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Japanese highlight depth of Olympian ambition

by | Jul 26, 2021 | Opinions | 0 comments

BY: CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ

It’s the Tokyo Olympics from July 23 to August 8, 2021, delayed a year, but finally showing, which encapsulates the spirit and depth of the Japanese people as a nation from which Malaysian leaders and captains of industry can learn so much.

Many naysayers predicted that Japan would never be able to host the Olympics. They contended that it was a kamikaze or suicidal mission to stage the games in the face of a raging Covid-19 pandemic.

But the glittering launch on July 23, minus spectators in view of the coronavirus shows how resilient the Japanese are as a race. The Japanese are always polite to the gaijin or foreigner but never underestimate the Japanese depth for the national spirit.

The Japanese have never brooked any nonsense. In World War 2 when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the Americans dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 6 and 9, 1945 in retaliation that virtually spelt the death of the nation.

Many observers around the world believed that Japan was finished as a nation. But the Japanese showed how stoic and courageous they were by rebuilding the nation within a few decades to rival the United States as the second largest economy in the world.

It was a marvel, a real miracle. This epitomizes the never-say-die attitude of the Japanese  and how they overcome adversity. A lot can be learnt of the work ethics and discipline and sheer hardworking nature of the Japanese who do not believe in wasting time or resources.

In his authoritative book, The Japanese Mind, veteran journalist Robert Collins Christopher details the culture and way of life of the Japanese so poignantly it speaks volumes of their ability to overcome the odds however greatly it is stacked against them.

Mr. Christopher narrates of how large Japanese business corporations adopt the concept of ‘nemawashi’  or consensual decision making in running their giant businesses. They use the policy of having a meeting of minds or collective agreement to do something.

Decisions are never made unilaterally. The people bind together as one. They forge the spirit of oneness. Malaysian politicians and business leaders watching the Tokyo Olympics are fascinated by the regimen of the Japanese.

There is no room for shoddy work or complacent, negligent behavior. Unlike in Malaysia, the Japanese punish severely any fault or wrongdoing or mistake and will not hesitate to remove errant officials from office.

A decade ago Malaysia wanted to bid for the Olympic job. But given the nature and manner in which Malaysia gets business done, the International Olympic Council never even considered the country to stage the games.

The leaders of Malaysia can see for themselves how way behind they are compared to the Japanese Quality-of-Life and must learn to really pull up their socks if they are to measure up to their Japanese counterparts.

This is the second time the Japanese are staging the Olympics. The first time was in 1964 and they have twice proven their capability and mettle. Can Malaysian leaders ever measure up to the exacting standards of the Japanese?

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher

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