Osaka – Sunday, April 18, 2010
Weather Instability, especially going back to winter, has been reported in all TV channels in many TV programmes this week, with its effect on our life and business. As the succeeding article of How Recent Weather Instability Affecting Us? (Part 1) that focused mainly on negative effects on vegetables and fruits, this article will focus on effects on gasoline stations and tourism. Such effects are likely to give negative effects to Japan’s key issue of aging society and also Japan’s growth strategy pillar of “becoming tourism-oriented country” mentioned in the previous article How Japan's Growth Strategy Should Be?
1. How serious has the recent weather instability been?
In addition to how the weather has been extremely instable, on April 17 which is the last day that was officially announced as “low temperature” days by the Meteorological Agency after 14 years, it snowed even in large cities (not mountains) in eastern Japan including Tokyo and Yokohama, causing delays etc. of public transport. Snow in such cities in this time of the year is extremely rare; first time in 41 years.
Temperature in western Japan recovered today on April 17, and temperature in eastern Japan was forecasted to recover from April 18 as well. However, it is assumed that it continues to snow for a while in mountains and northern Japan where it have been snowing lately.
2. What are the negative effects of the recent weather instability on gasoline stands?
Season going back to winter has directly affecting gasoline price and gasoline stands. This may lead to a social issue in aging society.
1) Instable weather directly affecting gasoline price.
Recent cold weather drastically increased heating oil demand, leading to rise in gasoline price. Gasoline was 108 yen / gallon this time last year but with recent low temperature it is 133 yen / gallon now. It is quite possible that this trend continues for a while.
This is because heating oil is the primary energy for heating in houses in Japan. This is because adoption rate of central heating system is extremely low and heating oil stoves are popular. For this reason, people need to go to gasoline stations and buy heating oils for their stoves to keep them warm.
2) Increase in gasoline price may well accelerate closure of gasoline stands, meaning inconvenience for people especially elders.
In addition to imbalance of heating oil demand and supply this time of the year, which is a big factor of in price increase, there have been other changes in external business environment of gasoline stands, making business owners difficult to continue business successfully, besides the high crude oil price of the recent few years.
As a result, more than 40% of them nationwide are in red and gasoline stands have been continuously closing. Recent increase in gasoline price attributing to weather instability would negatively impact profitability of gasoline stands further and therefore may well accelerate closure of gasoline stands.
This would be a negative factor for Japan, suffering from aging society and taking counter measures to overcome has been vital. Heating issue, together with snow removal issue, are requirements for people to live safely in cold weather. Many gasoline stations being closed lately are in under-populated area where there are many elder residents. Weather instability is a factor that makes these issues more serious.
3. What are the negative effects of the recent weather instability on tourism?
Season going back to winter has directly affecting tourism, when the Japanese government has positioned tourism as one of the growth strategy and is planning to decentralize GW long holiday to activate tourism as mentioned in the previous article Is Decentralized GW Long Holiday Good?
1) Sight seeing spot famous for spring flowers cannot present beauty of nature like previous years.
Hitsujiyama Park in Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, famous for its impressive special kind of cherry blossom patchwork, has only about 70% in their best due to recent weather instability. The park is of 16,500 square meters, with more than 400,000 cherry blossom flowers, of 9 kinds in many colours such as pink, white and purple. They should be in their best this time of the year with many tourists enjoying the beautiful flower patchwork as in photo. However, with insufficient artistic patchwork and cold weather, it has been attracting extremely few tourists, all in winter jackets.
Some normal cherry blossoms are still available in such places as Nagano, but it has snow on the flowers. Viewing such cherry blossoms outdoor in a winter-like cold weather is not really suitable for “ohanami” mentioned in the previous article What is the Message of Recent Cherry Blossom Phenomenon?
2) Historic sightseeing spots have been attracting few tourists.
Recent weather instability has made few people visit historic sightseeing spots that in theory should not be much affected by temperature and weather. Nikko, famous for Nikko Toshogun (established by Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first Shogun of Edo Period), has been attracting only about half the tourists of previous years. According to the reporter of a TV programme, it is probably due to the cold weather; there are cable cars, which is uncomfortable to get on in such a cold weather.
3) Many souvenir shops are forced to close early.
As a result of 1) and 2), businesses of many souvenir shops that rely on tourists visiting such sight seeing spots are hardly hit. With few tourists, souvenirs are forced to or decide to close early because although it means less business opportunity it is no good to keep their shops open under circumstances.
4) Airport observation decks have been quiet.
Observation decks of airports such as Narita International Airport have been extremely quiet because of the cold weather. When a TV programme reporter visited Narita International Airport, there were no one at observation deck, only a few people looking at arrival and departure of airplanes from inside the buildings where they can stay warm.
4. Are there any places that have been attracting people?
Yes, there are a few exceptional places that have been attracting people. A good example is restaurants where they serve Japanese “nabe” dish, Japanese cuisine usually enjoyed in winter that make us warm. People interviewed commented in Japanese, literally “Our purse are cold (little money inside) but at least we would like to get warm physically by enjoying “nabe” dish”, reflecting the recent trend in Japan.
Another example is coat selling floors at retailers, but instead, summer cloth selling floors have not been attracting consumers. So it is a trade-off.
Today on April 18, as forecasted, temperature returned to almost the normal level and spring seem to have come back. The temperature is forecasted to remain this level for a while; however, it does not mean that the negative effects mentioned can be eliminated.
5. What is the thought of the Author?
It seems to the author that recent abnormal climate and instable weather is a sign that earth is not happy with how we, human being have been insufficiently preserving environment until today, although environmental preservation for sustainability of the globe has been an issue for more than 20 years. In fact, the author contributed to making an international conference on this issue of AIESEC (the world's largest youth-run organisation) so many years ago when she was a university student.
Our business and life are based on nature and ecosystems optimally balanced under normal, stable climate and weather. All the effects mentioned are how imbalance of ecosystems of nature negatively affects our human ecosystems, being the negative factors for prosperity. It is quite clear that the message from ecosystems of nature to us is that we need to take measures immediately to minimize ecosystem imbalance for our sustainability.
2010年4月17日土曜日
How the Recent Weather Instability Affecting Us (Part 1) ?
Osaka – Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Popular Japan TV morning and evening news programmes have been reporting lately on how the recent weather instability weather in Japan has been giving negative effects on businesses (especially vegetable, fruit and flower) and on our health. Negative effects of global abnormal climate and instable weather have been a worldwide issue, and Japan is not an exception.
1. How the weather in Japan has been instable recently?
The weather has been extremely instable, with rapid and drastic temperature and weather change in such a short period that we are experiencing winter and spring or early summer in one or few days, and/or in a week.
For example in Tokyo, the temperature was 22.4℃ on April 11, which dropped by 15.7℃ to 6.7℃ on April 12 but rose by 11.5℃ to 18.2℃ on April 13. In Maehashi, Gunma prefecture, it was as cold as winter on April 12 but became hot on April 13 with temperature rise by 17℃ to the average temperature of end of May. And in Nagano also, it was as cold as winter on April 12 but heated up on April 13 reaching the temperature of 25℃ and children enjoyed playing with water. There have even been some places in which temperature has been extremely instable within a day.
The temperature in these places is expected to drop again April 14 – 17, to the level which is below 5 – 7 ℃ below the average temperature at this time of the year. Therefore, the Meteorological Agency decided to officially announce “low temperature” first time in 14 years.
2. What was the reason for the recent weather instability?
According to Professor Yamagawa of Tokyo University, the recent weather instability attributes to what he calls “mock El Nino”, making cold air coming in, leading to low pressure. With this, cold weather comes from south, where warm weather usually comes from. This resulted in wind as strong as typhoon in northern part of Japan. For example, Sapporo, Hokkaido, was hit with winds of 33kph on April 13, and with the strong wind (plus snow), walls of an apartment broke down, directly hitting a car. Thus such weather in northern Japan is named “spring storm”.
3. What are the negative effects of the recent weather instability?
Vegetables and fruits have been negatively affective by the recent weather instability as below.
1) Vegetables and fruits
(1) Cabbage
Unstable weather led to insufficient sunshine (only 70% of previous years in Kanto area for example), meaning lean harvesting, and short of supply. This apparently results in increase in price, but some retailers have prices at 298 yen instead of 398 yen which they really want to price or 313 yen which the cost because they fully are aware that consumers would not pay more than 300 yen for a cabbage. Some retailers are tackling this problem by selling cabbages in halves and quarters and making sure to sell out but they have not been as successful as they had hoped.
According to a few consumers interviewed, they cannot afford to pay more than 300 yen for a cabbage, and now they make the most of what they purchase by using outer hard leaves and centre core as well when they would have not done if the price had not gone up as now.
(2) “New” cabbage
For the reason same as the cabbage explained above, the harvesting has reached only 50% of previous years, when this kind of “new” cabbage are harvested only in March and April (hence the name “new” cabbage) meaning it should have reached around 70% by now by simple calculation. This has directly been reflected in up pricing.
(3) Other “spring” vegetables
Other vegetables usually brought to cultivation and harvested in spring if green house is not used (we call them “spring vegetables” in Japan) such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and green peppers have not been growing well for the same reason as cabbages. As a result, only 70% - 80% of the previous year level has been harvested. As for green peppers, it is below 70%.
Some cucumber growers have been handling this by combination of green house use and heating. They have been achieving their yield quantity target but not in their cost due to high heating cost, thus their business has not been as successful as they expected.
(4) Strawberries
Cultivation and business of strawberries, symbol of “spring fruits” (fruits harvested in spring), also have been negatively affected by the recent instable weather. Growth of strawberries is extremely bad for the same reason as vegetables, and growers are suffering from high heating cost.
(5) Japanese plums
Japanese plums are also a symbol of “spring” in Japan and its cultivation and business have also been negatively effected by the recent instable weather, similarly to other vegetables and fruits. It is expected to result in 1.8 billion yen loss for Japanese plum business in Wakayama Prefecture, whose market share is the highest.
2) Other plants and animals
Other plants and animals have also been negatively affected by the recent weather instability.
(1) Carnations
Carnation, a spring flower, has not been growing well, and growers are extremely worried that they will make little business from carnation unlike previous years. Carnation is the most common gift given on Mother’s Day, which is the second Sunday in May, so carnation growers cultivate, harvest and ship to meet such market demand and needs every year. However, with the recent instable weather, carnations have not been growing well and growers are worried that they would not be able to ship their products in time for Mother’s Day and their profit would decrease by 70% from previous years.
(2) Honey bees
Breeding and growing of honey bees have been affected by the recent instable weather as well. When it becomes warm in spring, honey bees produce eggs, which incubate and finally become adult honey bees. However, recent instable weather including winter-like days resulted in insufficient incubation and/or child neglect by adult honey bees. Consequently, only about 70% of eggs have been successfully becoming adult bees.
3) Our health
Recent weather instability has negatively affecting our health, resulting in the patients suffering from cold, asthma and other cardiovascular diseases (e.g. cardiac infarction and angina pectoris) attributing to changeable weather. In fact, such patients are double the previous years. Doctors call such diseases “meteorotropic disease”.
4. Are there any positive effects of the recent instable weather? If yes, how are they compared to negative effects?
Yes, there are a few positive effects of the recent instable weather. Such includes the fact that cherry blossoms can be enjoyed for longer time compared to previous years because of some days of low temperature, and strong sales of spring and rain coats in retailers. However, negative effects and losses are greater.
After all, our business and life are based on nature and ecosystems optimally balanced under normal, stable climate and weather. The above can be said as how imbalance of ecosystems of nature negatively affects our human ecosystems.
Popular Japan TV morning and evening news programmes have been reporting lately on how the recent weather instability weather in Japan has been giving negative effects on businesses (especially vegetable, fruit and flower) and on our health. Negative effects of global abnormal climate and instable weather have been a worldwide issue, and Japan is not an exception.
1. How the weather in Japan has been instable recently?
The weather has been extremely instable, with rapid and drastic temperature and weather change in such a short period that we are experiencing winter and spring or early summer in one or few days, and/or in a week.
For example in Tokyo, the temperature was 22.4℃ on April 11, which dropped by 15.7℃ to 6.7℃ on April 12 but rose by 11.5℃ to 18.2℃ on April 13. In Maehashi, Gunma prefecture, it was as cold as winter on April 12 but became hot on April 13 with temperature rise by 17℃ to the average temperature of end of May. And in Nagano also, it was as cold as winter on April 12 but heated up on April 13 reaching the temperature of 25℃ and children enjoyed playing with water. There have even been some places in which temperature has been extremely instable within a day.
The temperature in these places is expected to drop again April 14 – 17, to the level which is below 5 – 7 ℃ below the average temperature at this time of the year. Therefore, the Meteorological Agency decided to officially announce “low temperature” first time in 14 years.
2. What was the reason for the recent weather instability?
According to Professor Yamagawa of Tokyo University, the recent weather instability attributes to what he calls “mock El Nino”, making cold air coming in, leading to low pressure. With this, cold weather comes from south, where warm weather usually comes from. This resulted in wind as strong as typhoon in northern part of Japan. For example, Sapporo, Hokkaido, was hit with winds of 33kph on April 13, and with the strong wind (plus snow), walls of an apartment broke down, directly hitting a car. Thus such weather in northern Japan is named “spring storm”.
3. What are the negative effects of the recent weather instability?
Vegetables and fruits have been negatively affective by the recent weather instability as below.
1) Vegetables and fruits
(1) Cabbage
Unstable weather led to insufficient sunshine (only 70% of previous years in Kanto area for example), meaning lean harvesting, and short of supply. This apparently results in increase in price, but some retailers have prices at 298 yen instead of 398 yen which they really want to price or 313 yen which the cost because they fully are aware that consumers would not pay more than 300 yen for a cabbage. Some retailers are tackling this problem by selling cabbages in halves and quarters and making sure to sell out but they have not been as successful as they had hoped.
According to a few consumers interviewed, they cannot afford to pay more than 300 yen for a cabbage, and now they make the most of what they purchase by using outer hard leaves and centre core as well when they would have not done if the price had not gone up as now.
(2) “New” cabbage
For the reason same as the cabbage explained above, the harvesting has reached only 50% of previous years, when this kind of “new” cabbage are harvested only in March and April (hence the name “new” cabbage) meaning it should have reached around 70% by now by simple calculation. This has directly been reflected in up pricing.
(3) Other “spring” vegetables
Other vegetables usually brought to cultivation and harvested in spring if green house is not used (we call them “spring vegetables” in Japan) such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and green peppers have not been growing well for the same reason as cabbages. As a result, only 70% - 80% of the previous year level has been harvested. As for green peppers, it is below 70%.
Some cucumber growers have been handling this by combination of green house use and heating. They have been achieving their yield quantity target but not in their cost due to high heating cost, thus their business has not been as successful as they expected.
(4) Strawberries
Cultivation and business of strawberries, symbol of “spring fruits” (fruits harvested in spring), also have been negatively affected by the recent instable weather. Growth of strawberries is extremely bad for the same reason as vegetables, and growers are suffering from high heating cost.
(5) Japanese plums
Japanese plums are also a symbol of “spring” in Japan and its cultivation and business have also been negatively effected by the recent instable weather, similarly to other vegetables and fruits. It is expected to result in 1.8 billion yen loss for Japanese plum business in Wakayama Prefecture, whose market share is the highest.
2) Other plants and animals
Other plants and animals have also been negatively affected by the recent weather instability.
(1) Carnations
Carnation, a spring flower, has not been growing well, and growers are extremely worried that they will make little business from carnation unlike previous years. Carnation is the most common gift given on Mother’s Day, which is the second Sunday in May, so carnation growers cultivate, harvest and ship to meet such market demand and needs every year. However, with the recent instable weather, carnations have not been growing well and growers are worried that they would not be able to ship their products in time for Mother’s Day and their profit would decrease by 70% from previous years.
(2) Honey bees
Breeding and growing of honey bees have been affected by the recent instable weather as well. When it becomes warm in spring, honey bees produce eggs, which incubate and finally become adult honey bees. However, recent instable weather including winter-like days resulted in insufficient incubation and/or child neglect by adult honey bees. Consequently, only about 70% of eggs have been successfully becoming adult bees.
3) Our health
Recent weather instability has negatively affecting our health, resulting in the patients suffering from cold, asthma and other cardiovascular diseases (e.g. cardiac infarction and angina pectoris) attributing to changeable weather. In fact, such patients are double the previous years. Doctors call such diseases “meteorotropic disease”.
4. Are there any positive effects of the recent instable weather? If yes, how are they compared to negative effects?
Yes, there are a few positive effects of the recent instable weather. Such includes the fact that cherry blossoms can be enjoyed for longer time compared to previous years because of some days of low temperature, and strong sales of spring and rain coats in retailers. However, negative effects and losses are greater.
After all, our business and life are based on nature and ecosystems optimally balanced under normal, stable climate and weather. The above can be said as how imbalance of ecosystems of nature negatively affects our human ecosystems.
2010年4月10日土曜日
What is the Message of Recent Cherry Blossom Phenomenon?
Osaka – Saturday, April 10, 2010
Cherry blossoms, beauties of natures at this time of the year symbolizing spring, have been in their best in most parts of Japan last weekend and this weekend, and with nice weather at weekends people have been enjoying them. Cherry blossom enjoyment is a topic in TV news and in daily conversation at this time of the year. From such recent information, there have been signs that global warming is changing the ecosystem of cherry blossoms and it may well change how we can enjoy them in the future.
1. What is the custom of enjoying cherry blossoms in Japan?
It is a custom to enjoy cherry blossoms called “ohanami”, literally “watch and enjoy flowers (cherry blossoms)” in Japan at this time of the year. People would go out to see them, very often with lunch and drink, just like a picnic, in families and group of friends. In some cases, group of adults would take alcohols as well and it is indeed an outdoor banquet with cherry blossom show. Even at weekdays, it is quite common for business people to enjoy “ohanami” after work with food and drink. With so many people going out for “ohanami”, reserving excellent places is an issue and it is not unusual that people compete for reserving best places in famous “ohanami” places such as Maruyama Park in Kyoto from early morning.
2. What is the effect of the custom of “ohanami”?
1) Tourism
The popularity of the custom is a big business for tourism, thus tourist companies have developed varieties of their products i.e. group tours of “ohanami” at famous places and some minor places, to keep them busy and making business this time of the year. Some of the famous sightseeing places in western part of Japan include Takato in Nagano, Yoshino Mountain in Nara, and many famous sight seeing spots of Kyoto such as Maruyama Koen (Park); Kiyomizu Temple, Tetsugaku-no-michi “(literally “philosophy road” in which people waked to think philosophy) and Nijo Castle to name just a few.
Takato is often said as “tenka-daiichi”, literally “the best in the world” because the total territory of the castle, which is a hill” is all covered with cherry blossom trees and its view is magnificent. Yoshino Mountain in Nara is also extremely famous, known as “Yoshino Sembon Zakura”, literally “thousands of cherry blossom trees of Yoshino Mountain”, because mountains are planted with so many thousands of cherry blossom trees covering all Yoshino Mountain. People can enjoy cherry blossoms at Hoshino Mountain for long period because they bloom and become in their best in different timing attributing to difference in how much they are above sea level. Places such as Tetsugakuno-Michi, Maruyama Koen (Park); Kiyomizu Temple and Nijo Castle to name a few in Kyoto are all famous sight seeing spots throughout the year, visited by tourists from all over the world as well as from every parts of Japan, especially in spring, attracting so many people to enjoy beauties of nature of cherry blossoms.
Many of such cherry blossoms are enjoyed night time as well as daytime. They are illuminated at night for people to enjoyed longer hours in a day, and enjoy the beauty quite different from that of daytime.
2) TV news
At this time of the year, “ohanami” and status of cherry blossoms are hot topic. In the TV news status of cherry blossoms from major places, sometimes live, are reported. And in the following part which is weather forecast session, cherry blossom information is focused, such as when the cherry blossoms start to bloom in each parts of Japan, where is the cherry blossom front so that people would know in which part of Japan they can enjoy “ohanami”, and for how long they can enjoy “ohanami”.
With custom of “ohanami” and with such reports and weather forecast on TV, it is more than natural that cherry blossom and “ohanami” is centre of conversation at work, at home and among friends during this time of the year.
3. How movement of cherry blossom front and how cherry blossoms coming to bloom have been different this year compared to previous years?
There has been many unusual phenomenon regarding cherry blossom front and how cherry blossoms have come to bloom this year. After hibernation in winter, cherry blossoms come to bloom when the temperature reaches to a certain point for more than a certain number of days. Therefore, cherry blossoms in warm places i.e. southern part of Japan come to bloom first and those in northern part of Japan and/or in higher up in mountains later. This is why cherry blossom front moves usually upward, from south to north.
However, that was not the case this year. There was no clear cherry blossom front. Tokyo was the first place to come to bloom, before Kyushu, southern part of Japan, when Kyushu should be the first place to come to bloom. Also, some cherry blossom trees in Kyushu did not bloom at all.
4. What is the reason for unusual phenomenon of cherry blossom front and of how cherry blossoms came to bloom this year?
The reason of unusual phenomenon of cherry blossom front and of how cherry blossoms came to bloom this year is global warming. The logic is basically the same as the recent unusual phenomenon of how maple leaves going red, which attributes to change (rise) in average temperature.
With global warming, the average temperature in some parts of Kyushu did not drop to the level for cherry blossom trees to “hibernate” in winter. Therefore, when temperature rose to a certain level in March, the level which usually cherry blossoms awake from hibernation and come to bloom, they could not awake simply because they did not hibernate in the first place. This is why some cherry blossom trees in Kyushu did not come to bloom.
Global warming is also the reason that Tokyo was the first place for cherry blossoms to come bloom; the temperature level in the winter and spring was optimum in Tokyo for cherry blossom trees to hibernate and awake in the earliest timing. Cherry blossoms in other parts of Japan between Kyushu and Tokyo did bloom but the temperature in winter in such places was above the optimum for cherry blossom hibernation so it took time for them to wake up from hibernation and come to bloom. This implies that with further global warming it is quite possible that some cherry blossoms in such places will not come to bloom similarly to Kyushu.
5. What does the cherry blossom phenomenon imply?
To the author, the cherry blossom phenomenon is not simply the fact that we may not be able to enjoy the beauties of nature of spring in the near future if global warming should continue, but is a strong message that we should take seriously about necessity of environmental preservation for sustainability.
The message is quite clear, and is the same message from many other phenomena of how other ecosystems of land and sea have been changing, giving negative effects on our food supply and lives. Measures such as GHG emission have already been discussed and initiated as mentioned in the previous article Japan Takes Lead in GHG Emission Reduction in the US's Climate Change Summit, and this is urgent; we need to take actions immediately on the global level.
Cherry blossoms, beauties of natures at this time of the year symbolizing spring, have been in their best in most parts of Japan last weekend and this weekend, and with nice weather at weekends people have been enjoying them. Cherry blossom enjoyment is a topic in TV news and in daily conversation at this time of the year. From such recent information, there have been signs that global warming is changing the ecosystem of cherry blossoms and it may well change how we can enjoy them in the future.
1. What is the custom of enjoying cherry blossoms in Japan?
It is a custom to enjoy cherry blossoms called “ohanami”, literally “watch and enjoy flowers (cherry blossoms)” in Japan at this time of the year. People would go out to see them, very often with lunch and drink, just like a picnic, in families and group of friends. In some cases, group of adults would take alcohols as well and it is indeed an outdoor banquet with cherry blossom show. Even at weekdays, it is quite common for business people to enjoy “ohanami” after work with food and drink. With so many people going out for “ohanami”, reserving excellent places is an issue and it is not unusual that people compete for reserving best places in famous “ohanami” places such as Maruyama Park in Kyoto from early morning.
2. What is the effect of the custom of “ohanami”?
1) Tourism
The popularity of the custom is a big business for tourism, thus tourist companies have developed varieties of their products i.e. group tours of “ohanami” at famous places and some minor places, to keep them busy and making business this time of the year. Some of the famous sightseeing places in western part of Japan include Takato in Nagano, Yoshino Mountain in Nara, and many famous sight seeing spots of Kyoto such as Maruyama Koen (Park); Kiyomizu Temple, Tetsugaku-no-michi “(literally “philosophy road” in which people waked to think philosophy) and Nijo Castle to name just a few.
Takato is often said as “tenka-daiichi”, literally “the best in the world” because the total territory of the castle, which is a hill” is all covered with cherry blossom trees and its view is magnificent. Yoshino Mountain in Nara is also extremely famous, known as “Yoshino Sembon Zakura”, literally “thousands of cherry blossom trees of Yoshino Mountain”, because mountains are planted with so many thousands of cherry blossom trees covering all Yoshino Mountain. People can enjoy cherry blossoms at Hoshino Mountain for long period because they bloom and become in their best in different timing attributing to difference in how much they are above sea level. Places such as Tetsugakuno-Michi, Maruyama Koen (Park); Kiyomizu Temple and Nijo Castle to name a few in Kyoto are all famous sight seeing spots throughout the year, visited by tourists from all over the world as well as from every parts of Japan, especially in spring, attracting so many people to enjoy beauties of nature of cherry blossoms.
Many of such cherry blossoms are enjoyed night time as well as daytime. They are illuminated at night for people to enjoyed longer hours in a day, and enjoy the beauty quite different from that of daytime.
2) TV news
At this time of the year, “ohanami” and status of cherry blossoms are hot topic. In the TV news status of cherry blossoms from major places, sometimes live, are reported. And in the following part which is weather forecast session, cherry blossom information is focused, such as when the cherry blossoms start to bloom in each parts of Japan, where is the cherry blossom front so that people would know in which part of Japan they can enjoy “ohanami”, and for how long they can enjoy “ohanami”.
With custom of “ohanami” and with such reports and weather forecast on TV, it is more than natural that cherry blossom and “ohanami” is centre of conversation at work, at home and among friends during this time of the year.
3. How movement of cherry blossom front and how cherry blossoms coming to bloom have been different this year compared to previous years?
There has been many unusual phenomenon regarding cherry blossom front and how cherry blossoms have come to bloom this year. After hibernation in winter, cherry blossoms come to bloom when the temperature reaches to a certain point for more than a certain number of days. Therefore, cherry blossoms in warm places i.e. southern part of Japan come to bloom first and those in northern part of Japan and/or in higher up in mountains later. This is why cherry blossom front moves usually upward, from south to north.
However, that was not the case this year. There was no clear cherry blossom front. Tokyo was the first place to come to bloom, before Kyushu, southern part of Japan, when Kyushu should be the first place to come to bloom. Also, some cherry blossom trees in Kyushu did not bloom at all.
4. What is the reason for unusual phenomenon of cherry blossom front and of how cherry blossoms came to bloom this year?
The reason of unusual phenomenon of cherry blossom front and of how cherry blossoms came to bloom this year is global warming. The logic is basically the same as the recent unusual phenomenon of how maple leaves going red, which attributes to change (rise) in average temperature.
With global warming, the average temperature in some parts of Kyushu did not drop to the level for cherry blossom trees to “hibernate” in winter. Therefore, when temperature rose to a certain level in March, the level which usually cherry blossoms awake from hibernation and come to bloom, they could not awake simply because they did not hibernate in the first place. This is why some cherry blossom trees in Kyushu did not come to bloom.
Global warming is also the reason that Tokyo was the first place for cherry blossoms to come bloom; the temperature level in the winter and spring was optimum in Tokyo for cherry blossom trees to hibernate and awake in the earliest timing. Cherry blossoms in other parts of Japan between Kyushu and Tokyo did bloom but the temperature in winter in such places was above the optimum for cherry blossom hibernation so it took time for them to wake up from hibernation and come to bloom. This implies that with further global warming it is quite possible that some cherry blossoms in such places will not come to bloom similarly to Kyushu.
5. What does the cherry blossom phenomenon imply?
To the author, the cherry blossom phenomenon is not simply the fact that we may not be able to enjoy the beauties of nature of spring in the near future if global warming should continue, but is a strong message that we should take seriously about necessity of environmental preservation for sustainability.
The message is quite clear, and is the same message from many other phenomena of how other ecosystems of land and sea have been changing, giving negative effects on our food supply and lives. Measures such as GHG emission have already been discussed and initiated as mentioned in the previous article Japan Takes Lead in GHG Emission Reduction in the US's Climate Change Summit, and this is urgent; we need to take actions immediately on the global level.
2010年4月4日日曜日
What Does Recent Japanese Career Starters Indicate?
Osaka – Sunday, April 4, 2010
Companies/organizations and schools started a new year in Japan from April 1. On this day, new graduates start their career by attending the ceremony, which is often broadcasted on TV news and reported in newspapers. Such news and reports are “mirror” of current Japanese society and business environment.
1. What is the typical company orientation ceremony that the new graduates attend on the first day?
All companies and organization hold company orientation ceremony to welcome freshman (new graduates). This is held on April 1 excluding a few exceptional companies that hold late March. This is usually a full-day formal ceremony with speeches from the top management (CEO/President etc.) and other executives, address by a representative of the freshmen in reply at the ceremony, and official notice that the freshmen have now joined the company. Some companies also have other sessions such as short education and deployment on this day, although many companies do such things later.
Unlike other years, only 75% of students who graduated in March were successful in job hunting and could attend the ceremony on April 1, with recent job market. The remaining 25% either went to job assistance centre instead, or go to university because they had intentionally failed to earn necessary credits to avoid graduation.
2. What was the trend of the ceremony this year? What was the core message from the top management to their freshmen?
Core message from the top executives delivered at the ceremony was mostly “you are to proactively take part in the company turnaround”.
Companies often reported of their ceremony in many media were Toyota, JAL and JR, all of which are going through turnaround and/or recovery of their reputation.
1) Toyota
Toyota is now making upmost efforts in order to recover its reputation and brand by reviewing and re-establishing quality management, after the worldwide recalls that started in February this year, mentioned in the previous article Toyota's Additional Recall of Prius. Message from President Akio Toyoda of Toyota to his freshmen was “quality is our first priority and you will join us to recover our global reputation and brand by Quality Culture”.
2) JAL (Japan Air Lines)
JAL has just started its turnaround under the Japanese government as mentioned in the previous article Can JAL Succeed In Turnaround? Message from CEO Mr. Kazuo Inamori to his freshmen was “it is your generation that is to be the key players of the turnaround”.
3) JR-West (West Japan Railway Company)
JR, that was privatized more than 25 years ago, has been improving their reputation after the derailment accident in Osaka 5 years ago in which 106 people died and more than 500 people injured. The train could not make a sufficient curve because the driver did not speed down sufficiently in order to be punctual to the time schedule. Many views from experts on root cause of the accident (background, personnel systems, company culture etc.) were exchanged proactively at that time and the company had been advocating how they have reviewed risk management and now prioritizing safety. Message of President Mr. Takayuki Sasaki to his freshmen was “Let’s continue improving the reputation together”.
4) Others (e.g. Panasonic, McDonald)
Ceremony of Panasonic used to be often introduced by media but this year only in a newspaper. Panasonic is one of a typical Japanese company that had negative impact of the worldwide economy crisis but the is recovering its financial performance as mentioned in the previous article Financial Improvement in Japanese Listed Companies, CEO/President Mr. Ohtsubo’s message to his freshmen was “become a professional person who is competitive in the global business environment”.
McDonald has been enjoying high performance, being one of the few “winners” with Fast Retailing (famous for UniQlo brand). Their ceremony was unique. It was extravagant, party style held in a hotel with luxurious lunch. Another example of a unique ceremony was also of entertainment, in which freshmen did their own performance.
3. What comes ahead of the freshmen after the ceremony?
Usually education and training awaits the freshmen. Although mid and small companies might have little education hosted by their HQ, many typical Japanese companies has one or two education hosted by their HQ, consisting of lectures and workshops. Then freshmen are usually deployed and either start working and educated OJT or has further training.
1) Typical training of Japanese manufacturers
Probably the typical Japanese style training is of manufacturing companies of electronics and automobiles. After education hosted by HQ, freshmen will have training at manufacturing and sales shop floor for months. The objective is to learn the basics and meaning of manufacturers (production and sales) from live experience. For most freshmen who have degrees or masters in sciences or arts, this is the only time in their career to have such an experience.
2) In the case of the author
In the case of the author, who started her career at Panasonic, she had two weeks education hosted by HQ in a class of 34 members, consisted of lectures and workshops to learn company overview and culture, and basics of working as a member of a company/organization. At the end of the two weeks education, she was told which affiliate/division she will start her career in and be educated and trained for it, which was AV Division (which happened to be AV Division later headed by Mr. Ohtsubo, the current CEO/President).
She then had education and training for another two weeks hosted by HR of the Division, which was a kind of intern at Overseas Business Department of AV Division (which happened to be her second workplace). She then had six weeks training at a manufacturing shop floor (inspection and shipping tasks) of video systems making video equipments used for professionals at broadcasting workplace. Then she worked as an intern at a “National Shop” near her house, a retailer under Panasonic’s umbrella, for another six weeks, before she started working as a marketer for Japan domestic market in August after the summer holiday.
3) Same concept applied to companies of other industries
Although the duration of each education and training depends on the company, the objective and overall process of education and training process are the same for most Japanese manufacturing companies, at least for electronics and automobiles, according to information sharing with her friends from university.
Concept of training of shop floor experience is applied to companies of other industries as well. For example, in the case of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), a leading and public TV broadcasting company, freshmen including the author’s friend from university who started her career as a bilingual reporter and changed her career as an announcer, accompanied salesmen to collect viewing fees from the public, visiting one house at the time. In the case of NTT (Nippon Telephone and Telegraph), a telecommunication giant that was privatized about 15 years ago, freshmen including the author’s brother, who always been working in HQ such as international law, BPA (Business Planning and Analysis) and business development, visited users of telecommunication including household industry factories.
4. What is required to be considered in educating and developing freshmen who joined the company on April 1, 2010?
The companies need to plan and implement mid/long term education and development meeting needs and uniqueness of each individual. This is a universal issue but is especially an important point to be considered for fresh starters for this year. This is because according to an expert, this year’s freshmen can be described as “order-made” (experts always are asked to describe freshmen of that particular year, which is introduced by media).
The background of this seems to attribute to the fact that they are brought up by “yutori-kyouiku”, literally “education without cramming”, that have encouraged them to think and act differently from others. For this reason, it is unlikely that one-fits-for-all education and training will not work for this year’s freshmen and HR managers are required to tailor education and training to meet needs and uniqueness of each individual, which is a challenge but necessary to retain talents and unleash their potential, which are vital for competitiveness and sustainability of the company.
Companies/organizations and schools started a new year in Japan from April 1. On this day, new graduates start their career by attending the ceremony, which is often broadcasted on TV news and reported in newspapers. Such news and reports are “mirror” of current Japanese society and business environment.
1. What is the typical company orientation ceremony that the new graduates attend on the first day?
All companies and organization hold company orientation ceremony to welcome freshman (new graduates). This is held on April 1 excluding a few exceptional companies that hold late March. This is usually a full-day formal ceremony with speeches from the top management (CEO/President etc.) and other executives, address by a representative of the freshmen in reply at the ceremony, and official notice that the freshmen have now joined the company. Some companies also have other sessions such as short education and deployment on this day, although many companies do such things later.
Unlike other years, only 75% of students who graduated in March were successful in job hunting and could attend the ceremony on April 1, with recent job market. The remaining 25% either went to job assistance centre instead, or go to university because they had intentionally failed to earn necessary credits to avoid graduation.
2. What was the trend of the ceremony this year? What was the core message from the top management to their freshmen?
Core message from the top executives delivered at the ceremony was mostly “you are to proactively take part in the company turnaround”.
Companies often reported of their ceremony in many media were Toyota, JAL and JR, all of which are going through turnaround and/or recovery of their reputation.
1) Toyota
Toyota is now making upmost efforts in order to recover its reputation and brand by reviewing and re-establishing quality management, after the worldwide recalls that started in February this year, mentioned in the previous article Toyota's Additional Recall of Prius. Message from President Akio Toyoda of Toyota to his freshmen was “quality is our first priority and you will join us to recover our global reputation and brand by Quality Culture”.
2) JAL (Japan Air Lines)
JAL has just started its turnaround under the Japanese government as mentioned in the previous article Can JAL Succeed In Turnaround? Message from CEO Mr. Kazuo Inamori to his freshmen was “it is your generation that is to be the key players of the turnaround”.
3) JR-West (West Japan Railway Company)
JR, that was privatized more than 25 years ago, has been improving their reputation after the derailment accident in Osaka 5 years ago in which 106 people died and more than 500 people injured. The train could not make a sufficient curve because the driver did not speed down sufficiently in order to be punctual to the time schedule. Many views from experts on root cause of the accident (background, personnel systems, company culture etc.) were exchanged proactively at that time and the company had been advocating how they have reviewed risk management and now prioritizing safety. Message of President Mr. Takayuki Sasaki to his freshmen was “Let’s continue improving the reputation together”.
4) Others (e.g. Panasonic, McDonald)
Ceremony of Panasonic used to be often introduced by media but this year only in a newspaper. Panasonic is one of a typical Japanese company that had negative impact of the worldwide economy crisis but the is recovering its financial performance as mentioned in the previous article Financial Improvement in Japanese Listed Companies, CEO/President Mr. Ohtsubo’s message to his freshmen was “become a professional person who is competitive in the global business environment”.
McDonald has been enjoying high performance, being one of the few “winners” with Fast Retailing (famous for UniQlo brand). Their ceremony was unique. It was extravagant, party style held in a hotel with luxurious lunch. Another example of a unique ceremony was also of entertainment, in which freshmen did their own performance.
3. What comes ahead of the freshmen after the ceremony?
Usually education and training awaits the freshmen. Although mid and small companies might have little education hosted by their HQ, many typical Japanese companies has one or two education hosted by their HQ, consisting of lectures and workshops. Then freshmen are usually deployed and either start working and educated OJT or has further training.
1) Typical training of Japanese manufacturers
Probably the typical Japanese style training is of manufacturing companies of electronics and automobiles. After education hosted by HQ, freshmen will have training at manufacturing and sales shop floor for months. The objective is to learn the basics and meaning of manufacturers (production and sales) from live experience. For most freshmen who have degrees or masters in sciences or arts, this is the only time in their career to have such an experience.
2) In the case of the author
In the case of the author, who started her career at Panasonic, she had two weeks education hosted by HQ in a class of 34 members, consisted of lectures and workshops to learn company overview and culture, and basics of working as a member of a company/organization. At the end of the two weeks education, she was told which affiliate/division she will start her career in and be educated and trained for it, which was AV Division (which happened to be AV Division later headed by Mr. Ohtsubo, the current CEO/President).
She then had education and training for another two weeks hosted by HR of the Division, which was a kind of intern at Overseas Business Department of AV Division (which happened to be her second workplace). She then had six weeks training at a manufacturing shop floor (inspection and shipping tasks) of video systems making video equipments used for professionals at broadcasting workplace. Then she worked as an intern at a “National Shop” near her house, a retailer under Panasonic’s umbrella, for another six weeks, before she started working as a marketer for Japan domestic market in August after the summer holiday.
3) Same concept applied to companies of other industries
Although the duration of each education and training depends on the company, the objective and overall process of education and training process are the same for most Japanese manufacturing companies, at least for electronics and automobiles, according to information sharing with her friends from university.
Concept of training of shop floor experience is applied to companies of other industries as well. For example, in the case of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), a leading and public TV broadcasting company, freshmen including the author’s friend from university who started her career as a bilingual reporter and changed her career as an announcer, accompanied salesmen to collect viewing fees from the public, visiting one house at the time. In the case of NTT (Nippon Telephone and Telegraph), a telecommunication giant that was privatized about 15 years ago, freshmen including the author’s brother, who always been working in HQ such as international law, BPA (Business Planning and Analysis) and business development, visited users of telecommunication including household industry factories.
4. What is required to be considered in educating and developing freshmen who joined the company on April 1, 2010?
The companies need to plan and implement mid/long term education and development meeting needs and uniqueness of each individual. This is a universal issue but is especially an important point to be considered for fresh starters for this year. This is because according to an expert, this year’s freshmen can be described as “order-made” (experts always are asked to describe freshmen of that particular year, which is introduced by media).
The background of this seems to attribute to the fact that they are brought up by “yutori-kyouiku”, literally “education without cramming”, that have encouraged them to think and act differently from others. For this reason, it is unlikely that one-fits-for-all education and training will not work for this year’s freshmen and HR managers are required to tailor education and training to meet needs and uniqueness of each individual, which is a challenge but necessary to retain talents and unleash their potential, which are vital for competitiveness and sustainability of the company.
Will Reuse of Old School Buildings Save Japan?
Osaka – Sunday, April 4, 2010
In a recent evening TV news programme, how reuse of facilities such as school buildings started to be implemented was featured. This kind of reuse if revolutionary in Japan where they tend to rebuild facilities and houses rather than recycle and reform and value just-built new buildings unlike, for example, European cities with long history.
1. What is the background of reusing facilities?
The background of reusing facilities such as schools is the problems the Japanese society has, which are low birth rate, aging society and lack of working mothers, meaning the need of activating the community/society. Although they seem to have nothing in common, the three problems (keywords of activating the society) have one thing in common. That is “facility”, and each keyword symbolizes shortage or excess of facilities.
1) Low birth rate means closing of schools thus demolishing of school buildings.
With low birth rate, increasing primary/elementary (and junior high) schools have been closing. Three primary/elementary schools in the local community of the author’s workplace has integrated into one, meaning two schools closed by simple calculation, on March 27, 2010. This is not only in under-populated province, but is actually happening nationwide including in big cities such as in Tokyo as well.
2) Aging society means shortage of nursing homes.
With ongoing aging society, Japan is shortage of nursing homes for elders, which has been a serious problem, together with shortage of care workers, and have started “importing” care workers from other Asian countries such as Indonesia. New nursing homes have been built but the supply is still below demand.
3) More working mothers means shortage of day-care centres.
With more working mothers, Japan is also shortage of day-care centres. This has been a serious issue; it is common for women to wait for months to find one. Thus this is one obstacle for “diversity” initiation in Japan. This became even more prominent last year when pandemic (swine) flu broke out. Many schools in Japan closed and working mothers without have anywhere/anyone to look after their children had to stay home when they really needed to go to work. (Working at home is still extremely rare in most Japanese companies).
2. What is the idea? How was it implemented?
The idea implemented is reusing of old facilities, in particular, school buildings. Old primary/elementary school buildings that became unnecessary due to closing of schools are re-used as other facilities. Some of the examples are as below.
1) Reuse old school building as a ham factory.
One example is reuse of old school building as a ham factory, which is unexpected but logical from the requirement of a ham factory and characteristics of typical school buildings. Ham factories need well-ventilated storage/warehouse that can takes in abundant sunlight, and old school buildings are ideal because they have many large windows. A ham factory owner interviewed said that he is more than satisfactory with his new factory reusing an old school building.
2) Reuse old school building as a nursing home for elderly and nursery (day-care centre)
The other example is reuse of old school building as a nursing home for elderly (two floors: first and second floor) and nursery (one floor: ground floor) in Tokyo. Nursing homes for elderly and nursery are both extremely short especially in large cities so this solution is very logical and effective.
School is ideal for reusing as nursing home for elders for many reasons. First, many large windows let sunshine and light in. Second, wide corridors enable use of wheelchairs indoor similarly to hospitals. Third, veranda (sometimes at rooftop deck) allows residents enjoy fresh air and outside view. Old school buildings happen to have these requirements or nice-to-have factors that are not usually found in other facilities. It costs 140,000 yen/month for a person to live in the nursing home, which is reasonable and can be paid by pension.
School building is also good to reuse as nursery. This is logical because the target of both school and nursery are children; the only difference is the age group.
Co-location of nursing home and nursery (same building and premises) has a merit. Enders can interact with children which is extremely good because it would stimulate their monotone life cycle and helps them activate their brain. This helps them maintain sound physical and mental health. Also, children also benefits from interacting with elders because someone would have to take care of them and care worker alone does usually not supply enough manpower. Furthermore, unlike the old days when many children used to live with grandparents, most children do not have opportunity to interact with elders and learn from them, and co-location of nursing home and nursery provides such an opportunity.
3. What is the significance of reuse of old schools?
Tokyo now allows the re-user to utilize both the land and building for free for 20 years in order to encourage further reuse of old school buildings, which are otherwise to be demolished. This has much significance, both from financial and environmental perspective. It is calculated that this would have positive impact of 190 billion yen. Also this is of concept of 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) of environmental preservation. This could trigger change in attitudes and views of Japanese people on effective use of assets of the community = facilities. Last but not least, this solves multiple problems that the Japanese society currently faces and need to solve immediately for its sustainability.
In a recent evening TV news programme, how reuse of facilities such as school buildings started to be implemented was featured. This kind of reuse if revolutionary in Japan where they tend to rebuild facilities and houses rather than recycle and reform and value just-built new buildings unlike, for example, European cities with long history.
1. What is the background of reusing facilities?
The background of reusing facilities such as schools is the problems the Japanese society has, which are low birth rate, aging society and lack of working mothers, meaning the need of activating the community/society. Although they seem to have nothing in common, the three problems (keywords of activating the society) have one thing in common. That is “facility”, and each keyword symbolizes shortage or excess of facilities.
1) Low birth rate means closing of schools thus demolishing of school buildings.
With low birth rate, increasing primary/elementary (and junior high) schools have been closing. Three primary/elementary schools in the local community of the author’s workplace has integrated into one, meaning two schools closed by simple calculation, on March 27, 2010. This is not only in under-populated province, but is actually happening nationwide including in big cities such as in Tokyo as well.
2) Aging society means shortage of nursing homes.
With ongoing aging society, Japan is shortage of nursing homes for elders, which has been a serious problem, together with shortage of care workers, and have started “importing” care workers from other Asian countries such as Indonesia. New nursing homes have been built but the supply is still below demand.
3) More working mothers means shortage of day-care centres.
With more working mothers, Japan is also shortage of day-care centres. This has been a serious issue; it is common for women to wait for months to find one. Thus this is one obstacle for “diversity” initiation in Japan. This became even more prominent last year when pandemic (swine) flu broke out. Many schools in Japan closed and working mothers without have anywhere/anyone to look after their children had to stay home when they really needed to go to work. (Working at home is still extremely rare in most Japanese companies).
2. What is the idea? How was it implemented?
The idea implemented is reusing of old facilities, in particular, school buildings. Old primary/elementary school buildings that became unnecessary due to closing of schools are re-used as other facilities. Some of the examples are as below.
1) Reuse old school building as a ham factory.
One example is reuse of old school building as a ham factory, which is unexpected but logical from the requirement of a ham factory and characteristics of typical school buildings. Ham factories need well-ventilated storage/warehouse that can takes in abundant sunlight, and old school buildings are ideal because they have many large windows. A ham factory owner interviewed said that he is more than satisfactory with his new factory reusing an old school building.
2) Reuse old school building as a nursing home for elderly and nursery (day-care centre)
The other example is reuse of old school building as a nursing home for elderly (two floors: first and second floor) and nursery (one floor: ground floor) in Tokyo. Nursing homes for elderly and nursery are both extremely short especially in large cities so this solution is very logical and effective.
School is ideal for reusing as nursing home for elders for many reasons. First, many large windows let sunshine and light in. Second, wide corridors enable use of wheelchairs indoor similarly to hospitals. Third, veranda (sometimes at rooftop deck) allows residents enjoy fresh air and outside view. Old school buildings happen to have these requirements or nice-to-have factors that are not usually found in other facilities. It costs 140,000 yen/month for a person to live in the nursing home, which is reasonable and can be paid by pension.
School building is also good to reuse as nursery. This is logical because the target of both school and nursery are children; the only difference is the age group.
Co-location of nursing home and nursery (same building and premises) has a merit. Enders can interact with children which is extremely good because it would stimulate their monotone life cycle and helps them activate their brain. This helps them maintain sound physical and mental health. Also, children also benefits from interacting with elders because someone would have to take care of them and care worker alone does usually not supply enough manpower. Furthermore, unlike the old days when many children used to live with grandparents, most children do not have opportunity to interact with elders and learn from them, and co-location of nursing home and nursery provides such an opportunity.
3. What is the significance of reuse of old schools?
Tokyo now allows the re-user to utilize both the land and building for free for 20 years in order to encourage further reuse of old school buildings, which are otherwise to be demolished. This has much significance, both from financial and environmental perspective. It is calculated that this would have positive impact of 190 billion yen. Also this is of concept of 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) of environmental preservation. This could trigger change in attitudes and views of Japanese people on effective use of assets of the community = facilities. Last but not least, this solves multiple problems that the Japanese society currently faces and need to solve immediately for its sustainability.
How Are Attitudes and Behaviours of Japanese Changing? (Part 3)
Osaka – Saturday, April 3, 2010
In part 3, answer to the question about divorce that went on air in a recent TV programme was introduced, and first discussion on marriage of Japanese people was developed throughout the article. This was because it is impossible to understand those of divorce without understanding how attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on marriage,.
In this article, how attitudes and behaviours or Japanese people on divorce is discussed.
1. Recap: What was the question asked to Japanese people about divorce and what was their answer?
The question was designed to find out how many of them are divorced, and surprising 34% answered that they are divorced. This result was shocking to MCs and guests of the TV programme as well as the author because Japanese people used to be well known for low divorce rate.
2. How attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce have been changing?
The shocking survey result attributes to change in attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce. Such change is in line with the change in how attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people regarding marriage have been changing.
1) Divorce used to be rare and divorce rate used to be extremely low.
Divorce rate was extremely low as 3% or below and people of single parents were mostly because one of their parents died. This was because once married, couples were expected to remain together for the rest of their lives, and divorce was the last options to take. There were a few people who finally decided or were obligated to get divorced otherwise their family would be falling apart anyway.
Typical examples of reasons for getting divorced include domestic violence to the extent that if they don’t get separated the victim could be badly hurt or even get killed, and husband not giving family budget to his wife so that she and the children cannot live. In old times, many people live with parents and the new young wife ill-treated from mother-in-law and old women was not unusual. Her husband seldom took care of her. This is in many cases another reason for divorce today but it was rarely in the old days.
2) Divorce rate started to rise in line with westernization in people’s life style.
Attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce started to change when their lifestyle started to westernize and nuclear family became common, and their attitudes and behaviour on marriage and divorce started to change as well. And, according to Voice or America (October 25, 2006), Japan’s divorce rate has been soaring in recent years, with 70% of the splits initiated by unhappy wives. The survey result of the divorce rate being 34% was shocking but the author understands that it is the reality today because she does know a few people around her (friends, colleagues at work etc.) who are divorced.
3) What are the possible reasons of divorce?
It is case by case, and timing of divorce seems to have some relationship with reason of divorce.
(1) Extremely early divorce
The earliest timing of divorce is “narita-rikon”. This word was coined a few decades ago, which is literally “divorce at Narita International Airport”. This means a young couple gets divorced when they come back from their honeymoon, which is often abroad meaning they fly from and return to an International airport such as Narita. Often the reason for the divorce is “he/she was not as I’d expected before marriage”.
Unlike the old days, it is not unusual that engagement breaks up before marriage, and in the last 5 years of less, a few happens even on the wedding day, when many guests are invited to the ceremony and party. There has been a TV programme of such a couple, although it is a fiction (but usually reflects social trend). This may be one factor that helped make people think getting separated (this is before marriage so not divorce) is not a big issue as it used to be. Reasons for many of such split are complex.
(2) Divorce upon retirement
Another interesting trend reflecting the society trend is “jukunen-rikon” that started to emerge and spread from around 20 years ago. “Juk,unen-rikon” is literally “divorce of a matured couple”, meaning couples getting divorced when the husband retires from work, usually at the age of 60. This kind of divorce is initiated, who has been living up with it until then. She would decide to initiate the divorce upon her husband’s retirement because their children have usually become independent and she can have some share of the husband’s retirement allowance so she should be able to re-start her life. Such couples often appear in fiction TV programmes.
Such wives had been unhappy for a many years partly because they do not have support from their husbands. Possible reason for this is that they do not have support from their husbands who are often described as workaholic and do not spend time with their family before retirement. Also, as some experts point out, men have been only trained to achieve in the workplace and be loyal to the company, so they do not know how to communicate. For this reason, they lack in experience in making relationships and communicating with others including their family, and normally do not talk about their families. It is from the irony of how such wives really view of their husband that a phrase literally “it’s good if your husband is well/healthy but not at home” was created and used in a TV commercial about 20 years ago.
Having said that, many matured couples do stay together after the husband’s retirement, as the wish of “live until the couple gets so old as the hair gets white”, symbolized by a pair of dolls, (couple of male and female),l often given as present to the new married couple. And more couples after retirement go out together for vacation, shopping and so forth compared to those of old times, whether it is simply because the husband is lonely to be at home, or couples who remain together are more in good terms than the couples of the old days and going out together is their style.
(3) Divorce in other timing
The reasons for couples getting divorces in other times of their married years are case by case. Possible reasons include the ones already mentioned as possible reasons of rare divorces in the old times, and flirting, which is the case of many fiction TV programmes.
3. What are the possible reasons for change in attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce?
Most reasons are linked with and/or the same as change in their attitudes and behaviours on marriage.
1) Divorce simply used to be unacceptable in the Japanese society but started to be acceptable.
Divorce was simply not acceptable to the Japanese society in old times, but with diversification of marriage etc. it started to be acceptable. Indeed, children with single parent were often ill-treated in the society (school etc.) just after the World War II but now the situation has changed/improved. Also, divorce used to be a negative factor for many businessmen at work such as getting promoted, but it no longer a negative factor. And today, in addition to TV starts, there are some famous and successful people in business and political world who are divorced, including former Prime Minister Mr. Junichi Koizumi.
Whether change in people’s attitudes and behaviours thus the society started to accept divorce was first or whether it was because more people started to get divorce was first, it is a question; however, it is a fact that the society now accepts divorce today. It is quite possible that news of TV stars getting married (including sudden marriage) and divorce made Japanese people to view marriage and divorce with more flexibility, regarding divorce as an acceptable option although it is better to be avoided. Then it would change their behaviour about divorce by taking action.
2) More women becoming financially independent facilitated divorce.
With less full-time house wives, women have become more financially independent, and this is another reason for increase in divorce rate. Many women in older generation used to live up with unhappiness and refrained from getting divorced even though they were unhappy simply because they were full-time house wives and they would not be able to make a living if they should get divorced, especially feeding her children (wives usually looked after their children after divorce). But with more working mothers (although less than western countries), hurdle for women to get divorced have decreased.
After all, the overall trend of change in attitude and behaviour of Japanese people on divorce is “westernization”, similarly to life plan and marriage.
In part 3, answer to the question about divorce that went on air in a recent TV programme was introduced, and first discussion on marriage of Japanese people was developed throughout the article. This was because it is impossible to understand those of divorce without understanding how attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on marriage,.
In this article, how attitudes and behaviours or Japanese people on divorce is discussed.
1. Recap: What was the question asked to Japanese people about divorce and what was their answer?
The question was designed to find out how many of them are divorced, and surprising 34% answered that they are divorced. This result was shocking to MCs and guests of the TV programme as well as the author because Japanese people used to be well known for low divorce rate.
2. How attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce have been changing?
The shocking survey result attributes to change in attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce. Such change is in line with the change in how attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people regarding marriage have been changing.
1) Divorce used to be rare and divorce rate used to be extremely low.
Divorce rate was extremely low as 3% or below and people of single parents were mostly because one of their parents died. This was because once married, couples were expected to remain together for the rest of their lives, and divorce was the last options to take. There were a few people who finally decided or were obligated to get divorced otherwise their family would be falling apart anyway.
Typical examples of reasons for getting divorced include domestic violence to the extent that if they don’t get separated the victim could be badly hurt or even get killed, and husband not giving family budget to his wife so that she and the children cannot live. In old times, many people live with parents and the new young wife ill-treated from mother-in-law and old women was not unusual. Her husband seldom took care of her. This is in many cases another reason for divorce today but it was rarely in the old days.
2) Divorce rate started to rise in line with westernization in people’s life style.
Attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce started to change when their lifestyle started to westernize and nuclear family became common, and their attitudes and behaviour on marriage and divorce started to change as well. And, according to Voice or America (October 25, 2006), Japan’s divorce rate has been soaring in recent years, with 70% of the splits initiated by unhappy wives. The survey result of the divorce rate being 34% was shocking but the author understands that it is the reality today because she does know a few people around her (friends, colleagues at work etc.) who are divorced.
3) What are the possible reasons of divorce?
It is case by case, and timing of divorce seems to have some relationship with reason of divorce.
(1) Extremely early divorce
The earliest timing of divorce is “narita-rikon”. This word was coined a few decades ago, which is literally “divorce at Narita International Airport”. This means a young couple gets divorced when they come back from their honeymoon, which is often abroad meaning they fly from and return to an International airport such as Narita. Often the reason for the divorce is “he/she was not as I’d expected before marriage”.
Unlike the old days, it is not unusual that engagement breaks up before marriage, and in the last 5 years of less, a few happens even on the wedding day, when many guests are invited to the ceremony and party. There has been a TV programme of such a couple, although it is a fiction (but usually reflects social trend). This may be one factor that helped make people think getting separated (this is before marriage so not divorce) is not a big issue as it used to be. Reasons for many of such split are complex.
(2) Divorce upon retirement
Another interesting trend reflecting the society trend is “jukunen-rikon” that started to emerge and spread from around 20 years ago. “Juk,unen-rikon” is literally “divorce of a matured couple”, meaning couples getting divorced when the husband retires from work, usually at the age of 60. This kind of divorce is initiated, who has been living up with it until then. She would decide to initiate the divorce upon her husband’s retirement because their children have usually become independent and she can have some share of the husband’s retirement allowance so she should be able to re-start her life. Such couples often appear in fiction TV programmes.
Such wives had been unhappy for a many years partly because they do not have support from their husbands. Possible reason for this is that they do not have support from their husbands who are often described as workaholic and do not spend time with their family before retirement. Also, as some experts point out, men have been only trained to achieve in the workplace and be loyal to the company, so they do not know how to communicate. For this reason, they lack in experience in making relationships and communicating with others including their family, and normally do not talk about their families. It is from the irony of how such wives really view of their husband that a phrase literally “it’s good if your husband is well/healthy but not at home” was created and used in a TV commercial about 20 years ago.
Having said that, many matured couples do stay together after the husband’s retirement, as the wish of “live until the couple gets so old as the hair gets white”, symbolized by a pair of dolls, (couple of male and female),l often given as present to the new married couple. And more couples after retirement go out together for vacation, shopping and so forth compared to those of old times, whether it is simply because the husband is lonely to be at home, or couples who remain together are more in good terms than the couples of the old days and going out together is their style.
(3) Divorce in other timing
The reasons for couples getting divorces in other times of their married years are case by case. Possible reasons include the ones already mentioned as possible reasons of rare divorces in the old times, and flirting, which is the case of many fiction TV programmes.
3. What are the possible reasons for change in attitudes and behaviours of Japanese people on divorce?
Most reasons are linked with and/or the same as change in their attitudes and behaviours on marriage.
1) Divorce simply used to be unacceptable in the Japanese society but started to be acceptable.
Divorce was simply not acceptable to the Japanese society in old times, but with diversification of marriage etc. it started to be acceptable. Indeed, children with single parent were often ill-treated in the society (school etc.) just after the World War II but now the situation has changed/improved. Also, divorce used to be a negative factor for many businessmen at work such as getting promoted, but it no longer a negative factor. And today, in addition to TV starts, there are some famous and successful people in business and political world who are divorced, including former Prime Minister Mr. Junichi Koizumi.
Whether change in people’s attitudes and behaviours thus the society started to accept divorce was first or whether it was because more people started to get divorce was first, it is a question; however, it is a fact that the society now accepts divorce today. It is quite possible that news of TV stars getting married (including sudden marriage) and divorce made Japanese people to view marriage and divorce with more flexibility, regarding divorce as an acceptable option although it is better to be avoided. Then it would change their behaviour about divorce by taking action.
2) More women becoming financially independent facilitated divorce.
With less full-time house wives, women have become more financially independent, and this is another reason for increase in divorce rate. Many women in older generation used to live up with unhappiness and refrained from getting divorced even though they were unhappy simply because they were full-time house wives and they would not be able to make a living if they should get divorced, especially feeding her children (wives usually looked after their children after divorce). But with more working mothers (although less than western countries), hurdle for women to get divorced have decreased.
After all, the overall trend of change in attitude and behaviour of Japanese people on divorce is “westernization”, similarly to life plan and marriage.
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