—The Productivity of the Mind That Boosts Economic Productivity—

Many foreigners find the Japanese way of thinking and their sense of life perplexing. This tendency is particularly noticeable among intellectuals.

Everyone has likely heard stories like the following several times. Let me share what one of my friends, an American journalist and correspondent based in Tokyo, told me with deep reflection.

“For a baby’s first shrine visit, a wedding in a church, and a funeral at a temple. The Japanese have no resistance or even the slightest discomfort with these customs—it truly is a mysterious country to us Westerners.”

He continued, “But when you think about it calmly, perhaps the underlying strength of the Japanese economy lies in these very things. Perhaps the Japanese possess a 'rationality' that cannot be measured by our foreign standards, inherent in their very environment.” He seemed to be talking to himself as he spoke.

We can perhaps substitute 'productivity' for the 'rationality' he speaks of in the economic sphere. He believes that something like an invisible national character boosts economic productivity. The phrase 'high productivity of the Japanese people' might be appropriate here. It can be called 'mental productivity'.

Positive Factors Inherent to Japan That Cannot Be Overlooked

Frankly, the absence of religious conflict and racial discrimination in Japan acts as an immeasurable positive factor for the country's development.
In Japan, it is completely unthinkable for Christians and Buddhists to clash and shed blood. Even including new religious movements, troubles that exacerbate social unrest virtually never occur.

For example, India is currently experiencing remarkable growth, but due to the deeply entrenched caste system, there are various religious obstacles in absorbing and digesting new technologies, making it difficult to achieve what Japan has.
Furthermore, in Arab countries where Islam is the state religion, religious customs such as facing Mecca to pray five times a day, regardless of circumstances, likely do not inherently align with modern factory systems.
Looking at it this way, I believe the foreign correspondent's perspective holds a certain truth. However, it is only one facet of the truth...

In any case, it is important to fully understand Japan's decisive strengths on this occasion.
This can also be rephrased as an unchanging strength. To reiterate, Japan possesses the foundation to survive whatever may come.

Japan's Unchanging Strength: Zero Illiteracy and Its Historical Background

The Importance of Reaffirming Four Strengths
Regardless of what happens, Japan can continue to endure. Let us outline four unchanging aspects of its historical background.

(1) High level of education
(2) High work ethic
(3) Absence of racial, religious, and linguistic conflict
(4) Being an island nation

The unique strengths of the Japanese economy, unimaginable in many other countries, can be summarized in these four points.

Let's discuss the connection between the high level of education (1) and the economy. In Japan, there is no one who cannot read, write, or calculate. The illiteracy rate is zero. The high level of education plays a decisive role in understanding, improving skills, and advancing culture. While this may seem obvious to us Japanese, we must re-evaluate its significance.

I have heard from friends who worked as engineers in Eastern Europe and Asian countries. They were surprised by the high quality of Japanese workers compared to their local counterparts. Similar observations can be made when comparing with Western countries.

The philosophy of the Japanese state during the Meiji and Taisho eras was to establish educational facilities and schools wherever there was a village, town, or people. Despite their poverty, the nation and local governments invested in education.
Education does not bear fruit in 30 or 50 years; it takes about 100 years to blossom and yield results. The saying 'A hundred-year plan for the nation' is indeed apt. We have much to be grateful for to our predecessors.

Appreciating the Japanese Work Ethic

Regarding (2), the work ethic: if the nation loses the spirit of doing its best, the country is finished. As mentioned earlier, 'motivation' is indispensable for the economy, and the diligence of the Japanese people is almost like a part of their environment. The habit of not minding overtime work, for instance, is a testament to this.

Of course, there is also the aspect of having no choice but to work due to insufficient welfare systems and pension schemes not linked to retirement age, creating significant future anxieties. This cannot be denied.
However, it is not ideal to spend one's entire life just working, and ultimately, one needs to find ways to relax. But if the populace loses the will to work, national strength will decline and the country will become exhausted. In such a scenario, people's lives will only become more difficult. This is natural, as national strength and people's lives are inextricably linked.

Diverse Religions and an Island Nation: Irreplaceable Assets

Now, let's elaborate on point (3): the absence of racial, religious, and linguistic conflict as an absolute requirement for enhancing national strength.
For instance, racial issues in America, such as those between white people and African Americans (Blacks), are unlikely to be resolved even after 50 or 100 years. While this issue is covered in another article, it is clear that in about 50 years, the population ratio of white and non-white people will become equal, and thereafter, non-white people will continue to increase, surpassing white people.
Beyond administrative inefficiencies, I believe the mutual hurt among Americans will significantly negatively impact the nation's existence and development in the future.

In Japan, clashes involving bloodshed between Buddhism, Christianity, and other new religions are inconceivable. Our country has a coexistence of diverse religions. Religious disputes are among the most insidious and deep-rooted conflicts. Fortunately, there are no fundamental religious confrontations in Japanese society.

The Advantage of an Island Nation, Priceless and Its Economic Impact

Furthermore, how does the advantage of being an island nation, as mentioned in (4), connect to economic development? It is clear that landlocked countries rarely become economic powerhouses.

They must unload raw materials at foreign ports, transport them across multiple borders to their own country to manufacture products, and then export the finished goods following a similar route. This inevitably leads to significantly higher costs.

Compared to landlocked countries, island nations like Japan process imported raw materials in coastal industrial zones and export them from their ports. The costs are incomparably lower than those of countries without sea access. The absolute geographical advantage of Japan, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk, cannot be overlooked. It is something that cannot be bought with money.

While various other reasons for Japan's economic development can be cited, such as its high adaptability or appropriate fiscal and monetary policies, none can be considered apart from their origin, namely the four aspects mentioned above.
In the immediate aftermath of its defeat in the war, Japan faced a catastrophic situation where even the minimum living standards for its citizens could not be maintained. However, tracing the background of its growth into the world's second-largest economy today, and its continued maintenance, leads us back to these four strengths.
I wish to re-emphasize at this juncture that these are the unchanging starting points and the most crucial factors when looking back at Japan's economy and contemplating its future.