Japan "News"

The following are some random posts of fun Japanese "news" items.

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Toyota Problems

February 10, 2010

There are 435 members of the house of representative, most of which are unimportant. The member noted in the article is even more unimportant given that he is a republican, and not part of the ruling party. I find this article embarrassing for two reasons:
1) This lawmaker in the US is obviously just shamelessly trying to gain political advantage at the expense of almost everyone - particularly Toyota. Doesn't he have better thing to do with his time, like fix American's problems.
2) The writer of the article equally exploits the situation by drawing attention to this predictable request by this nobody US representative!

That said, the real story is not about that silly political maneuvering, which will happen; it is also not about safety defect, which will happen with hopefully less frequency, and it probably isn't about how corporation try to delay bringing out bad news, because the issue to recall vehicles is a highly complete decision that involves weight real risk to drivers, verses perceived risk to drivers, verse legal risk to the corporation for lawsuits that have no merit, along with a raft full of other issues. 

The real story in my mind is how out of control the situation seems to be and how Toyota - one of the greatest company ever to be in business - seems so inept at managing global public relations.  

WB

Base Relocation  & Discipline of SDF

February 10, 2010

The base issue is highly complex.  If you think the issue is about Okinawa, the Japan government looks almost silly.  I learned a long time ago that effective negotiators would rather look silly and win, than look smart and lose.  Anyway, from my point of view as a person experience in negotiating solutions to complex and potentially emotional charged issues, "the game" is being played very well by the new Hatoyama administration. However, "the game" is not always what it seems and almost never what is being discussed in the press. The press and the publics emotions are generally pawn used by the powerful forces who know exactly what they want.

For example - most people assume the base relocation is important to the US.  The US Military say it is, but is it really? Perhaps the US say it is important because the are using the issue to achieve a different result (one they are not telling you). Perhaps the US military want more defense appropriations and love the way this issue never get resolved.  The Japanese say they want to re-evaluate the base relocation but perhaps what they really just want it as leverage in getting the F22 America's new aircraft or leverage in not having to pay more than 1% of GDP to fuel America's continue influence in Asia.  Hard to say, but unless you know the potential issues and undisclosed wish list of the powers to be, you actually think the issue is about Okinawa.   I really feel sorry for the people of Okinawa who take this issue seriously and think that somehow there concerns are important.  Even the Okinawa government has an agenda that might be different that what is stated.  History has proven that if a politician can object, they generally do instinctively as a pretext for obtaining other political objectives.    

Regarding the discipline of a subordinate, the action taken reasonable but appears to fall short.  Administering "good discipline" is like giving a "good apology".  If you discipline without discussing responsibilities or recommending appropriate behavior it is like apologizing without a stating remorse and commitment to refrain from such behavior.   Enough said.

All the best, WB in Kobe.