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A while
ago, I remember hearing somewhere that Japanese work more than people
in any other society, with Americans in second place. I don't know how
that was calculated (maybe number of hours worked), whether it is still
true, or even whether it was true at the time, but I do think it illustrates
one of the similarities between Japanese and American culture;the importance
placed on working hard.
I believe that both Japanese and American culture value hard work very
much. I wonder, though, if the reasons for this differ slightly. Of course,
how hard a person works and why depends primarily on that individual and
his/her values and motivations. But in general, I think that in America,
hard work is valued so much particularly because it is seen as making
you a better person. It is thought that hard work builds character and
teaches a person qualities like perseverance, dedication, concentration,
sacrifice, effort, etc. There is a sense of pride in really earning what
you get, in accomplishing something through hard work rather than luck
or a gift or something. I think, for example, that Americans are not so
impressed with wealth that is inherited but may be impressed with wealth
that has been accumulated through hard work, brain power, and creativity.
Indeed, the "American Dream" is that anyone can become successful
(whatever “successful” may mean to them) if they work and try hard enough,
no matter what their family or background or previous situation is. I
guess hard work is also valued because it contributes to society; it means
someone is "pulling their weight" and playing their part in
society and the world. And building character through hard work helps
someone to be a better, more productive member of society.
In Japan, I imagine that many people share these views. However, it seems
that in Japan, compared to America, there is more of an emphasis placed
on (and pressure for) working hard out of a sense of duty and loyalty
to one’s company or workplace. It seems not uncommon to see businessmen,
for example, devote significant amounts of their time and energy to their
company out of a sense of obligation even to the point of neglecting their
personal health, personal desires, and time with their families (this
also goes on in America but I believe that it happens to a lesser extent
and is viewed more negatively, even by people who do it, than it is in
Japan). Generalizing for a moment, I wonder if most Japanese work so hard
more out of a sense of duty, obligation, and loyalty to their workplace
than out of a desire to improve themselves personally, either in character
or financially. Or is this not really the case any more than it would
be in America or other countries?
What do you think?
And how do the schools in our societies play a role in fostering attitudes
toward work?
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