Japan, Negotiation - understand-culture

Kasumigaseki Literature

Kasumigaseki bungaku (霞が関文学): Kasumigaseki literature, named after the Tokyo district of the central ministries. The Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper defines it as the writing technique peculiar to bureaucrats of reworking a text so that it can be read another way, or so that its content is hollowed out.

A columnist on the site All About gave an example from the ruling parties. They wrote 178 man en o mezasu, we aim for 1.78 million yen. In his view, this made no promise. They never wrote 178 man en ni suru, we will make it 1.78 million yen.

The Kim and Ōhira Memo

On November 12, 1962, Ōhira Masayoshi met Kim Jong-pil of South Korea in Tokyo. The two men agreed on the money Japan would provide when South Korea gave up its claims against Japan: 300 million dollars in grants, 200 million dollars in loans, and private credit of 100 million dollars or more.

The grant and loan figures reappear in Article 1 of the claims agreement that Japan and South Korea signed in 1965. According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, the memo stated only the amounts and the form of payment. It said nothing about what the money was for.

The Takeiri Memo

From July 27 to 29, 1972, Takeiri Yoshikatsu, chairman of the opposition party Kōmeitō, met Premier Zhou Enlai three times in Beijing. The record of their talks ran to 52 sheets. On August 4, the day after his return, Takeiri handed it to Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei and Foreign Minister Ōhira Masayoshi, together with a draft of a joint communiqué.

The record asked for secrecy: “The content of the three meetings is all important, so keep it completely secret from everyone except Prime Minister Tanaka and Foreign Minister Ōhira.” Tanaka arrived in Beijing on September 25. The joint communiqué was signed on September 29, 1972.

Ending a Long Relationship

On March 29, 1971, the Nagoya High Court ruled on the end of a continuing business relationship. The notice of termination, it said, lacked a serious reason that made further dealings impossible to expect, and it gave no reasonable period of notice. The court called it an unjust termination.

On July 30, 2010, the Tokyo District Court ruled that a company had breached a sales agency agreement. It had ended the agreement with four months’ notice and without compensating the agent for its losses.

Courts do not always go this far. On March 2, 2021, the Tokyo District Court upheld a franchisor’s refusal to renew a contract at its expiry, while noting that good faith limits such a refusal. The case was appealed.

From Now On, Too

Kongo tomo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu (今後ともよろしくお願いいたします): from now on, too, we ask for continued favor. A business magazine explains that kongo tomo expresses a relationship that continues over a long span ahead. A business-manners article says the phrase asks the other side to let the relationship continue as it has so far, while showing them respect.

Descent from Heaven

Amakudari (天下り): descent from heaven. The Daijisen dictionary defines it as retired senior officials taking substantial posts in affiliated bodies or in private companies with close ties to their former office.

In January 2017, Maekawa Kihei, the administrative vice-minister of the Ministry of Education, resigned. The ministry had arranged re-employment for its retiring officials in an organized way. Seven senior officials, Maekawa among them, were disciplined.

The Vocabulary of Owing

On o uru (恩を売る): to sell a favor. To do something for another person in advance, in the expectation that it will bring a benefit later.

Kashi o tsukuru (貸しを作る): to make a loan. A dictionary example: komatta tokoro o tasukete yatte kare ni kashi o tsukutta, I helped him when he was in trouble and so made him owe me.

Kari o kaesu (借りを返す): to return a loan. To repay a debt, and also to settle a score.

Ten Thousand Yen for a Birthday

A President Online article describes how Tanaka Kakuei looked after the members of his faction. He would say, “Oh, your wife has a birthday this month. Treat her to something good to eat,” and hand over a 10,000-yen note. He gave money and posts with all his heart, and at election time he went out to give speeches in support.

“Every night went like this,” the article says, “so the Tanaka faction was firmly united.” The article is an excerpt from a book by the political commentator Kobayashi Kichiya. It cites no documents.

The Vocabulary of Face

Kao o tsubusu (顔をつぶす): to crush someone’s face. To damage a person’s honor or credibility.

Mentsu (面子): face. Standing and appearance before the world. The word was taken over directly from Chinese.

Hanamichi o kazaru (花道を飾る): to decorate the flower path. The hanamichi is the walkway through the audience in kabuki. The Daijisen dictionary also defines it as a splendid scene that draws everyone’s attention and praise, especially a retirement that people regret. Its example is intai no hanamichi o kazaru, to decorate the flower path of retirement.

The Subscription List

The kabuki play Kanjinchō (The Subscription List) was first staged in 1840 at the Kawarasaki-za in Edo, with Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Benkei. It adapts the Noh play Ataka. Benkei and his lord Yoshitsune, fleeing in disguise, are stopped at the Ataka barrier.

When one of Togashi’s men suspects Yoshitsune, Benkei beats his own lord with his staff to hide who he is. The barrier keeper Togashi senses Benkei’s anguish and lets the party pass.