Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Corporate cultures in Japan

japansubculture.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–27 of 27 posts

Re: Corporate cultures in Japan

#21

Post by nandemo »

jbm wrote: post #10
donw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have to ask -- Sokka Gakkai?

Good guess, but no; it was, believe it or not, one of those fundamentalist Korean "Christian" churches that are located in and around Okubo. (My girlfriend, who was raised as a Christian, told me that they refused to read anything but one section of the old testament that had to do with Tithing or something). As far as Soka Gakkai goes; maybe you can educate me more about them, but they seem to be hated by the Uyoku…

I was invited to join SGI by a Japanese co-worker. He told me that if I joined and simply did this chant everyday, I could get get anything I wanted. Like, anything.

This seemed like a great deal, so I actually went to a meeting with him and two of his "senpais" in the organization. Of course, I had no intention to join; I went out of (morbid?) curiosity.

Apparently　I was a sort of strategic "target", so to speak. They wanted to expand in Brazil so it would be nice to teach a Brazilian (me) about SGI. They showed me a video of Ikeda (the founder) in Brazil and how a believer was cured of cancer thanks to SGI. They also talked a little about the Buddhist origins of SGI, but didn't enter into details. I'd have to join and start doing the chant thing. Only then I'd learn more. They were really friendly, but somewhat creepy.

I even toyed with the idea of joining and doing a write up to be published later under a pseudonym, but eventually decided against it.

SGI is (at least nominally) internationalist and pacifist, so it's only natural that the nationalist and militarist Uyoku don't like them.

I won't claim they are as evil as Uyoku, but they're definitely not harmless.

Re: Corporate cultures in Japan

#23

Post by ekanes »

jbm wrote: post #18
Groxx wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Hear, hear" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear (semi-apologies, incorrect cultural idioms are a pet peeve of mine)

Sorry about that, I'm a bit embarassed because I feel the exact same way (particularly about misuses of "I couldn't care less")

Honest question, how is "I couldn't care less" usually mis-used? Using a made-up example, it's often said like this, "I couldn't care less how much you like XYZ, I don't want blah blah blah."

The person is saying that they don't care at all. As in, they couldn't care less... seems right to me! Just curious how it's typically mis-used.

Re: Corporate cultures in Japan

#24

Post by mistermann »

ekanes wrote: post #23
jbm wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry about that, I'm a bit embarassed because I feel the exact same way (particularly about misuses of "I couldn't care less")

Honest question, how is "I couldn't care less" usually mis-used? Using a made-up example, it's often said like this, "I couldn't care less how much you like XYZ, I don't want blah blah blah." The person is saying that they don't care at all. As in, they couldn't care less... seems right to me! Just curious how it's typically mis-used.

A lot of people say "I could care less"

Re: Corporate cultures in Japan

#25

Post by ekanes »

mistermann wrote: post #24
ekanes wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honest question, how is "I couldn't care less" usually mis-used? Using a made-up example, it's often said like this, "I couldn't care less how much you like XYZ, I don't want blah blah blah." The person is saying that they don't care at all. As in, they couldn't care less... seems right to me! Just curious how it's typically mis-used.

A lot of people say "I could care less"

Ah, of course. I misunderstood the grandparent. Thanks.

Re: Corporate cultures in Japan

#26

Post by oiuhyjtgfhjkl »

jbm wrote: post #13
donw wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only reason I was curious is that I've heard them described as a cult by a lot of people. In my experience, they seem pretty harmless, and overall pretty friendly, but religion in general makes me... edgy. But yeah, them being hated by the right-wingers does score them points in my book. :) Didn't know about Kofuku Jitsugento; care to enlighten me?

They are quite a cult but honestly, religion in Japan is very difficult for me to grok. All the members of these "New Religions" that I've met seem to be old/facing mortality, with two exceptions. As for Kofuku Jitsugen To, you probably know them under their English name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness_Realization_Party The HRP is scary because they sincerely believe all of Japan is under existential threat b…

No problem - there is a trivial (in the mathematical sense) solution to Japanese militarism.

Re: Corporate cultures in Japan

#27

Post by friendstock »

patio11 wrote: post #8
friendstock wrote: post #7

I did 2 internships at Sony in Japan... work relationships were professional (not personal), and the managers were very polite to the subordinates. Looking at this chart, I realize now how atypical this is for Japanese companies!

Looking at this chart, I realize now how atypical this is for Japanese companies! It is atypical for a certain segment of Japanese companies. Its a big country, with all kinds of folks in it, much like America. I get worried when folks assume that the stereotypical salaryman life is universal in Japan -- compare it to Japanese people assuming that all American companies are like Google. (Incidentally, I have met peop…

Yes good point. I guess I meant comparing Sony with the other electronics makers like panasonic or hitachi.
Post reply on HN