Striving Towards a World of Diversity
KASHIWAGI Shigeo / Guest Professor, Keio University
February 7, 2017
The world is expected to undergo a sea change in the years ahead, as our lives become transformed by major developments such as the emergence of artificial intelligence. Each country will need to navigate such changes as best they can to sustain their development.
As a country experiencing the progressive effects of a low birthrate and greying population, Japan faces a particularly pressing need to develop various systems and create an environment in order to harness its potential and deal with the expected changes. Accordingly, the government has made reforming the way people work an important policy on its agenda, with “diversity” as its keyword. However, it is important to note that there are diverse aspects to “diversity” itself.
In Japan, diversity is predominantly viewed in terms of social advancement for women, and emphasis is placed on making a greater effort in that area. However, when it comes to ensuring diversity, Japan lags not only in the area of gender, but in every other aspect as well, including age, nationality, ethnicity and academic background. To begin with, there is little understanding of why diversity is desirable and necessary.
I spent a total of twelve years at international organizations including the International Monetary Fund, which provided me with the valuable experience of working with individuals with truly diverse backgrounds. Despite the differences in nationality, ethnicity, mother tongue, religion and way of thinking, here was a group of competent individuals who had come from all over the world driven by a shared mission – to contribute to the global economy by using English as a common language and economics as a common tool. Working in such an environment did have its difficulties, but my interactions and discussions with such a diverse group of individuals were always stimulating, and I found the experience to be both constructive and enjoyable.
An international workplace like this differs considerably from the highly homogeneous Japanese workplace, where communication is made easy by employees who are well attuned to each other. It is hardly an environment where a Japanese would feel at home. Yet, there is now a growing acceptance that this new type of workplace is set to increase as an inevitable consequence of globalization.
But is diversity an “inevitability” we have no choice but to accept? Isn’t it something that is intrinsically beneficial, which we should actively embrace? Shouldn’t we consider the environment created by diversity in a positive light, as something Japan needs in order to adequately respond to the dramatic changes currently underway in the world?
The Japanese education system is partly to blame for stunting the development of respect towards diversity in our society. While reinforcing homogeneity through school lunches and uniforms, and promoting collective behavior through coordinated group gymnastics and other programs, our schools did not teach the significance of diversity. Yet, we come to better understand ourselves precisely through encounters with that which is different from us. Many Japanese seem unaware of who they are, or are unable to articulate their opinions, because they never learned how to handle such encounters at school.
It is also important to acknowledge and accept the diversity of individual work styles and lifestyles. The Japanese tend to be somewhat indifferent towards those who make life choices that differ from the mainstream or opt for a change of course. We must correct this attitude in a world that is about to change in even more drastic ways.
In Japan, major fields of study are more or less fixed upon entering university, and while not impossible, it is rare for students to subsequently switch their subjects. It is also unfortunate that boundaries set by academic disciplines established more than a century ago have persisted to this day despite advances in interdisciplinary studies, and universities remain intolerant towards the changing interests and concerns of young minds.
This lockstep mentality is reinforced by the peculiarly Japanese practice of hiring new graduates en masse. The recruitment period differs from that of other countries, and is hindering the globalization of Japanese universities as well as student mentality.
And while hurdles to switching careers are gradually being lowered, we must enhance social mobility even further at a time when major changes are underway in the nature of work itself. We need to develop an infrastructure that will make it easier for workers to change their career paths or seek a second chance, and actively support their efforts to acquire new skills.
The government must certainly take the initiative in reforming work styles, but what we really need is to reform the mindset of individual Japanese.
Young people should aspire to take on new challenges without fearing the risks, and strive to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Those in the prime of their lives should proceed with determination to proactively enact reforms without fearing change. And those in the baby boom generation and older should look on with tolerance at new approaches without clinging to the old way of doing things. Everyone will need to pitch in if we are to change the status quo.
Shigeo Kashiwagi is Guest Professor, Graduate School of Business and Commerce, Keio University.
This is a summary of an article that first appeared in the Sekai Nippo newspaper on October 13, 2016.
As a country experiencing the progressive effects of a low birthrate and greying population, Japan faces a particularly pressing need to develop various systems and create an environment in order to harness its potential and deal with the expected changes. Accordingly, the government has made reforming the way people work an important policy on its agenda, with “diversity” as its keyword. However, it is important to note that there are diverse aspects to “diversity” itself.
In Japan, diversity is predominantly viewed in terms of social advancement for women, and emphasis is placed on making a greater effort in that area. However, when it comes to ensuring diversity, Japan lags not only in the area of gender, but in every other aspect as well, including age, nationality, ethnicity and academic background. To begin with, there is little understanding of why diversity is desirable and necessary.
I spent a total of twelve years at international organizations including the International Monetary Fund, which provided me with the valuable experience of working with individuals with truly diverse backgrounds. Despite the differences in nationality, ethnicity, mother tongue, religion and way of thinking, here was a group of competent individuals who had come from all over the world driven by a shared mission – to contribute to the global economy by using English as a common language and economics as a common tool. Working in such an environment did have its difficulties, but my interactions and discussions with such a diverse group of individuals were always stimulating, and I found the experience to be both constructive and enjoyable.
An international workplace like this differs considerably from the highly homogeneous Japanese workplace, where communication is made easy by employees who are well attuned to each other. It is hardly an environment where a Japanese would feel at home. Yet, there is now a growing acceptance that this new type of workplace is set to increase as an inevitable consequence of globalization.
But is diversity an “inevitability” we have no choice but to accept? Isn’t it something that is intrinsically beneficial, which we should actively embrace? Shouldn’t we consider the environment created by diversity in a positive light, as something Japan needs in order to adequately respond to the dramatic changes currently underway in the world?
The Japanese education system is partly to blame for stunting the development of respect towards diversity in our society. While reinforcing homogeneity through school lunches and uniforms, and promoting collective behavior through coordinated group gymnastics and other programs, our schools did not teach the significance of diversity. Yet, we come to better understand ourselves precisely through encounters with that which is different from us. Many Japanese seem unaware of who they are, or are unable to articulate their opinions, because they never learned how to handle such encounters at school.
It is also important to acknowledge and accept the diversity of individual work styles and lifestyles. The Japanese tend to be somewhat indifferent towards those who make life choices that differ from the mainstream or opt for a change of course. We must correct this attitude in a world that is about to change in even more drastic ways.
In Japan, major fields of study are more or less fixed upon entering university, and while not impossible, it is rare for students to subsequently switch their subjects. It is also unfortunate that boundaries set by academic disciplines established more than a century ago have persisted to this day despite advances in interdisciplinary studies, and universities remain intolerant towards the changing interests and concerns of young minds.
This lockstep mentality is reinforced by the peculiarly Japanese practice of hiring new graduates en masse. The recruitment period differs from that of other countries, and is hindering the globalization of Japanese universities as well as student mentality.
And while hurdles to switching careers are gradually being lowered, we must enhance social mobility even further at a time when major changes are underway in the nature of work itself. We need to develop an infrastructure that will make it easier for workers to change their career paths or seek a second chance, and actively support their efforts to acquire new skills.
The government must certainly take the initiative in reforming work styles, but what we really need is to reform the mindset of individual Japanese.
Young people should aspire to take on new challenges without fearing the risks, and strive to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Those in the prime of their lives should proceed with determination to proactively enact reforms without fearing change. And those in the baby boom generation and older should look on with tolerance at new approaches without clinging to the old way of doing things. Everyone will need to pitch in if we are to change the status quo.
Shigeo Kashiwagi is Guest Professor, Graduate School of Business and Commerce, Keio University.
This is a summary of an article that first appeared in the Sekai Nippo newspaper on October 13, 2016.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
多様性のある世界を目指して
柏木 茂雄 / 慶應義塾大学特別招聘教授
2017年 2月 7日
人工知能の出現による影響を代表例として、今後の世界は大きく変化していくことが予想される。いかなる国であっても発展を続けるためにはそのような変化にうまく対応していく必要がある。
とりわけ少子高齢化が進む我が国においては、予想される変化に対応して潜在力を発揮できるよう各種制度や環境の整備が喫緊の課題となる。そのため働き方改革が政府の重要な政策課題となり「多様性」がキーワードとなっている。しかし、重要なのは「多様性」にも多様な側面があるという点だ。
我が国では多様性を女性の活躍推進と捉える向きが多く、その面での一層の努力の必要性が強調されている。しかし、我が国は性別だけでなく、年齢、国籍、人種、学歴等あらゆる面での多様性実現の努力が遅れている。そもそも何故に多様性が望ましく必要なのかについての認識もまだ低い。
筆者は国際通貨基金（IMF）等の国際機関で通算12年間働き、文字通り多様なバックグラウンドを持った人たちと働く貴重な経験をした。そこには国籍、人種、母国語、宗教、考え方等が異なるものの、英語という共通言語を使い、経済学という共通ツールを使って、世界経済のために貢献したいという共通の使命感を持った優秀な人たちが世界中から集まっていた。そのような環境での仕事は困難も多かったが多様な人たちとの付き合いや議論は常に刺激があり建設的で楽しいものだった。
このような職場は同質性が高く阿吽の呼吸で会話が通じる日本の職場と大きく異なり、日本人が容易に馴染める環境とは言い難い。それでもグローバル化によってこのような職場が国内で増大することは、やむを得ないものとして徐々にとらえられるようになってきている。
しかし、多様性は「受け入れざるを得ないもの」だろうか？多様性それ自体メリットがあり積極的に受け入れる価値があるものである筈だ。多様性の生み出す環境を肯定的にとらえ、激変する世界において我が国が適切に対応するために必要なことと考えられないだろうか？
多様性を尊ぶ考え方が我が国において育たなかったことには学校教育の責任もある。給食や制服等により均質化が求められ、組体操等により団体行動を教え込まれる一方、多様性は教えられなかった。人間は自分と異なるものと遭遇することによって自分をより良く知ることになる。しかし、学校教育で異なるものとの遭遇や協働を教えられなかったため、自分のことをよく知らない、あるいは自分の意見をはっきり主張できない日本人が多い。
一人ひとりの多様な働き方、多様な人生を認め肯定することも重要だ。我が国は他人と異なる人生あるいは路線変更に対してまだ冷淡な面があり、変化が激しくなる世界ではこの点を改める必要がある。
大学での専攻分野は概ね入学時に決定され、その後の路線変更は不可能ではないが稀だ。100年以上前に設立された学部が、学問の融合が進んだ今日においてもいまだに垣根として存在し、若い人の興味や関心の変化に対して寛容でないのも残念だ。
新卒一括採用という我が国独特の採用制度も横並び意識を助長している。採用時期が諸外国と異なることによって、大学及び学生のグローバル化にとって足かせとなっている。
転職のハードルも低くなりつつあるが、仕事の内容自体が大きく変化する時代においては社会の一層の流動化が必要である。進路変更や再チャレンジを容易とし、新たな能力獲得を積極的に支援するような体制つくりが望まれる。
これらについて政府による働き方改革推進も重要であるが、本当に必要なのは国民一人ひとりの意識改革であろう。
若い人にはリスクを恐れず新しいことにチャレンジする気持ちとともに必要な知識・技能の習得に励んでもらいたい。働き盛りの世代には、変化を恐れず積極的に改革を推進する気概を持って欲しい。そして、団塊世代以上は、過去のやり方にしがみつかず新しいやり方を暖かく見守る気概を持って欲しい。現状を変えるためには一人ひとりの努力が重要である。
筆者は慶應義塾大学特別招聘教授（大学院商学研究科）。
本稿は世界日報（2016年10月13日号）に掲載された記事の要約である。
とりわけ少子高齢化が進む我が国においては、予想される変化に対応して潜在力を発揮できるよう各種制度や環境の整備が喫緊の課題となる。そのため働き方改革が政府の重要な政策課題となり「多様性」がキーワードとなっている。しかし、重要なのは「多様性」にも多様な側面があるという点だ。
我が国では多様性を女性の活躍推進と捉える向きが多く、その面での一層の努力の必要性が強調されている。しかし、我が国は性別だけでなく、年齢、国籍、人種、学歴等あらゆる面での多様性実現の努力が遅れている。そもそも何故に多様性が望ましく必要なのかについての認識もまだ低い。
筆者は国際通貨基金（IMF）等の国際機関で通算12年間働き、文字通り多様なバックグラウンドを持った人たちと働く貴重な経験をした。そこには国籍、人種、母国語、宗教、考え方等が異なるものの、英語という共通言語を使い、経済学という共通ツールを使って、世界経済のために貢献したいという共通の使命感を持った優秀な人たちが世界中から集まっていた。そのような環境での仕事は困難も多かったが多様な人たちとの付き合いや議論は常に刺激があり建設的で楽しいものだった。
このような職場は同質性が高く阿吽の呼吸で会話が通じる日本の職場と大きく異なり、日本人が容易に馴染める環境とは言い難い。それでもグローバル化によってこのような職場が国内で増大することは、やむを得ないものとして徐々にとらえられるようになってきている。
しかし、多様性は「受け入れざるを得ないもの」だろうか？多様性それ自体メリットがあり積極的に受け入れる価値があるものである筈だ。多様性の生み出す環境を肯定的にとらえ、激変する世界において我が国が適切に対応するために必要なことと考えられないだろうか？
多様性を尊ぶ考え方が我が国において育たなかったことには学校教育の責任もある。給食や制服等により均質化が求められ、組体操等により団体行動を教え込まれる一方、多様性は教えられなかった。人間は自分と異なるものと遭遇することによって自分をより良く知ることになる。しかし、学校教育で異なるものとの遭遇や協働を教えられなかったため、自分のことをよく知らない、あるいは自分の意見をはっきり主張できない日本人が多い。
一人ひとりの多様な働き方、多様な人生を認め肯定することも重要だ。我が国は他人と異なる人生あるいは路線変更に対してまだ冷淡な面があり、変化が激しくなる世界ではこの点を改める必要がある。
大学での専攻分野は概ね入学時に決定され、その後の路線変更は不可能ではないが稀だ。100年以上前に設立された学部が、学問の融合が進んだ今日においてもいまだに垣根として存在し、若い人の興味や関心の変化に対して寛容でないのも残念だ。
新卒一括採用という我が国独特の採用制度も横並び意識を助長している。採用時期が諸外国と異なることによって、大学及び学生のグローバル化にとって足かせとなっている。
転職のハードルも低くなりつつあるが、仕事の内容自体が大きく変化する時代においては社会の一層の流動化が必要である。進路変更や再チャレンジを容易とし、新たな能力獲得を積極的に支援するような体制つくりが望まれる。
これらについて政府による働き方改革推進も重要であるが、本当に必要なのは国民一人ひとりの意識改革であろう。
若い人にはリスクを恐れず新しいことにチャレンジする気持ちとともに必要な知識・技能の習得に励んでもらいたい。働き盛りの世代には、変化を恐れず積極的に改革を推進する気概を持って欲しい。そして、団塊世代以上は、過去のやり方にしがみつかず新しいやり方を暖かく見守る気概を持って欲しい。現状を変えるためには一人ひとりの努力が重要である。
筆者は慶應義塾大学特別招聘教授（大学院商学研究科）。
本稿は世界日報（2016年10月13日号）に掲載された記事の要約である。
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟