AN INTRODUCTION TO WA: An Application to Business and Commerce in the Modern World

AN INTRODUCTION TO WA:

An Application to Business and Commerce in the Modern World

Wa, a traditional concept unique to Japan and derived from the ancient meaning of peace and harmony, which today can be regarded as close associations or “circles”, is the key to Japanese economic success because it gives them a significant advantage over Western nations. In Japan, employees and managers function in human orientated “circles” instead of the series of horizontal layers favored by Western management:

. . . Wa incorporates mutual trust between management and labor, unselfish cooperation between management and labor, harmonious relations among employees on all levels, unstinting loyalty to the company, mutual responsibility, job security, freedom from competitive pressure from other employees, and collective responsibility for both decisions and results.

Boye DeMente, Japanese Etiquette and Ethics in Business,

1993, NTC Publishing Group.

As we will see in future articles, the Way of Wa, or Wa-Dō, and all it has to offer extends well beyond business and commerce and can be applied directly to our everyday lives and how we relate to ourselves, our friends and family, and our community.

Konosuke Matsushita codified Wa into seven objectives called the Way of Wa:

Seven Commandments of “Wa“:

• National Service Through Industry
• Harmony
• Cooperation
• Struggle for Betterment
• Courtesy and Humility
• Adjustment and Assimilation
• Gratitude

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