A brief history of Punctuality in
Japanese society
Introduction to Japanese Society
January 2008
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1. Introduction
No one can deny how punctuality of Japanese people is; the on-time cultural
was deep roots in Japanese societies and probably one of the factors and mixture that
Japanese can build the country. Punctuality: Be alert to delivery. Punctuality is vital.
Japanese are educated to do things punctiliously in school and trained to do jobs
punctiliously in company. But the sense of punctuality may vary from country to country.
For example, in case of and appointment for Argentinean you can late for 1 hour (Encarta
2007). In this paper, a brief history of punctuality in Japan was summarized as following.
2. The History of Punctuality
According to Takehiko Hashimoto of Tokyo University, his research was
conducted by using documentary of foreigner who visited Japan in various time periods
and see how Japanese amalgamate the punctuality practice into their society. His
research claims that generally in Edo period Japanese people were not punctuality but
they absorb punctilious behavior since Meiji restoration period.
Edo period (1603–1868) In 1857, some historical document was recorded by
Willem Van Kettendyke, describe that Japanese at that time was extraordinarily modest
and politeness and that disappoint him in various aspect in working with Dutch craftsman.
One reason why he disappointed is Japanese lack a sense of time. In contrast to the
system of fixed hours, which follow the movement of the clock, time was divided in to
equal unit, in Edo period, time was divided by six partition called koku “刻”. Each
partition of the time was marked by ringing of official gong. Takehiko estimated that the
Starting of Punctuality should be beginning of the Meiji Restoration period.
Meiji Restoration (1868–1912) In 1873, Japanese received clock technology
from western country but instead of adaptation. Japanese adapted in to their own clock
system called watokei that has Chinese zodiac instead of Arabic number. 15th century in
Europe, the spread of mechanic clock change European society but the introduction of
mechanic clock in Japan in last sixteen century did not affect Japanese society. However,
the clock was adapted into Japanese clock system or watokei (和時計).
Figure 1 Japanese Clock
Source: Wikipedia.org
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3. How Japan acquired the punctual attitude.
From this point, Japanese come to acquired a shaper sense of time but how they
can acquired the punctual attitude. There are many reason in explain this phenomena as
following.
3.1 Education
Around Meiji Restoration (明治維新) was a chain of events that led to enormous
changes in Japan's political and social structure. It occurred in the later half of the 19th
century, a period that traverses both the late Edo period (often called Late Tokugawa
shogunate) and the beginning of the Meiji Era. In period of Meiji Restoration, Many
Samurai have to change their work to teacher because of abolish of shogun system. From
this Point Japanese School system was inculcated Bushido system of Samurai in new
generations.
In Meiji Restoration period, the ministry of education direction of school children
with following precept makes sure that you are at school ten minutes before class started.
If you can not make it you have to explain reason of your tardiness and wait for your
teacher instructions. The new school system emphasize how important of punctuality in
new generation. In around 1901, Japan constructed the first rail way system by assistance
of British engineering. However, due to the complex of rail way system, the delay
become the main problem by average 30 minutes to 1 hours. To ameliorate these
problems, Japan railway constructed double track line system and learn time-motion
study. The system was entirely new even compare to the west.
3.2 Scientific Management
Scientific Management of Frederic Taylor was introduced in Japan around 1910
that was lead by 3 people are Okiie Yamashita, Takuo Godo, and Yoichio Ueno.
Moreover, Japan prepared for war that make Japanese seem more punctuality at that time.
The movement of social phenomena influences Japanese style of living. There are many
movement that indicate about Japanese toward to punctuality. There are many exhibition
in that period promote how to use time efficiently. For example, the poster show how
long the girl fixed their hair before goes to school. In around 1920, there are furthered
publish pamphlet of moral maxim of time discipline. “Work time and rest time should
separate clearly and time must not be waste”. The pamphlet also stated that “A precise
clock is first requirement for enforcing punctuality” and “A good way to set clock
precisely is by telegraph office or railway station.
Ichiro Oda also wrote that Japanese people become punctual in their private life
around after world war II through comprehensive import American social culture and
custom in to Japanese Society and Ikuko Nichimoto also argue that Toyota production
system that toward efficiency as an example for punctual society.
3.3 Government Plan
The Japanese society also promote that “Time is money”. In 1970s Government
Plan issued double income policy by infiltrated punctual society. The phase represent that
is why Japan used a lot of machine to reduce time. Dr. Liu’s dissertation also refer that
Taiwanese become punctuality during Japanese occupation. (Wikipedia.org, 2007)
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3.4 Kaizen (改善)
Another Possible Factor of Punctual Society in Japan is Kaizen base believes that
means in why even though they can from one personality type (Humble and Closed) to
Showa Period (Aggressive and Nationalism) to Inventive and Money Machine after
World War II. This point may contrast to normal believe of closed society of Japanese.
However, if Japanese people have high resistance for change, they can not change their
society to punctual society.
In Japanese 改 ('kai') KAI means 'change' or 'the action to correct'. 善 ('zen')
ZEN means 'good'. Kaizen is a daily activity whose purpose goes beyond simple
productivity improvement. It is also a process that, when done correctly, humanizes the
workplace, eliminates overly hard work (both mental and physical) "muri", and teaches
people how to perform experiments on their work using the scientific method and how to
learn to spot and eliminate waste in business processes.
People at all levels of an organization can participate in kaizen, from the CEO
down, as well as external stakeholders when applicable. The format for kaizen can be
individual, suggestion system, small group, or large group. In Toyota it is usually a local
improvement within a workstation or local area and involves a small group in improving
their own work environment and productivity. This group is often guided through the
kaizen process by a line supervisor; sometimes this is the line supervisor's key role.
While kaizen (in Toyota) usually delivers small improvements, the culture of
continual aligned small improvements and standardization yields large results in the form
of compound productivity improvement. Hence the English usage of "kaizen" can be:
"continuous improvement" or "continual improvement."
This philosophy differs from the "command-and-control" improvement programs
of the mid-twentieth century. Kaizen methodology includes making changes and
monitoring results, then adjusting. Large-scale pre-planning and extensive project
scheduling are replaced by smaller experiments, which can be rapidly adapted as new
improvements are suggested.
In Japan, after World War II, American occupation forces brought in American
experts in statistical control methods and who were familiar with the War Department's
Training Within Industry (TWI) training programs to restore the nation. TWI programs
included Job Instruction (standard work) and Job Methods (process improvement). In
conjunction with the Shewhart cycle taught by W. Edwards Deming, and other statisticsbased methods taught by Joseph M. Juran, these became the basis of the kaizen
revolution in Japan[1] that took place in the 1950s.b (Wikipedia, 2007)
4. Current Punctual Society
The key of success of punctual society is “Single time” that means every body
have a clock that have standard synchronization. Most of Japanese appliance such as new
television and telephone can not manual set up time because it will automatically
synchronize with the main of time station is Fukushima station of Japan Standard Time
Agency (日本標準時). For example, Casio G-Shock Citizen Ecodrive, and Seiko Brize
are “電波時計” Denpatokei or Radio Wave Clock that will periodically synchronize with
the center. Mobile Phone clock also can not manual set up because also automatically
synchronize with center. That’s mean you mobile phone time will be the same as train
station.
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Figure 2 Time synchronization with Fukushima station
Source : Ichikawa Tokei Ltd
5. Obsess in Punctuality
On April 25, a West Japan Railway Co. commuter train on the Fukuchiyama Line
in Hyogo Prefecture jumped the tracks and crashed into a nine-story condominium
building. The 23-year-old driver had been speeding, even as the train approached a curve,
apparently to make up at least 90 seconds in lost time. The accident killed 107 people,
including the driver, and injured more than 540 Japan's fourth-deadliest postwar train
crash.The accident not only led to the loss of many lives but has also shaken the
foundations of a society in which punctuality and efficiency are considered virtues. (Miya
Tanaka, 2005). However, probably the driver was reprimand many times by train
conductor and also his family was reported that they have some social problem.
(Norimutsu, 2005) Drivers face financial penalties for lateness as well as being forced
into harsh and humiliating "retraining" programs; a few have been fired without pay
altogether. At least one other driver committed suicide recently following management
harassment and threats of job termination when he made an unscheduled stop for a safety
check, the union alleges. Normally the driver has only 28 second gap. (Wikipedia,2007)
Figure 3 Amagasaki Train Crash
Source: www.theage.com.au
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6. Conclusion
Japanese Society since Edo period may differ from today in aspect of punctuality.
One interesting point is how Japan can transfer and change one culture to another norm.
Even though the transformation take around 50 years to complete the process but it worth
for became like current Japan. The secret point to transfer Japanese Society from one
types to another is normally Japanese people has the level of resistance to change is low
and kaizen culture dedicate for continuous improvement.
Reference:
Cosmo Business Consulting, http://www.cosmobcon.co.jp/international.htm, [accessed
December 25, 2007].
Ichikawa Tokei Ltd, http://www2.gunmanet.ne.jp/time/denpa.htm, [accessed December
25, 2007].
Miya Tanaka, “Train crash reveals fatal flaw of obsession with punctuality”, Japan Time ,
May 26, 2005, http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20050526f2.html, [accessed
December 25, 2007]
Norimitsu Onishi, “An obsession with being on time”, International Herald Tribune ,
Aril 28, 2005. http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/04/27/news/japan.php, [accessed
December 25, 2007].
Takehiko Hashimoto. Japanese Clock and History of Punctuality in Modern Japanese
Society. East Asian Science, technology and Society International Journal,
http://sts.nthu.edu.tw/easts/time%20paper6.pdf [accessed December 25, 2007].
Wikipedai.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amagasaki_rail_crash [accessed December
25, 2007].
Wikipedai.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_clock. [accessed December 25,
2007].
Wikipedai.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen. [accessed December 25, 2007].
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