PSU Magazine Summer 1989

After exhausting the song list (popular tunes are sung several times) it was not unusual to go in search of another night spot, a "third place," and, on occasion, a "fourth place." With these evenings lasting far into the night and so much alcohol consumed , I never understood how these guys showed up fresh faced and eager to work the next day. But they always did . Perhaps the way a day at the office begins might offer some clue as to how an alert appearance is maintained at least throughout the morning. At Akiyama Aiseikan, this is how each day of the six– day work week gets under way: W hen the chimes ring at 8:30, employees scramble into posi– tion in front of their desks. The man from General Affairs sets up his tape deck, cal ls out that it's time to start, then turns on the music. With a deep breath , we began our morning routine, jumping, stretching, and twisting to the perky piano music. Some employees are less than en– thusiastic, due I'm sure to the fact that they (along with every other Japanese citizen) did those same exercises to the same song every day during their school years. When the tape is over, the men all rush to smooth their hair, tuck in their shirts, straighten their neckties and put on their jackets; then everybody gathers in their work groups, facing forward and standing at attention. There is a long silence, interrupted on- 1y by the chatter of printers churning out the day 's work and the wheezing breaths of the many to whom tobacco is a longtime companion. Eventually chimes sound again and the man from General Affairs barks out a "Good morning," followed by a deep, stiff bow. We all return the gesture. Then a representative from each department calls out the status of his department for that business day, for example: " Planning Room : five employees, one out due to sickness, one in Tokyo on business. Today's actual: three employees! " With another bow, the main portion of the morning ceremony is ended. Then everyone goes through a smal ler but similar ritual within their work groups. The rest of a standard business day was, fo r me, much less dramatic. But it still held its share of small peculiarities which served as a constant reminder that though Sapporo looked like home in many respects, I was a long way from Portland , Oregon . For instance, in some offices you must Irwin and his wife l#?ndy Eccles lived for three months with Masumi and Koji Akiyama and their three children (left to right) Hajime, Hikaru and Ayaka, while he worked with Koji Akiyama at Akiyama Aiseikan Co. wear slippers; in some offices, shoes are okay but only in certain rooms; and in other offices, shoes are permitted everywhere (though many still choose to wear slippers). In some hospitals, shoes are exchanged for slippers at the door, then before any of the other inner rooms of the hospital are entered, it's necessary to change to another pair. In most restaurants shoes are removed on a main walkway and only socks are worn in the eating area, slippers are provided for trips to the restroom . Obviously, the Japanese are quite ac– customed to slipping in and out of their shoes and they do it with almost magical ease. I, on the other hand , performed the " the exchange of business cards is a small ritual in itself, a skill requiring timing, intuition and a lot of practice." task with Cro- Magnon grace, always trail– ing far behind my Japanese hosts. As for wearing slippers, generally I have no com– plaint, but the ones they provide are made for tiny Japanese feet and so serve only to mock my clumsy size 12's. I don't normally carry many things in my pockets - a wallet for ID and credit cards, cash, keys, ink pens and scratch paper is the extent of it. In Japan it soon became apparent that this slight number of personal effects was inadequate and so I added four other items: I. Business cards and case. In Japan , the exchange of business cards is a small ritual in itself, a skill requiring timing, in– tuition and a lot of practice. A business card is considered a piece of property and must be treated with respect , so it's necessary that cards be kept crisp and clean and in perfect condition. It is in– sulting for someone to receive a card that is bent or stained . When a card is offered, it must be with bot!:i hands, the name side up and facing in the direction easiest to read for the per– son to whom it is given. As it is handed PSU 13