Naoki Hanzawa, well know Japanese TV drama, which has become a trend or phenomena in Japan, demonstrated a lot of issues in Japanese society.

 Mr. Hiroyuki Kobayashi, former top mega bank banker, highlights those issues over this program through his SNS together with his comments.

https://www.facebook.com/hiroyuki.kobayashi.31/posts/3101415693241079

 

(https://www.tbs.co.jp/hanzawa_naoki/)

One of the wired topics demonstrated in the drama is Bank president’s attitudes. I also found his attitude inappropriate however, this is exactly the representation of Japanese leader’s mindset.

Vice president has been involved in a large scale of fraud: window dressing accounting of their  client company.

Bank has been under the pressure of out of license.

Bank has been under doubts of being involved in a conspiracy associated with politicians.

Bank has a tremendous risk of write off due to the bankruptcy of one of top airline companies.

 

(https://www.tbs.co.jp/hanzawa_naoki/)

Above are perils that Bank has been encountered through the plots. Under each crisis, all what president did were

1) asking management board and staffs opinion.

2) ignoring both explicit and implicit risks.

3) said “understand”, upon listening to the staff’s reporting

(https://www.tbs.co.jp/hanzawa_naoki/)

Well, that’s it.

 

Mr. Kobayashi as well as other many Japanese, including I, got frustrated in watching presidents’ attitudes. He lacks leadership in many ways: never shared his views and visions with staffs, showed clear direction of where the bank goes, investigate the root causes, nor provide any solutions with clear & convincing reasons.

I totally understand Kobayashi’s frustration. I just briefly analyzed the pros and cons of such top management.

 

Pros

  • encourage staffs’ problem solving skills
  • maintain the traditional management style
  • inspire staffs risk management instincts
  • remain in the position of controllable bank from the government

Cons

  • job losing risks for employees
  • triggering JPs recession upon its being merged or bankruptcy
  • losing competitiveness due to low compliance measures
  • losing competent human resources

 

In Japan, from 60s to 80s, we experienced so called high growth. We had a full of entrepreneurship spirits and enjoyed our progress. Now those were good old days for us. Most leaders had become conservative to maintain the statis quo, and wanted to complete their tenure without any large trouble. Japanese society or established business model has been gradually collapsed internally. However, no one wanted to make the radical change or starting from the scratch. Hanzawa Naoki looked a sort of rebellion against the system. Interestingly, majority of us Japanese seem to support Naoki, as he represents out voice.

 

I am not sure if we can find Naoki in our world or not. However, looking at Pros that idiot like leaders unintentionally brought about, some talented staffs may survive under the harsh environment, as they positively take all the events as opportunities. I would like to support those talents.

 

Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com

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