From the moment they seized power, the Meiji reformers sought ways to modernize Japan’s economy, especially in those industries on which modern military power depended. After a rocky start in the 1870s, Japanese industrialization proceeded rapidly, and by 1900 the nation had become a major economic power through a combination of government subsidies and individual entrepreneurship.The greatest success story in Japan’s economic transformation was Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of one of the nation’s most powerful business conglomerates, Mitsubishi. Born into a poor farming family, Iwasaki gained a rudimentary education and held several low-level business jobs before he found employment as an official in the service of the aristocratic Tosa family in the mid-1860s. He was given the task of managing and reducing the Tosa domain’s huge debt, which had resulted from massive purchases of firearms and artillery. His policies, which included paying some debtors with counterfeit money, quickly eliminated the domain’s deficit. In 1871, when the domain abandoned its direct ownership of business enterprises, it gave Iwasaki eleven steamships and all the assets connected with its enterprises in the silk, coal, tea, and lumber industries. In return, Iwasaki was expected to pay off some new Tosa debts and provide employment for former samurai. With this to build on, he systematically wiped out foreign and domestic competition and, through a series of shrewd (and frequently cutthroat) business moves, turned Mitsubishi into Japan’s second largest conglomerate, with interests in shipbuilding, mining, banking, insurance, and manufacturing.
Iwasaki wrote a letter that I would like you to read to his employees in 1876 during Mitsubishi’s battle with the British Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company over control of Japanese coastal trade (you can read the letter by clicking here; read #4, pgs. 356-357). He had just cut fares in half but had also reduced wages by a third.
After reading Iwasaki’s letter, I would like you to think about and discuss the following: Why does Iwasaki believe that the Japanese must prevent foreigners from becoming involved in the coastal trade? According to Iwasaki, what is at stake in the competition for control of Japan’s coastal trade? What advantages and disadvantages does Iwasaki’s company have in its rivalry with the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company? How does Iwasaki attempt to inspire greater dedication and effort from his workers? Your thoughts…
18 comments:
He belives that forginers should stay out of japanese coast because they are too important to do that. that if foreignrs get them then it ill result in less jobs and business opportunity for his people and it would give foreigners an advantage in the time of war. some disadvantages that iwasaki's company has is the the p&o company are backed up with its large flets its has much wealth and knowledge of working in other oriental countries.
Iwasaki thinks its a sign of weakness if Japan allows foreign powers to control the coastal trade. He said that the unequal treaties being lifted means nothing without control of trade. He tries to make it sound like its the peoples duty to make sure it stays in Japans conrol but I think he just mostly wants it for himself.
i can really see a somewhat troublesome japan in the future. its amazing how we had no idea that because Matthew Perry arrived, it would create something that we will regret in the future.
i think that he wanted to take out foreign traders because that would be taking out the competetion and with less competetion means better business for Japan.
HA HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHA!
I love this guy! He's like; to make this company grow will help Japan as an empire! We will face these new competitors and deal with them as we did the U.S.! Nothing can stop such a noble company! By the way, I'm going to fira a bunch of you all soon to help fund our noble endeavors. HA! Iwasaki wants ot keep foreigners ouot of Japan because their ships are the only way to get from harbors in Europe to harbors in Japan. Japan doesn't have the naval technology to be able to travel to these lands themselves, so that leaves all foreign powers in full control. He literally says that their is no point in rewriting all of the unfair trade treaties if these countries are still in full power of how Japanese products get from place to place. He even goes as far as to say the company has a direct responsibility to the governement! A little overdramatic if you ask me. The advantages of these rivalries is that Iwasaki's companies are helping to put Japan in the economic map. If you see what I mean. Of course, quite a few ppl will loose their job.
Man, I see how this guy is such a great businessman. He's telling all his employees that he's firing them to help Japan's economy! Like he's firing them for some morally driven noble cause! After all, before he got to the laying-off part, most of his employees probably agreed with him. Ha Ha Ha. I gotta say, I love this guy.
Iwasaki Yataro tries to influence his workers and get them to understand what is at stake. Nothing is better to influence that with a way that relates the people to whats on the line. He tries to make them understand why he is cutting there pay. It is a necessary action and had to be done. He needs to prevent foreigners from becoming involved because he probably saw the connection that the previous rulers of Japan did. If they become involved, they will send missionaries, and then the army. He knows that they will take advantage of anything that they can get. Their Identity, control, and jobs are at stake. Without this, they will fall behind and under West influence. Most likely becoming subordinate. One of the biggest advantages that they have is kind of like home field advantage. They have something to fight for that is important to them. They have dedication and something great at stake. The disadvantage they have is their lack of experience, and fresh introduction to industrialization.
Iwasaki Yataro defiantly had the right idea in changing his samurai ways to become a business man, and obviously it was for the better. no we have a company that was pretty strong before the economy went bad
Iwasaki doesnt thing that europeans should be aloud on the japenese coast. He believes that it shows weakness that the japanese are letting them take control along the coast.
He thinks that the japanese businesses are being robbed of their wealth when other companies such as business from the US and Great Britain take advantage ot their coast. He believes that the only conclusion is to eleiminate ALL of them...but what i didn't know and think was interesting is the fact that the Japanese already got "rid" of one compamy already! i just wonder how that happened.. and why they didn't use those techniques to get rid of other major compamies, which is what he wants in the first place.
He doesn't want foreigners involved in trade because it takes away jobs, and they have to compete with more people. Money is at stake for control of Japan. If they cannot control the trade flowing through Japan it could become another one of GB's dependant zones. This article is used as a motivator to inspire Japan to do something against all the unequal treaties being signed.
I agree with Iwasaki. He's right that it's not good for the people of Japan to have Great Britain and the U.s. owning their ports. That would reduce the amount of work the Japanese people could have. Also, having foreign countries owning your ports means that you're not in control and I think that Japan wants to be in complete control of it's country.
The fact that this guy is really humble sorta shocked me. He doesn’t seem to be doing this out of a want of money, but as a love for his country. It seems that in world history there aren't many people like that. It seems that he and business people of now seem to have the same idea of what to do during a financial crisis. Cut unnecessary people and spending. Then the question arises what will happen to those people. Anyways, his want of foreigners to get out is understandable in that he wants the natives to have jobs. It is also interesting how he uses nationalism to inspire more dedication and harder work from his workers.
Iwasaki believes that foreigners shouldn't be involved in coastal trade because it belongs to Japan and Japan should have it for itself and not others. He goes on to say that his workers must come together and get rid of the Europeans from coastal trade. That they must keep working and eliminate all unnecessary personnel from the payroll and solidify the foundation of the company.
it seems as if in this document Iwaski believs that Japan should have full control over it's own coastal matters. He says that the foreign companies are simply just unnessary positions and expedidentures that Japan does not need in order for it to be successful.
Iwasakiis telling his employees that it is important for the Japanese to be in charge of the ports because if they give that in to foreign hands then they are only hurting the greater Japan. He says that they must eliminate the competition of the west.
Iwasaki thinks that foreigners should not come in because it means loss of business and employment for the Japanese. Also it sounds like that letting foreigners come in is like a weakness and vulnarable. He took pride in overpowering the U.S. company. The reason that he wanted foreigners out is so he can have all the economic power by himself. It just sounds like simple greed
Iwasaki strong believes that Japan should take control of its own coastal trade with other nations. It wants to root out the foreign control and guide their own economy. He has great confidence in his country, Japanese Nationalism if there ever was. He sounds more like a politician than a business man in any case.
He says a stake that is obvious is to lay off workers that are unnecessary expenditures and hopes they will help and complete the difficult and "arduous" tasks ahead. Funny man...
Advantages are to promote nationalism to remove the company and increase production through competition are some given.
Disadvantages are lay-offs and the difficult tasks, but nationalism should take care of complaints right? haha!
Nationalism is the cornerstone to Iwasaki's plan and with great confidence and pride, and such a motivating speech, who can argue with him?
(Iwasaki, "Hey! I'm Japanese, you're japanese. I love my country, you love your country. C'mon buddy, let's remove foreign control over trade, it's bad, and uhh...oh I have to fire you, if you don't mind, okay? We cool? Awesome! Let's disestablish a British company!")
iwasaki doesnt believe that foreigners should come in japan cuz it is a sign of weakness for these foreiners to be in charge of of coastal trade. and also i think he wanted to take out traders outside of japan for less competition
Post a Comment