Ken Uchikura Newsletter Vol. 399 Thumbnail
Thinking About "Japanese-Style Management"
What exactly is Japanese-style management? Is it treating employees like family, guaranteeing lifelong employment, or waiting for a complete consensus in meetings? I believe it goes much deeper than that.
There is a well-known Japanese proverb, isogaba maware, which means. “When you’re in a hurry, take the long way around.” In business, rather than chasing short-term revenue, investing time to nurture trust, quality, and human resources ultimately creates a more resilient, long-lasting company. Furthermore, as the saying keizoku wa chikara nari ("continuity is power") suggests, it’s the daily accumulation of effort, rather than flashy, overnight success, that builds a company's true foundation.
Traditional Japanese management roots in core values such as sei (sincerity), rei (respect), wa (harmony), giri (obligation), ninjo (human compassion), and mottainai (avoiding waste). It means keeping promises, respecting others, and prioritizing organizational harmony. It doesn’t mean selling a product and walking away, but standing by it with long-term support. Choosing long-term trust over short-term profit has been one of the great strengths of Japanese businesses.
On the other hand, misusing the ishi no ue ni mo sannen ("Be patient and wait for results ") mindset is dangerous, as is clinging to unprofitable businesses or outdated systems. While we say sannin yoreba monju no chie ("two heads are better than one"), simply increasing the number of meetings doesn’t guarantee a better solution. There are times when leaders must make clear decisions and take responsibility.
When businesses value wa (harmony) too highly, people may become hesitant to point out problems. Excessive patience can allow inefficient processes and bad habits to continue. Too much giri (obligation) can make it difficult to end relationships that are no longer beneficial.
What matters is not preserving Japanese culture exactly as it was in the past. Instead, we must embrace the spirit of onko chishin—learning from the past to develop new insights—by studying traditional wisdom and adapting it to fit the modern era.
Quality, integrity, attention to detail, and long-term trust are strengths of Japanese businesses that can succeed globally. At the same time, slow decision-making, unclear responsibility, and a fear of failure are areas that need to change.
A Japanese approach to management doesn’t mean returning to old ways. It means preserving cherished Japanese values while evolving them into a management style that can compete and succeed around the world.
Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
ken.uchikura@pspinc.com
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kenichi Uchikura is a Japanese-American entrepreneur and founder of PSPINC. Through this blog, he shares stories and insights about Japanese history, culture, traditions, business, technology, and everyday life. His goal is to help readers better understand Japan, its people, and the values that continue to shape Japanese society today.
ABOUT PSPINC
PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, was founded in 1987 and has been providing internet technology services since 1997. PSPINC offers web hosting, email hosting, software development, IT support, cloud solutions, and digital marketing services. The company operates infrastructure in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and bilingual service.
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Call: 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808
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