The Human Face of Japan's Leadership: Twelve Portraits

(Hardback)

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Description

One of the most prevalent and dangerous misperceptions is the image of Japan as a faceless, impersonal, corporate entity. In this book Weinstein aims to give a human face to the leaders who will lead that nation into the next century. In doing so, he hopes to give the reader a better idea of what makes these men tick, of the experiences which have shaped their values and their views of Japan and the world. Weinstein conducted approximately 100 hours of taped interviews with 12 internationalized Japanese leaders in their 40s and 50s, including four members of the Diet, four bureaucrats and four businessmen. These interviews form the core of the book - 12 biographical portraits, presented as oral histories and largely in the participant's words. These are individual, personal accounts which begin with family and regional background and include childhood and youth in World War II and the occupation - educational experiences and views of Japan's future. These accounts also shed light on how the system of educational meritocracy and family interact to produce Japanese leaders. Japan's leadership includes a relatively high proportion of people, who while insiders and members of their establishment, are at the same time knowledgeable and at ease in foreign languages and cultures. These internationalized leaders are committed to successful interaction with the outside world. Weinstein's book aims to help readers gain a more accurate, balanced view of the USA's most important overseas trading partner and ally in the Pacific.

Reviews

Adding to the continued Western fascination with the ascent of Japan to world economic heights is this book of interviews with a dozen big names in Japanese politics and business. Often viewed as impassive and inscrutable, the Japanese show themselves here to be just as emotional and diverse as people anywhere else like to think of themselves as being. Important in its portrayal of Japan's future elite and for its demonstration that these are figures bent on the internationalization of Japan. To be indexed.-Booklist
Weinstein, holder of the Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., has done an excellent job interviewing 12 contemporary Japanese leaders, an even mix of politicians, civil service bureaucrats, and members of the business community. All are between the ages of 45 and 61, and thus are members of the younger generation' of Japanese leaders. All but one are men. After introductory sections, each interview covers a variety of topics, including personal life and education; wartime experiences; career development; and thoughts on Japan and the larger world community. The interviewees come across as urbane and highly competent, belying the prevailing stereotypes of the Japanese as insular and unimaginative and at the same time documenting an important reason for Japan's current economic success. Recommended for anyone interested in the leadership characteristics of present-day Japan.-Library Journal
"Adding to the continued Western fascination with the ascent of Japan to world economic heights is this book of interviews with a dozen big names in Japanese politics and business. Often viewed as impassive and inscrutable, the Japanese show themselves here to be just as emotional and diverse as people anywhere else like to think of themselves as being. Important in its portrayal of Japan's future elite and for its demonstration that these are figures bent on the internationalization of Japan. To be indexed."-Booklist
"Weinstein, holder of the Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., has done an excellent job interviewing 12 contemporary Japanese leaders, an even mix of politicians, civil service bureaucrats, and members of the business community. All are between the ages of 45 and 61, and thus are members of the younger generation' of Japanese leaders. All but one are men. After introductory sections, each interview covers a variety of topics, including personal life and education; wartime experiences; career development; and thoughts on Japan and the larger world community. The interviewees come across as urbane and highly competent, belying the prevailing stereotypes of the Japanese as insular and unimaginative and at the same time documenting an important reason for Japan's current economic success. Recommended for anyone interested in the leadership characteristics of present-day Japan."-Library Journal

Author Bio

MARTIN E. WEINSTEIN has the Japan Chair and is the Japan Program Director for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C. He is the editor of Northeast Asian Security After Vietnam and the author of Japan's Postwar Defense Policy, 1947-1968.