When you hear "black", what do you imagine? Color?People?Coffee?
These days, Japanese mass media often uses black when they address companies which require long-hours and hard work to their employees with cheap salaries. Employees of the black companies often quit their jobs within a few year.
The interesting question is "What is the blackest company in Japan?"
I guess one of the answers is Japanese Diet.
A few days ago, Japaese prime minister resigned. Dr. Hatoyama (figure left), who got PhD in Stanford (!), finished his 262 day's work as the Japanese Prime minister. His term was the shortest by a Japanese leader since 1994 and cast doubt on the ability of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to deliver on its promise of change. He is the forth person who resigned before the end of their term, consequently. I do not know companies whose presidents resign in a year again and again.
He had initially promised to move a U.S. base in Futenma of Okinawa off the island but last week he broke the pledge and decided to keep it there, caving in to the Obama administration but enraging Okinawans and his pacifist coalition partners the Social Democrats. U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture represent 75% of U.S. base in Japan. Erase the burden of U.S. bases in Okinawa was the most important issue for new Japanese administration.
However, they cannot suggest alternative plan to U.S. Unfortunately, the Obama administration declined to move the base outside of Japan. In addition, no prefectures wants to accept the move of base into their locations. Prime minister Hatoyama also had a financial scandal about money from his mother last year. In the process of negotiation and scandal, the cabinet's approval rating has been decreasing. The rate finally became less than 20% and he had to resign.
Currently, Japanese political situation is so chaotic that a lot of change occurring whether bad things or good things. Some of you may know the re-evaluations of government-funded projects. After Japanese primary party changed, the administration decided to reduce the budget. Unfortunately, budget for science or higher education do not attract voter, they intentionally reduce the money for science and funding for young scientists. The institution of colleague of my advisor also received the deep cut.
Japanese finance is awful. The annual budget of this year is 920 billion dollars and 440 billion dollars are national bonds. Most of Japanese national bonds are purchased by Japanese. Some experts say that the rate of bonds purchased by Japanese guarantee the enhancement of economy in total, but too much rate of bonds may collapse their credit. Current Japanese economy looks like a huge castle made by sand.
I hope the politics of Japan must be improved after overcoming their problems. I have to say, however, the chaotic situation seems to continue at least in a several years. The situation reminds me of one of my advisor's voice:
"You seems to leave Japan in a good timing..."
I have to admit his opinion so far.
"THE MOST DANGEROUS COMPANY IN JAPAN"
