{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1094708,
        "msgid": "learning-from-the-japanese-1447893297",
        "date": "2001-03-17 00:00:00",
        "title": "Learning from the Japanese",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Learning from the Japanese The outside world has always believed that the Japanese exemplify modest living and honesty at all costs. It seemed that globalization has changed all that. They are still hard working, however, if their welfare is at stake.",
        "content": "<p>Learning from the Japanese<\/p>\n<p>The outside world has always believed that the Japanese<br>\nexemplify modest living and honesty at all costs. It seemed that<br>\nglobalization has changed all that. They are still hard working,<br>\nhowever, if their welfare is at stake.<\/p>\n<p>Having spent a couple of years in Japan as an Antara<br>\ncorrespondent I was shocked to learn that a figure like former<br>\nprime minister Ichiro Mori bowed out of his cabinet because he<br>\nwas thought to have been implicated in shady dealings --<br>\n(protecting the underworld) for personal financial gains, if I am<br>\nnot mistaken.<\/p>\n<p>In line with Buddha's teachings, the Japanese hold honesty as<br>\nthe highest virtue in life. Wealth is less significant than honor<br>\nand loyalty to principles. Before World War II, I had always told<br>\nmy children that there were many Japanese character traits that<br>\nput Indonesians to shame. Hard working or as the term goes<br>\n\"workaholic\" and frugal almost like the Chinese; most Japanese<br>\nare still like that I am sure.<\/p>\n<p>But the intellectuals and the politicians prefer to be rich<br>\nnow rather than being famous. They are rarely tempted, as the<br>\nBalinese people formerly were (sorry to say so), to steal other<br>\npeople's property. Alas, my impression of the Japanese people<br>\ntoday is different. They want to enjoy life as much as possible.<br>\nThey want to be as rich as the Americans and where the money<br>\ncomes from is a secondary matter. Liberal democrats like Kiichi<br>\nMiyazawa perhaps are an exception and that is why he probably<br>\nstill has a huge number of followers.<\/p>\n<p>Compared to Indonesia, which bears the title of the third most<br>\ncorrupt nation, the Japanese can be proud of their habits e.g.<br>\nJapanese wives who never get angry or complain if their husbands<br>\ncome home late from work.<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, any Indonesian would feel sad when there are so many<br>\npeople living in abject poverty while the country is rich in<br>\nnatural resources. Japan, on the other hand, has practically no<br>\nnatural resources and yet they are significantly more prosperous.<\/p>\n<p>Still, we appreciate very much that the Japanese, despite<br>\nMori, are still willing to extend a helping hand (and cash) to<br>\nvictims of earthquakes, floods and violence in Indonesia.<\/p>\n<p>GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n<p>Jakarta<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/learning-from-the-japanese-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}