It looks like that the Japanese people are brought up being told that everything has to be done to the highest possible standards. Regardless of whether you are in Japan’s urban areas or rural areas, and what buildings, infrastructure, goods, or services you look at, you will not find anything that has been built or made improperly. It is almost offensive for Mongolians, who are so used to things being done improperly and jobs being completed not to the required standards. Why do Japanese have this unshakable dedication and diligence in their life and work?
Seeking for the answer to this question, I had another opportunity to travel around Japan’s urban and rural areas, meet people, stay in their homes, study their history and culture, visit temples, and become acquainted with representatives from almost all social groups. It is taught that you cannot manage what you cannot measure. You must have noticed that every successful nation, company, or an individual is able to measure their progress and results.
The Japanese people also measure everything. For instance, they attribute the number ten to ultimate perfection. It is viewed that the ultimate perfection can only be made by God and the heavens whereas human beings cannot achieve this perfection, but can do wonders, which is symbolized by the number eight. Hachi (/ \), which means eight in Japanese, also has a meaning of mountain and peak.
TOWARDS PERFECTION…
Shinto, an indigenous religion of Japan, has established a tradition that worships the Mother Nature and honors the law of nature. Since the ultimate perfection is only found in creations of the nature, human beings cannot achieve it, but can do wonders if they keep putting their efforts into finding perfection. Japanese see their life and work as a process or a chain of actions rather than a goal. It is viewed that, when the Hachi character is looked at from the top to the bottom, it symbolizes that anyone who keeps working hard with great dedication eventually becomes prosperous just like the gap between the two lines in the character widens as they go down.
As Shinto preaches that people must experience and get a feel of everything on their own, small children are brought up not being told what they can do and cannot do. The process is regarded highly than the outcomes. Therefore, children are reminded that the heaven is watching. The Japanese people say that the results will be better if there is good planning and diligent work, which is way they often use the proverb ‘isogaba maware’ meaning ‘if hurried, go around’ and ‘take your time when you are hasted’.
Japanese have a tradition of using specific shapes and lines to describe good and bad things. Good, righteous things are described with straight lines whereas bad things are drawn with bent lines. It can be seen from both their traditional and modern handicraft styles. Simple, straight lines are used more than bent lines in their architecture, carpentry, paintings, and garments. Simplicity is favored more than complexity.
HAKUHO WILL REACH HACHI
The Japanese people strive to be modest and patient in everything they do. In order to maximize efficiency and productivity, one seeks for a balance of mind, body, and soul. A clear example is sumo tournament. You can see that the sumo wrestlers always keep calm and be in control of their emotions whether they win or lose. Mongolian sumo wrestlers do their best to do likewise. Our sumo wrestlers are greatly influencing the knowledge and perception of the Japanese people about Mongolia. Many Japanese people I have met were saying that Mongolians are wrestlers from nature and are competing with each other for the tournament titles.
Everyone I have met was saying kind words about Mongolian sumo wrestlers, especially Hakuho (M.Davaajargal). A senior political figure said that Hakuho would probably reach the level of hachi. Futobayama, who won 69 consecutive wrestling matches, was a sumo wrestler of hachi level. Hakuho visited the city of Usa in Oita Perfecture, where Futabayama was born, and paid his respects. People were saying that Hakuho was still modest and was working as hard as before despite setting the record by winning 34 tournaments.
Cherry blossom trees (sakura) bloom in Japan every year by the end of March or by the beginning of April. The Japanese people sit around the sakura trees and celebrate welcoming the spring having sake and singing. Sakura blooming also symbolizes a news start as a new academic and financial year begins in April. This is a time for Japanese to enhance their energy without making haste. The Japanese people, who are putting their best efforts without hurrying, are confidently striving for hachi in their livelihood and prosperity, and are continuing to achieve man made wonders.
2015.04.01