The Three Cornerstones Of Discipline In Japan

For the Japanese, discipline is fundamental and children must learn it when they are very young. Thanks to this and their sense of integrity, there is strong discipline in Japan.

Westerners are often impressed by Japanese behavior. But what is also noticed is how they have positioned themselves on the world market by creating technology companies that are both stable and productive.

We also admire their ability to recover from adversity. They did so during World War II and also recently after the Fukushima disaster. The Japanese are persistent and disciplined.

The need to contribute to work and society is something that still makes many people interested in the Japanese, and that inspires others to also have high expectations of themselves.

However, these high expectations have led to anxiety, stress and high suicide rates year after year.

The cornerstones of discipline in Japan

The Japanese language itself has attracted a lot of attention. It has expressions that do not exist in other languages. This is where the Japanese show that they appreciate others.

Phrases like “Otsukaresama desu” (thank you for your hard work) are, for example, a way to show appreciation for the work of others.

Discipline is therefore the root that nourishes everything else. Discipline in Japan helps to strengthen talent. It is even something that is more appreciated than intelligence in Japan.

Here are the three cornerstones of discipline in Japan.

Organization and discipline in Japan

Organization allows us to save time and become more efficient. An organized house reflects harmony. A school where every teacher, student and all staff have clear functions improves the efficiency of daily work.

By organizing your environment, you optimize how you handle your tasks and are easy to respond to change.

One can not ignore the fact that Japanese leaders are aware of almost every detail of daily work. For them, it is important that each individual is fully committed to their work.

Cleaning

In Japanese culture, cleaning is about more than just getting rid of dirt. It is also a way to balance life. Marie Kondo’s method of organizing and cleaning houses is something that many are familiar with.

Everything that is dirty and disorganized will affect one’s well-being and the mind itself. It is therefore important that you take steps to make your space more harmonious.

In Japan, a method called 5S is used:

• Seiri: Throw away anything that is not useful or desirable.
• Seiton: Everything must have its own place.
• Seiso: Every person, including the children, has the task of keeping all surfaces clean.
• Seiketsu: Have standardized cleaning routines and clear rules that everyone understands.
• Shitsuke: This term also means “discipline” and implies applying what we have mentioned above daily.

Punctuality

Another cornerstone of discipline is punctuality. This term does not just mean that you must always be on time. Punctuality means that you are determined, that you set a goal and that you pursue it.

This means that you have a number of daily goals that you achieve quickly and efficiently.

These dimensions lead to very high expectations. We know that many young adults under the age of 30 in Japan choose to commit suicide when they fail to meet these high expectations.

No one should go to such extremes when faced with such oppressive demands that limit one’s freedom and quality of life. We should learn from this discipline in Japan.

We should be inspired by their integrity and perseverance, but we should not go to psychological extremes.