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suppressed by the system, will add to the criticism. Certainly nobody is perfect in any country, but it’s easy to forget in this flood of lamentation that you are living in the third largest economy in the world and one of the safest places on Earth. That didn’t happen through a government order; it required the cooperation of an entire people. Every aspect of Japanese life is marked by this shared belief in program, enlivening and giving meaning to the basic, everyday relationships in our lives. It’s woven neatly into the language, so that honorific or casual attitude is always specified. The regularity of aisatsu, greetings, in the office, and set phrases at the restaurant or convenience store, provides constant reassurance of the existence of program. In the 1960s, businessmen considered a clean suit more important than a full meal. And the same instinct that creates this vertical society also creates many of the special experiences sought after by foreigners who come here. Nothing demonstrates this better than the
nomikai, a ritual that continues to astound newcomers, and with good reason. Told he will be made to attend an office party after his arrival, a Westerner’s mind might naturally flicker to horrific memories of similar events in his home country: standing awkwardly around groups of unfamiliar coworkers, and being forced to pal around with your boss as if he were an average guy. Instead they give him an assigned seat and a set meal to attend to, and tell him not to fill his own beer glass. If he wants beer, he must fill the glasses of those around him. These simple rules, if followed by everyone, perform magic. Suddenly the simple act of filling up a glass becomes an exchange of thoughtfulness: you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. The new guy gets a chance to solidify his role at his business by demonstrating concern for, and interest in, his coworkers. He leaves the nomikai feeling fulfilled and better connected. Only the cleverest gaijin, though, will realize that life at the office is supposed to work the same way. So, given all these benefits to the Japanese
way, what’s a manager to do when his boss is wrong? This is an eternally hot topic in Japan, for which a certain answer might never be found, but a local small business owner offered me one answer last night. He told me that when the foreign trade ministry representative came to his office, he treated him like a king, respected his every order, smiled and nodded while he listened to a long stream of bad advice—and then proceeded to do just the opposite, making big profits for his company. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
ているとも言える。日本語の中にも巧みに組 み込まれていて、敬語とカジュアルなシーン とは区別されているよ。オフィスでのフレー ズ、レストランやコンビニのマニュアル言葉 など、使い分けることができれば、その社会 に埋もれているという “安心感” を得られるよ。 ビジネスパーソンは食費を削ってでもビシッ としたスーツを着ることが重んじられていた 時代があったほど、縦社会に従う日本。そん な日本に来た外国人は、自分が特別扱いをさ れているという優越感を感じたり、彼らの礼 儀正しさに驚きを覚えるはずさ。 例えば飲み会。新入りを愕然とさせるこの 儀式は最高の例だよ。来日するや否や、オフィ スパーティに出席するように言われると、外
国人なら本国での苦い思い出が脳裏をよぎ る。まだ知らない同僚らに囲まれ、居心地悪 く前に立たされた上に、上司に対してフレン ドリーに振る舞うように薦められる ...。一方、 日本では予め用意された席に通され、食事で もてなしをうける。ビールは手酌でなく、お 互いが注ぎ合う。簡単な決まりごとだけど、 全ての人がこの作法に従い、魔法のように物 事がスムーズに進むんだ。ビール一杯のお酌 から深い思いやりへ。まるでお互いの背中を 掻きあうような感覚さ。新人は職場の人への 気遣いを見せることで自分の地位を確固たる ものにした、と満ち足りた気持ちで飲み会を 後にするけど、本当に賢いヤツは、この「飲 み会感覚」がオフィスでは通用しないことを
知っている。縦社会文化は根強いからね。 最後におさらいだ。さて、上司や客が間違っ たことを言っている場合、どのようにすれば いいだろうか？正解はないが、とある零細 企業の社長がヒントをくれた。その社長のオ フィスに海外から貿易担当者が尋ねてきた。 社長は客をうやうやしくもてなし、客の言う ことは、例え間違ったアドバイスでも笑顔で 頷いて受け入れてみせた。その後、その社長 は客の言うこととは逆のことをして、会社に 大きな利益をもたらしたんだと。 「許可される ことを待つより、とにかくやってしまえ。問 題があったら相手の寛容に訴えて許しをもら うほうが、何もやらないよりいい。」ってこと かな。これってドーデショ？
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Great Opportunity for International Students
Fukuoka University's School of Japanese Language and Culture for International Students is currently accepting applications for the April semester of 2013. With an optimum learning environment in one of the major universities in western Japan, “Fukuoka University’s School of Japanese Language and Culture for International Students” will offer a richly varied curriculum in Japanese language and culture that will ensure that students are ideally prepared and equipped before entering undergraduate or graduate studies.
For more information please contact: Admissions Office
School of Japanese Language and Culture for International Students Fukuoka University 8-19-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka TEL: 092-871-6631(4681) Email: bekka@adm.fukuoka-u.ac.jp URL: www.adm.fukuoka-u.ac.jp/fu867
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