In theory Japanese companies were back at work after the New Year break on 4 January. But it's a while before normal routine resumes. On the first day back there is some kind of ceremony to mark the start of the new year's business. The Tokyo Stock Exchange went for the traditional, with a calligrapher taking to the stage watched by kimono-clad staff, to pen the characters for "Japanese power". The President of the fastest-growing company in Japan, online games developer Gree, just turned up in jeans and a sweatshirt to deliver a rousing speech to his 900 employees - this time last year he had just 300. Large or small, traditional or contemporary, optimism and resolve are the defining messages.
Many companies, especially SMEs, make a visit to the local Shinto shrine to pray for good fortune. One shrine in the Tokyo business district saw 300,000 visitors in the first 3 days of the working year. At the same time, companies know that just waiting for the gods to smile on them is not really an option: "I'm taking things into my own hands this year and tackling the Chinese market for the first time" said one visitor. So it's not just British companies that see exports as the key to growth. My own fortune, purchased at the shrine, told me that I'd have reasonable luck this year provided I worked hard and had a positive mind-set: so even the gods seem to be absolving total responsibility.
Then there's the business of shinnenkai, or new year's gatherings, hosted by trade and industry associations, where hundreds or even thousands of people gather in hotel function rooms to exchange greetings and listen to industrial and political leaders' assessments of what the year ahead will bring. These are a full-time task for a while: the Ambassador went to 4 each afternoon last week (lesson: don't bring anything that needs checking in at the cloakroom: you'll be in line for hours to pick it up). This year the speeches contain lots of exhortations to greater efforts to combat the difficult economic situation and hopes that the year of the dragon will see the dragon of the Japanese economy rising up and taking flight. Well, not impossible - there will certainly be a bounce-back following last year's disasters, with industrial production forecast to rise 9.5% in 2012. And reconstruction will give a bit of a fillip, with overall growth of 2.9% forecast. Not bad when you look at expectations in most other developed economies.
By the time all that's done you feel ready for another holiday. And fortunately the Japanese calendar obliges with a bank holiday on the second Monday in January, celebrating "Coming of Age" day. Sadly the Embassy doesn't mark that one and we're open as usual. Never mind, at least there's a break from the scrum of the new year parties. And anyway, I've got to work hard. The gods have told me so.
2 comments
Comment by Rupa KN posted on
Interesting! that was an interesting read on customs in Japan. Japanese have always fascinated me for their hardwork. but now a different side to them. i always thought they celebrate new year on a different day and not on Jan 1st.
Comment by Rupa KN posted on
Interesting! that was an interesting read on customs in Japan. Japanese have always fascinated me for their hardwork. but now a different side to them. i always thought they celebrate new year on a different day and not on Jan 1st.