Japanese investors are weak in activism. Only a fraction of shareholders are actively involved with the company management.

"activist investors" are investors who just try to get all of a company's money. They only care about themselves. In Japan, Japanese companies consider that they have several stakeholders: workers, clients, suppliers, and investors. All are equally important. There was a business magazine a couple of years ago having an article called "How to protect your company from the stockholders". I wish I had bought it.

I diagree gokai, I think it is the EXACT same model as the US, whereby the CEO runs the company as his (and it always a He) as his feudal kingdom, you remember Toshiba, Olympus, and Mitsubishi? When have these companies EVER thought about their stockholders or even WORKERS? Never!

I think it is the EXACT same model as the US, whereby the CEO runs the company as his (and it always a He) as his feudal kingdom,

Nope. I spent 10 years in Japanese companies. The CEO's power is quite limited. They aren't at the point of a figurehead, but neither do they have the power that western CEOs have.

When have these companies EVER thought about their stockholders or even WORKERS? Never!

That's a pretty blanket statement. Actually, many large companies in Japan have good worker plans, and do take care of their workers well, on a Japanese level. It really depends on the company, and the company culture.

Just because someone taught English at some Japanese company doesn't mean they know squat about a company or business.

Just because someone taught English at some Japanese company doesn't mean they know squat about a company or business.

It doesn't mean they don't either.

Just because someone taught English at some Japanese company doesn't mean they know squat about a company or business.

I'm assuming that refers to me? I worked a year in eikaiwa when I first moved here 20 years ago, but I've never taught in a company, only a small school.

But I did work 10 years in two companies as a local hire after that. Which is where my comment came from.

If you were the one running either of those two companies, you'd have a different world view than you have now. It's a heavy burden to be responsible for the well-being of people and their families. Japanese corporate officers are no different than others in carrying that around daily and as part of every decision we make.

What happened to the sokaiya? They weren't slow to criticize. (But really, is that kind of thing now over?)

If you were the one running either of those two companies, you'd have a different world view than you have now.

I wasn't, but I run my own companies now.

It's a heavy burden to be responsible for the well-being of people and their families.

I know this. It weighs on me literally every day. I used to sleep eight hours a night no problem when I was an employee. Now I wake up at 6-7 am every day, and lie in bed thinking about how we can secure our future. Even after years in business, one really bad misstep, or major shifting of the market, could kill our business, putting all my employees out of work. I know I'll survive no matter what happens - I got myself to this point this time, and I could again. But that wouldn't help all the people who depend on me, and expect me to ensure that that doesn't happen. My biggest nightmare is having to tell my staff that we're closing down and good luck with the rest of their lives.

Anyways, that all said, I'm curious about what point of my world view would be different. Looking at this thread, the only points I've made are:

-- The power of CEOs in Japanese companies is limited

-- Many large companies take care of their employees well, on a Japanese level

-- How a company treats its employees is dependent upon the company and the culture within that company

Which of these is tainted by my worldview, and which is supposed to be different because of my perspective having run a company?

To be honest, I don't see that any are. The views I expressed were from what I observed as an employee in a Japanese company. I haven't run a Japanese company (my companies are only Japanese insofar as they were started in and exist in Japan).

Japanese corporate officers are no different than others in carrying that around daily and as part of every decision we make.

Where did I claim any differently?