"Working for a thousand years" by Susumu Nomura—Japan, the great land of legacy businesses

"The mobile phone harnesses the technology of a company established one hundred years ago." "An architectural firm founded in the Asuka era still exists today." Released by Kadokawa One Theme 21 last November, "Working for a Thousand Years" introduces the type of business concerns known as the "shinise" (long-established stores) and sheds a light on what keeps them going.

Nomura: There are believed to be many shinises in Japan, and according to a certain researcher, it is estimated that there are 100,000 companies that were established one hundred years or more ago, and among them, 45,000 are in the manufacturing industry.
I took about three years collecting data for this story, but basically there were many companies that did not engage in any PR", says the author, Mr. Susumu Nomura. "In fact, they didn't have any PR divisions. While I suppose they were wary, at first nearly ten companies declined my request to grant me interviews. For a good number of companies, it was their first time to receive such a request.

Shinbunka: Why are there many shinise companies in Japan?

Nomura: Firstly, there is the geographical factor of Japan being an island nation located on the outskirts of the Far East. The fact that there were no substantial forays and invasions or colonization is largely significant. After all, a shinise cannot grow in a colonized place. Additionally, in Japan, there is a culture of making things by getting your hands dirty, a culture that values handwork. In the Korean Peninsula and China, such things are frowned upon as being vulgar. This is most likely because of the influence Confucianism has in those places. Furthermore, Japan goes through a cycle of liberally adopting the blood of others and reshaping it anew. Such factors form the context, I believe.

Shinbunka: Are there demerits to running a shinise?

Nomura: Up until now, Japanese companies have been receiving foreign pressure for being insular in their ways, but if you actually examine shinise companies, you will see that they have been adept at both protecting and changing. In fact, they have been demonstrating a forte in apparently yielding to foreign pressure, while actually taking things in effectively. Perhaps this is a demerit depending on your perspective."

Shinbunka: Will the shinise companies of today continue to be this way in the future as well?

Nomura: That probably depends on whether the proprietor has the intent to be that way or not. But I believe the scope for Japan's shinise is wide. Even though we live in a computer age, the welfare of a culture in the end depends upon the people involved in it. For example, the otakus (geeks) who are characterized by their dedication in applying themselves narrowly and deeply in their pursuits share such a trait in common with artisans. I have a feeling that if you take the long view, you can see that the otaku generation will also become a part of the ceaselessly long traditional line of artisans found in the Japanese culture.

(Interviewer:Tomoki Shiramoto)


*Some of the book titles are tentative translations.
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