Labor Relations: Japanese Business Novel

by Tamae K. Prindle, Tamae Prindle (Editor)

This book gives an insider's account of Japanese labor management. Its fictional narrative opens as a quasi-mystery with a television newscast reporting on a 400 million yen embezzlement by a chief accountant. Within this framework the novel charts the relationship between the store's labor union and its top management which is in cahoots with a governmental politician. This book describes department store sales strategies, the manipulations of administrators, and their psychological impact on the sales staff. Through its unique format, Labor Relations commands a socio-economic landscape ubiquitous in, if not typical of, the Japanese business world.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 1994

Reviews

[Tenma · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Labor Relations" is a business novella that was written in the late 70s and reflects the work culture and the psyche of the Japanese businessmen of that era. It tells the story of embezzlement, corruption, and infighting at a relatively large department store with 1000+ employees. The central theme is the abuse and manipulation of the labor union for personal gains by the leadership. Although this novella is loosely based on Kazuo Watanabe's (the author) real life experiences, the story is linear and dry. It lacks a climax and has none of the melodramatic events that you would expect in a Japanese literary work. The translation by Professor Tamae Prindle is nonetheless superb.

In addition to the themes of loyalty, respect, and hierarchy that one would expect in corporate Japan, this novella will also give you a glimpse into the dark, ugly side of how some Japanese businesses are run and the associated backbiting and backstabbing for one's advancement and power gain. A reader may not enjoy this novella if read for sheer entertainment. Those interested in how Japanese run their businesses will probably benefit the most.