Originally published on July 7, 2019.
Through a Sankei Shimbun book review of Chie Sato’s The Harvard Theory of the Japanese, this essay explores such Japanese traits as attention to detail, duty and loyalty, craftsmanship, cleanliness, and narrative sensibility through the insights of Harvard professors.
It reaffirms the uniqueness at the root of Japanese culture and offers a perspective on “true globalization” by asking how that strength can be put to use in international society.

2019-07-07
From the intellects of a wide range of fields, such as media theory, art history, genetics, and molecular cell biology, she drew out the appeal of Japan that made one say, “It was a real eye-opener.”

The following is from today’s book review section of the Sankei Shimbun.
Until August five years ago, when I was still subscribing to The Asahi Shimbun, the section I read most carefully was the book review section… I hardly read things like Tensei Jingo except diagonally… in the end, out of frustration and anger at having been made to read reviews by people who were not only worthless but had continued to inflict astronomical damage on Japan, I stopped subscribing to Asahi, and even after switching to the Sankei, Nikkei, and Yomiuri, I almost stopped reading book reviews as well.
Only occasionally do I read Sankei’s book reviews.
Today was one of those days, and there were two good reviews I wanted to introduce.
First,
The Harvard Theory of the Japanese (Chuko Shinsho La Clef, 880 yen plus tax).
For True Globalization, by Chie Sato.
A fondness for robots, attention to detail, longevity, duty and loyalty, the spirit of craftsmanship and cleaning, the power to convey stories…
These are the “traits of the Japanese” that draw the world’s attention.
To explore their roots, the author, a writer and consultant, interviewed ten professors at Harvard University in the United States.
From intellects in a wide range of fields such as media theory, art history, genetics, and molecular cell biology, she drew out the appeal of Japan that made one say, “It was a real eye-opener.”
For example, in response to the question, “Why do Japanese people care so much about detail?”, Professor Yukio Lippit, who studies the Edo-period genius painter Itō Jakuchū, one embodiment of that trait, explains that “from his Buddhist worldview, Jakuchū believed that ‘Buddha-nature’ dwelled in every part of a painting,” and thus poured artistic value equally into every detail.
Associate Professor David C. Atherton, whose popular course is “Life Lessons from the Samurai,” argues that the reason “Japanese people care so much about appearances in society” derives, like bureaucratism and lifetime employment, from “the warrior culture of the Edo period.”
Incidentally, according to the same associate professor, samurai and Harvard students also share the trait of being “social elites, yet burdened with deep anguish.”
The book also explores such questions as “Why are the endings of stories so often left ambiguous?” in literature, “Do the Japanese really like hereditary succession?” in politics, and “Why do they value craftsmanship and cleaning?” in religion.
Through her interviews, she came to feel that “the distinctiveness and uniqueness of the Japanese are a treasure.
Some even say that at the root of Japanese culture there is a ‘secret sauce.’”
On top of that, she emphasizes, “Knowing the strengths of the Japanese and making the most of them in order to create value in international society is true globalization.
Japanese people are diligent and knowledgeable, but what matters is how they use that knowledge and act.”
“If one understands the Japanese, one can also interact with foreigners with confidence.
I would be happy if this book could offer a hint toward that.”
With the Tokyo Olympics ahead, it is a book Japanese people should read.
(Mihoya Hiroki)
◇ Sato Chie was born in 1970 in Hyogo Prefecture.
She graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo and completed an MBA at Columbia Business School.
After working at NHK and the Boston Consulting Group, among others, she became independent.
She has written many books, including Harvard Nihonshi Kyoshitsu.