It seems that Japan is very efficient in some ways, but in other ways they are very inefficient. At their economic peak, Japan's unemployment rate was at 2%. Despite inefficiencies, their unemployment rate is at only 5%.
We're almost at 10% currently (despite Obama's promise that the stimulus would hold it below 8%).
The article discusses the efficient high-tech gadgetry in some industries (such as Toyota Motor Co.) but finds some quirks elsewhere:
There are a large number of people whose jobs seem to be standing around and calling out greetings and gesturing the way to enter stores, restaurants, hotels, and office buildings.
As I replied to Bob:
I noticed security guards at every site, not matter how small. (One being in Shibuya where some workers were digging into the street a manhole-sized hole with a guard standing nearby.) Definitely a unique country. My mom got a kick out of a video I shot 2 years ago in Kyushu of a food cart girl on a small commuter train to Mt. Aso. As she was going to enter the passage to the next car, she turns and bows. You'd never see that here!
Then there's those girls near train stations and at business district intersections who just hand out small packets of tissue paper with advertising on the packet. I have a decent collection of those.
Japan puts importance on service, politeness and courtesy far more than we do.
To read the article, go here.
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