German Institute for Japanese Studies, Tokyo (DIJ) Podcast

In his presentation Tomoki Sekiguchi will report on a growing number of Japanese firms that are hiring non-Japanese employees in their domestic workplace in order to promote uchi-naru kokusaika or internal internationalisation of management. One major source of their recruits is international students who have studied in Japanese universities, and some Japanese firms have also begun to recruit non-Japanese employees from overseas universities. Despite this important trend, we still know little about the experience of foreign employees in their daily work in Japan, such as possible discrimination and communication problems when working with Japanese bosses and colleagues. In his presentation, he will show the results of the survey administered to the foreign employees working in the Japanese workplace, focusing on the causes of their perceived discrimination and its effect on their attitudes and behaviours.

In his presentation he will report on a growing number of Japanese firms that are hiring non-Japanese employees in their domestic workplace in order to promote uchi-naru kokusaika or internal internationalisation of management. One major source of their recruits is international students who have studied in Japanese universities, and some Japanese firms have also begun to recruit non-Japanese employees from overseas universities. Despite this important trend, we still know little about the experience of foreign employees in their daily work in Japan, such as possible discrimination and communication problems when working with Japanese bosses and colleagues. In his presentation, he will show the results of the survey administered to the foreign employees working in the Japanese workplace, focusing on the causes of their perceived discrimination and its effect on their attitudes and behaviours. The presentation will be followed by comments from Sierk Horn and Hendrik Meyer-Ohle.

To most Americans, it is perfectly obvious that the two atomic bombs ended World War II. Yet at least four other developments helped persuade Japanese leaders to surrender. The Soviet Union’s entry into the war against Japan on August 8 may have been more decisive, some historians argue. However, the other three factors are rarely discussed. The Allied blockade increasingly deprived the Japanese home front of food and fuel. In its final phase called “Operation Starvation”, the U.S. aerial mining campaign stopped nearly all food imports, resulting in widespread malnutrition. Nor have historians fully considered the expansion of the U.S. firebombing campaign to nearly 60 small and medium cities during summer 1945. Bombing and food shortages led millions to flee the cities, crippling Japan’s capacity to wage total war. Finally, Japanese officials and industrialists closely followed the recent defeat of Nazi Germany, which had fought to the finish. Influential elites passionately wished to avoid a similar Allied invasion, and they pressed top leaders to end the war before Japan’s infrastructure and its people were obliterated.

To most Americans, it is perfectly obvious that the two atomic bombs ended World War II. Yet at least four other developments helped persuade Japanese leaders to surrender. The Soviet Union’s entry into the war against Japan on August 8 may have been more decisive, some historians argue. However, the other three factors are rarely discussed. The Allied blockade increasingly deprived the Japanese home front of food and fuel. In its final phase called “Operation Starvation”, the U.S. aerial mining campaign stopped nearly all food imports, resulting in widespread malnutrition. Nor have historians fully considered the expansion of the U.S. firebombing campaign to nearly 60 small and medium cities during summer 1945. Bombing and food shortages led millions to flee the cities, crippling Japan’s capacity to wage total war. Finally, Japanese officials and industrialists closely followed the recent defeat of Nazi Germany, which had fought to the finish. Influential elites passionately wished to avoid a similar Allied invasion, and they pressed top leaders to end the war before Japan’s infrastructure and its people were obliterated.

On its surface, Japan’s health system appears to be one of the world’s best. The country provides universal access to health care and scores well on most public health metrics. For example, the Japanese have the longest life expectancy and among the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, and they lose significantly fewer potential life years to disease than do the citizens of almost any other country. And Japan consistently spends less on health care than most other developed countries do.

However, Japan’s health system – like those in many other countries – is under severe stress. An increasing number of patients are finding it difficult to obtain the right care at the right time and place. The quality of care delivered varies markedly. Many of the cost-control measures the system has implemented have damaged its cost-effectiveness. The system’s funding mechanisms are insufficient to meet rising costs, and given the current economic situation, the country has few good options for meeting the funding gap. As a result, the sustainability of Japan’s health system is now in question, and decisive action is necessary.

On its surface, Japan’s health system appears to be one of the world’s best. The country provides universal access to health care and scores well on most public health metrics. For example, the Japanese have the longest life expectancy and among the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, and they lose significantly fewer potential life years to disease than do the citizens of almost any other country. And Japan consistently spends less on health care than most other developed countries do. However, Japan’s health system – like those in many other countries – is under severe stress. An increasing number of patients are finding it difficult to obtain the right care at the right time and place. The quality of care delivered varies markedly. Many of the cost-control measures the system has implemented have damaged its cost-effectiveness. The system’s funding mechanisms are insufficient to meet rising costs, and given the current economic situation, the country has few good options for meeting the funding gap. As a result, the sustainability of Japan’s health system is now in question, and decisive action is necessary.

Japan and South Korea are home to numerous multinational firms, particularly in highly globalized manufacturing industries such as automobiles and electronics. Both countries also have distinct business cultures and management systems which arguably lend strong competitiveness to their leading multinationals. However, the business activities of Japanese and Korean firms are increasingly being transferred to overseas locations, resulting in the need to attract, nurture and retain talent from all over the world. How can firms with strong national roots manage their global human resources competently without giving up their home-grown competitive strengths? How can they effectively integrate managers who neither know the business cultures nor the languages of their firms’ home countries?

Japan and South Korea are home to numerous multinational firms, particularly in highly globalized manufacturing industries such as automobiles and electronics. Both countries also have distinct business cultures and management systems which arguably lend strong competitiveness to their leading multinationals. However, the business activities of Japanese and Korean firms are increasingly being transferred to overseas locations, resulting in the need to attract, nurture and retain talent from all over the world. How can firms with strong national roots manage their global human resources competently without giving up their home-grown competitive strengths? How can they effectively integrate managers who neither know the business cultures nor the languages of their firms’ home countries?

Deutschland und Japan wurden nach ihrer Niederlage im Zweiten Weltkrieg zwar keine Atommächte, konnten auf dem Gebiet der Atomenergie aber dennoch eine führende Rolle übernehmen. Während Deutschland nun allerdings den Atomausstieg beschlossen hat, hält Japan auch nach der Katastrophe von Fukushima weiterhin an der Kernenergie fest. Die beiden Referenten werden auf die Entwicklung der Kernenergie-nutzung in beiden Ländern zurückblicken und anschließend der Frage nachgehen, wie es zu diesen unterschiedlichen energiepolitischen Positionen kommen konnte.

ドイツと日本は、第２次世界大戦に敗北し、今日まで核兵器保有国とならなかったが、原子力発電の先進国へと発展した。しかしドイツ政府が脱原発を決めたのに対し、日本政府は福島事故後もなお原子力発電の存続をめざしている。両国の原子力発電の歩んできた道を、二人の講演者がふりかえり、なぜ両国で利用路線上の相違が生じているかを話し合う。

Deutschland und Japan wurden nach ihrer Niederlage im Zweiten Weltkrieg zwar keine Atommächte, konnten auf dem Gebiet der Atomenergie aber dennoch eine führende Rolle übernehmen. Während Deutschland nun allerdings den Atomausstieg beschlossen hat, hält Japan auch nach der Katastrophe von Fukushima weiterhin an der Kernenergie fest. Die beiden Referenten werden auf die Entwicklung der Kernenergie-nutzung in beiden Ländern zurückblicken und anschließend der Frage nachgehen, wie es zu diesen unterschiedlichen energiepolitischen Positionen kommen konnte.