No.0121：Stability:Low risk, low return

December 31,2023

The other day, after Ieyasu Tokugawa destroyed the Toyotomi clan and took control of the country, a history program introduced the shift to a policy that emphasized seniority over ability in order to establish a stable, long-term government as the situation changed from wartime to peacetime. For example, the eldest son was basically chosen as the heir to the throne, thereby avoiding unnecessary heir disputes. In addition, the vocation (status) was fixed in perpetuity. Children of samurai could remain samurai for a long time, even if they lacked fighting skills or talent in governance, while farmers, no matter how talented they were, had to cultivate the fields for generations to come. In today's companies with stable sales channels, every little risk-taking to find new business opportunities is crushed by the old guard, who brand it as reckless.
 
Stalemate in exchange for stability
 
　The decline of Japanese companies' position in the world has been tremendous compared to the bubble economy of 30 years ago. On the other hand, their domestic hierarchy is horrendous yet retains a semblance of what it was back then. Because of the lack of emergence. It seems that "knowing one's place" was strangely emphasized in the Edo period, and conversely, there was tremendous pressure from others on those who did not conform to one's status. I feel that this kind of thing remains in Japan today and is a major part of the reason for the stagnation. I have been told that my drastic challenge was not worth taking on, and that I should just stay where I am! I have been told several times to brake like that. 

Right now, we are in the midst of the destruction of the lifetime employment system. In the past, working for one company was considered a natural virtue. Today, however, much of the government's money is being poured into education and training to encourage people to change jobs. On a similar note, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare recently announced a policy to shorten the period before receiving unemployment insurance for those who retire for personal reasons. In addition, the elimination of a reduction in the taxation of retirement benefits for long-term workers is being discussed. Under these circumstances, portable skills that can be used in a variety of workplaces are attracting attention, and the ability to move around is being valued. Conversely, there is a growing concern about those who have survived in one company solely on the strength of their internal politics.
 

　It's the end of the year. Like every year, I look back on the year. It wasn't so bad. A stable year with no major painful failures or successes to be proud of. Nothing in particular added up. When I think about it that way, it was a year in which I felt a little unfinished business. But I can't remember ever having evolved so dramatically in a year. I think I was able to change little by little by having an image of what I want to be and by accumulating little by little every day toward that image.
 
The tortoise walks faster than the rabbit, I assure it.