Japanese in a changing world 1974

A cinematographic record of the lives of a number of Japanese when the boom in their country began.
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the day begins early for trading company
worker Ken nitsu as it does for most
Japanese a bachelor Ken lives alone in a
tiny two room apartment about 40 minutes
from his office his neighborhood looks
like most Japanese cities where
apartment living has become dominant in
recent
years with his busy schedule Ken likes
to listen to jazz music whenever he can
even when he’s
shaving in another part of the city TV
director motoko kurala is paying a lot
of attention to her face too she has to
be careful about her appearance because
she’s in the entertainment world she can
also take her time because rehearsals
won’t start until midafternoon
in a suburb of the city the day is also
beginning for electron worker Yukio
kakiuchi he lives in a company dormatory
so close to his job that he can walk
there with his
friends MCO and her husband who’s a TV
producer are luckier than most Japanese
they live in their own home and can
spend a leisurely morning together a cup
of tea the morning
[Music]
paper Ken’s already read his newspaper
on the Subway which has taken into the
heart of a major business district where
he walks to work with thousands of
others in the world’s largest city
Tokyo quite a contrast to yukoh and his
friends outside the city who finish
their stroll from domator to laboratory
in just a few minutes it’s one reason
why more and more Japanese prefer to
live and work outside the city Ken
reaches his office right on time it’s
Friday and he’s looking forward to a
two-day weekend off thanks to a new
trend toward a shorter work week in
Japan
[Music]
from AO her time off sometimes comes on
a pleasant weekday morning when she
often goes to a nearby
park she likes to sketch landmarks in
Tokyo a relaxing contrast to her busy
television schedule the perfect setting
for a created
person
creativity is also a key word at yukio’s
Electronics plant where the main product
is
transistors Yukio is a quality control
specialist he checks transistors with a
high powered microscope always looking
for ways to improve the product like
many workers in Japan he thinks of
himself as part of a company team the
team includes many women who can work
thanks to a company school that cares
for their youngsters one added benefit
for the children is learning English at
no expense to their
parents window strawberry jam
spoon
okay Japanese companies believe in
education on the job too what the job
employees can take advantage of free
company operated classes that may
include flower
[Music]
arrangement industrial design or perhaps
a course in to style and make their own
clothing for Ken his learning is on the
job his trading company has worldwide
offices with almost instant
Communications through a global teac
system this message will reach the
company’s office in London almost as
quickly as it takes Canen to deliver it
to the telx
room
the pace of Moo’s day is quickening too
after her leisurely morning she has to
shop at a local supermarket for the
dinner she and her husband will share
late that night even though MCO is a
career woman she has responsibilities at
home she must pay close attention to
food prices because she handles the
family
budget after a quick trip home to drop
off her groceries she continues on to
work a few minutes Drive
Away mako’s television company is one of
the largest and most modern in Japan or
in the
world while makco is just getting to
work it’s midday at yukio’s plant and
noon time means just one thing lunch a
wash up before eating is common in Japan
where cleanliness is a national
characteristic one benefit of working
for the company is inexpensive food
Yuki’s lunch a full well-balanced meal
costs him less than a dollar it’s
another way the company helps his
workers cope with the rising cost of
living
it’s the same story for Ken who often
eats lunch in his company’s cafeteria
but there’s a second reason he enjoys
good food and good
friends being together and enjoying it
is a natural part of life for most
Japanese team spirit is more than a
slogan
even in their spare time after lunch
workers Stay Together relaxing or
playing a little volleyball it’s not
yukio’s strongest sport he enjoys skiing
and he’s learning to play golf but
there’s nothing like a little
volleyballs to meet you
[Applause]
friends exercise takes a different form
inside the office where in mid-afternoon
many companies interrupt work for a few
minutes of music and motion not everyone
exercises but those who do say it’s a
pleasant relaxing break which is
precisely the
idea for most Japanese work is important
but it’s not the only thing young women
in Ken’s company operate modern machines
during the day but later on there’s an
entirely different move the same
employees who operate computers and
automated machines appreciate the somber
mood of an ancient cultural ceremony
it’s difficult to believe that a quiet
traditional place like this Tea Ceremony
room could be found inside of a modern
office building you never know from the
outside what’s on the inside and it’s
very much the same with a Japanese
wearing their company uniforms young
women prepare and serve tea the way it’s
been done for
[Music]
centuries
for these women it’s much more than a
company benefit it’s an inner
satisfaction a beautiful mood that is
peaceful gracious and
shared it’s quite a different mood where
makco Works before rehearsals begin she
listens to music that will be used on
her show it’s an important part of her
job because the success of the program
depends on her knowledge of what’s
popular among the younger
generation before she goes to the Sound
Stage for rehearsals Matco has time to
glance at some fan mails that include
some pretty fancy artwork and there
always are last minute script changes
that must be rechecked and
[Music]
approved just before rehearsals begin
she views some videotapes of another
show to make sure it’s edited the way
she wants this all is part of a careful
approach to her work an attitude that’s
important to most Japanese and something
Moko has learned in her 10 years as a
director the audience can relax and
enjoy the music but Showtime is work
time for MCO musical entertainment in
Japan is dominated by the young and
their young fans the music and style are
very much like those in Europe or
America mako’s advice is important to
the young stars who have to improve if
they expect to keep their
[Music]
popularity like so many things in Japan
popular music requires plenty of
[Music]
teamwork this may not seem like the time
and place for teamwork but when K and
his friends go out to a bar after work
it’s an important part of their feelings
as an office
[Music]
team it’s time for relaxation and fun
for getting closer together it’s a time
to eat as well as drink
[Music]
the happy combination food and talk
makes a bar one of the most sociable
places in any Japanese city or town
nobody has to pour his own drink young
people who come here use the bar as a
meeting place for them their greatest
pleasure is being
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
together
just as makoko and Ken have their
outside interests Yukio likes a change
of pace too when he’s finished work for
the
[Applause]
day his bachelor apartment is filled
with posters stereo equipment and music
like so many Japanese yukoh loves
Western classical music it provides a
relaxing background whether he’s reading
a book writing a letter or just
dreaming
[Music]
[Applause]
as his wall poster showed yukoh likes a
variety of things it could be the
classics The Beatles or the
[Music]
[Applause]
Mars for Ken his interest have narrowed
down a bit and the reason is obvious on
Sunday Ken almost always has a date for
this fiance they met in college when he
saved enough money they’ll be
[Music]
married one reason they like City Life
is that there are so many things for
them to enjoy together it doesn’t cost
anything to look at the bargains offered
by popular Street
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
artists for Ken and for all Japanese
life is filled with rapid change just as
the face of the city city is
changing one thing doesn’t change the
bright enthusiasm for work and for fun
shared by young Japanese every 24 hours
in
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
Japan