Travels: Learning from the Japanese.

At JX Corporation Negashi Oil Refinery, Yokohama, Japan

I wanted to write this post a long time ago, but forgot about it until I chatted to a course mate of mine and complimented of the Japanese and their ethical ways. She remarked that I was lucky to have traveled and experience other cultures and I should share them with the world. Hence, this post :) 

So, let me recount the number of times I was fascinated (and no doubt impressed) by the Japanese in order all of us could take them as an example to become better citizens :) 

1. The first night we spent in Tokyo, it was at the airport since our flight arrived almost to midnight. We stayed at the airport until 9 AM the next morning. during the almost-12 hours I spent at the airport, I had a front row seat to how Japanese worked. They are extremely clean. There was this cleaning guy who came and polished the area we slept 3 times in 1 night! He came every few hours and polished the SAME spot (which was already spotless to begin with) until he was satisfied, only to return 2-3 hours later to repeat the task. Later in the early morning, he'd use a small vacuum and vacuum the carpeted floors leading to the toilet. Later he'd wipe every inch of metal surface in the area until you could practically see your blackheads in it. I was amazed (and annoyed at the same time of his floor-polishing routines) at his determination to clean. I guess they are very hygienic huh?

2. They are super, super punctual. Like down to the minute and seconds punctual! Not one person we had the arrangement to meet was late. From professors to students to staffs, everyone was on the dot punctual! It made our task and day smoother knowing there weren't going to be any delays on the Japanese part. (On the Malaysian part, well let's say we really need to reconstruct the term "Janji Melayu" that we are so famous for.

3. They are so polite and they really respect their elders (and practically everyone else). Honestly, the level of respect they have for everyone else, with the way they bow (and boy, do they bow a lot!) and speak in low tones, deserve an immense amount of respect in return. Once I asked a Malaysian student we met at the airport, Why are all the Malaysian students seem so 'pious'? And he replied it's because of the Japanese people themselves. They hold high respect and moral value within themselves and their surroundings. The way they live their lives, in harmony with each other, in consideration and proper etiquette, reflects the values of Islam itself. And yet how many Muslims actually apply Islamic moral values in their daily life? You can't live in Japan and not instill those good values yourself and have admiration for your own religion that has been preaching the same thing for centuries.

4. They are ethical in their studies and work. And this is still definitely something we all need to learn. No matter how much we hate our job, or how bad the Monday blues get when we attempt to get to class, we have to remember what the Japanese do. They embrace their working life. They do it with commitment and dedication. And above all else they work honestly and know it will reflect their reputation, which is very important in Japan. Can you find a young Malaysian nowadays who's not in it for the job unless it offers a big fat-ass paycheck? How many students are actually interested in the classes they're taking? The Japanese believe that if you put your whole time and effort towards something, you can be productive and it will benefit everyone, including yourself. It could lead to a better future generation and more opportunities. Unlike in Malaysia, where there's such a thing as "curi tulang" or slacking off in work, checking your Facebook during working hours or tweeting things which are irrelevant to work. 

That's what I learned from the Japanese. Sure they drink a lot (guys get yopparai every Friday night) and have the second highest suicide rate in the world (Russia takes first place), but they have a lot more good things in them than us Malaysians. That's why they're so far ahead in the global industry, while we're left in the smoke of their hybrid, green-technology engines. That's why Tun Dr Mahathir, Malaysia's 4th Prime Minister had a point when he started the "Look East to Japan" Programme.