The Dark Side of Japanese Business: Three Industry Novels by Ikko Shimizu & Tamae K Prindle & Gail Johnson

Author:Ikko Shimizu & Tamae K Prindle & Gail Johnson [Shimizu, Ikko & Prindle, Tamae K & Johnson, Gail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, Public Affairs & Administration, General
ISBN: 9781315286112
Google: ZIgYDQAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 32205911
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 1995-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Dark Pit

1

"Tokyo Motors gives us 55% of our business. The other 45% comes from Todoroki Motors, Hiroshima Motors, and Ohta Technical Research. We also supply parts to Yamasuzu Motors." This was Shigeya's first conversation in his own office with Hoshi. He had talked with him just the one time at the restaurant.

Hoshi had taken the trouble to visit Shigeya on Abé's behalf. No sooner did he walk in than he hit Shigeya with a question. "What are you going to do if Tokyo Motors loses patience with you?"

As Shigeya saw it, TM couldn't afford to lose patience with Taisei. Hoshi's question had to be a bluff.

"I don't have to be told those statistics; I'm your auditor, if you remember." An endless stream of cigarette smoke issued from Hoshi's mouth.

"What I'm trying to explain is that Taisei isn't in TM's back pocket—even though we're part of the TM Group. TM is confusing the issue—they think personnel decisions are just another form of price-cut negotiations. They're being too pushy."

"Isn't 55% more important than 45%, though?" Hoshi spoke with the haughtiness he had developed as a "boss" in the auto-manufacturing community.

"Mr. Hoshi, let me make this clear: TM's 55% does not support all of our thirty-six hundred employees. Both the fifty-five and the forty-five are essential to our survival. A Taisei president supplied by TM will serve to discourage our other business partners. Todoroki will respond by pouring everything into their exclusive contractor, Itokawa Instruments."

"I wonder if Todoroki will really do that."

"Even if they don't, it'll be to TM's advantage and ours to work side by side as separate companies." Shigeya had made up his mind not to settle for a middle-of-the-road compromise. He had wanted to talk everything out with Abe, but it was Hoshi who came in his stead.

"What if we call Senior Managing Director Nishiyama and ask how he feels?" Hoshi suggested.

"Fine by me."

"You don't seem to appreciate his abilities."

Shigeya didn't disagree. In eight years as a manager, Nishiyama hadn't proposed a single helpful policy, not to mention anything brilliant.

In fact, Nishiyama had been the first to have a row with Takao when the latter entered Taisei. The occupants of Taisei's largest dormitory, the bachelor quarters in Kanagawa Prefecture, demanded air conditioning. Nishiyama flatly refused: "We have no money to waste." Hearing this from the senior managing director in charge of accounting, the managerial board saved its breath and ignored the problem. Unfortunately, this really wasn't the time to put employees through sweltering summer nights, whatever the reason. Taisei ended up losing one employee after another in a chain reaction. There were better workplaces elsewhere. Nishiyama was right in saying no money had been allocated for an air conditioner. And it was true that TM had left Taisei a very small budget to operate on. But where would Taisei be without those young workers? An air-conditioned dormitory was certainly a prerequisite.

Takao, approached by the plant manager for support, was obliged to face Nishiyama and repeat the demand.

"No chance."

"Please—the living conditions are placing an incredible strain on the plant manager.

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