Comments on: The Clueless Shepherd

By: freedomwv

freedomwv — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:22:31 +0000

Aso is a prick.

By: astrorainfall

astrorainfall — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:28:19 +0000

LOL - that’s too funny!!

Man, if I were Japanese, I would be so embarrassed to have Taro Aso as the country’s “shepherd”. I’m so disgusted at his stupid ethnocentric gaffes.

By: Kamoshika Bob

Kamoshika Bob — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:13:22 +0000

Aso Taro is clueless. He also didn’t have to work for his money, so how does he get off criticizing others’ work habits?

It took him three tries to get the PM spot, so what does that tell you?

I do have a question for all you pundits whose memory of Japanese politics goes back a little way: Is Aso better or worse than Mori Yoshiro? Maybe some of you can remember more of Mori’s gaffes; the only specific one that comes to mind is when he said “Who are you?” to Pres. Clinton (instead of “How are you?”), to which a surprised Bill Clinton replied, “I’m Hillary’s husband.”

But as to the history of work ethic, I think Aso needs to be reminded that the Industrial Revolution first took hold in Protestant areas of Europe (and then North America) where hard work and independent thinking were encouraged from the pulpit.

Although Japanese work habits may not differ greatly from the rest of the developed world, I applaud the (relatively) high ethical standards that Japanese apply to their business practices. This is in contrast to the Chinese practice of providing a supply (ethical or not) for any demand. The Asahi had an article yesterday on illegal and fake Japanese beef being sold for a premium in Taiwanese restaurants.

By: Tornadoes28

Tornadoes28 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:59:13 +0000

I am not familiar with the Old Testament but my feeling is is that statement about work has a different meaning that Mr. Aso is not understanding. It should probably not be taken literally.

By: Our Man in Abiko

Our Man in Abiko — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:42:16 +0000

I’d say it’s 20 percent work, 80 percent kissing ass. But then, it’s always been that way in whatever country, don’t you think? Few of us are lucky enough to actually do a job that we enjoy and that pays the rent. Good post.

By: Chris B

Chris B — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:08:24 +0000

“Let’s face it, in this day and age, enough Westerners have spent a fair bit of time in Japan to know that Japan’s famed work ethic is quite often more about the appearance of working diligently than it is about actually putting forth a 100-percent effort. In fact, it’s safe to say that few are really buying the whole Japanese-work-harder-than-everybody-else line anymore.”

I just saw a international breakdown of gross production per worker and was not surprised to see America far ahead of Japan. I was surprised to see the American worker far ahead of Germany as well. (Google it if you like)

The fallacy of the “Hard working/producing worker” died almost as fast as the “well behaved respectful Japanese student” fallacy.

By: billywest

billywest — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:36:12 +0000

“I work in America at a University but your 20/80 rule applies at least here also.”

I think it applies to a lot of places throughout the world. But in developed nations, only guys like Aso are still saying things like,

“Our values in Japan regard hard work as important. In the Old Testament, God gave Adam punishment: labour. The Old Testament, Christianity, Islam — if you add them up, what percent of the world is that? About 70 percent of religions hold a philosophy that work is a punishment. We should share our philosophy with many other nations.”

The guy is a completely ignorant fossil.

By: Jamaipanese

Jamaipanese — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:05:53 +0000

nice post title. I don’t know of first hand experiences in Japan because I have never been there but I am sure all societies, cultures, countries and religions around the world has their own problems and their fair share of idiots.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:04:44 +0000

I work in America at a University but your 20/80 rule applies at least here also. There are a few key cogs that keep this place going. I have a Japanese friend working in Ameria who decided to stay here to work because the expected working hours were ridiculous. He stated he could do the same work as a computer programmer in less the time.

By: David

David — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:53:32 +0000

Well said! Long work hours are less about productivity and a work ethic than a side effect of an overly complicated social hierarchy, and the obligations that come with it.

That said, at the web firm I’m working at right now, people seem to be pretty on task and results-oriented. It’s a young company, though, which may have something to do with it.