've grown up in the structured culture of politeness and service that is Japan.  According to Reuters, visits to Paris can be bad for your mental state, if you are from Japan.  The malady even has a name . . . Paris Syndrome.

PARIS - Around a dozen Japanese tourists a year need psychological treatment after visiting Paris as the reality of unfriendly locals and scruffy streets clashes with their expectations, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Hmmm. Problems with the French?  Maybe we have something in common with our friends on the Pacific Rim.

Now we get it.  It's a wonder we've survived this long.

"THE rapid spread of Western business practices in Japan has caused widespread mental illness and is responsible for a deepening demographic crisis, government officials say."

Thanks to Leo Lewis of the TimesOnLine for enlightening us all.  He goes on to say:

"Merit-based pay and promotion are of particular concern because they are at odds with the traditional system, built on seniority, that has reigned supreme in corporate Japan. In the harsh new atmosphere of cut-throat rivalry between workers, the Institute for Population and Social Security argues, young people do not feel financially stable enough to start families."

. . . and we wonder why the world doesn't understand (or appreciate) Americans?  It ain't just "our freedoms" that they don't like.