近江商人ブログ | Ohmi Merchant Blog

English Language Edition Preface（The STORY OF JAPAN’S OHMI MERCHANTS－The Precept of Sanpo-yoshi）

 

My research into the Ohmi merchants, who can be called the originators of Japanese-style management, seeks to better understand the unique aspects and universality of Japanese-style management by discovering, analyzing and compiling papers on the historical documents found in the former homes and warehouses of merchants.

The Ohmi merchants have a long history. In Japan, the mercantile industry made its first appearance around the 12th century. From the very beginning, the farmers of the Ohmi region served as zashonin (Guild merchants) merchants who held special rights, and traded with the regions neighboring the Ohmi province during the agricultural off-season. The dedicated Ohmi merchants we know today appeared at the end of the 16th century. From that point onward, the Ohmi merchants expanded their trading territory throughout all of Japan, and even developed markets on the Asian continent and North and South America after the conclusion of trade treaties with the western powers in 1859. Today, many of the oldest companies in Japan can trace their roots to the Ohmi merchants.

In being chosen to become part of the “JAPAN LIBRARY” published by JPIC, Three-Way Satisfaction – The Story of Japanese Ohmi Merchant will be the first English-language publication in the long history of research into the Ohmi merchants. I am thrilled the achievements of the Ohmi merchants, which covered a vast geographical area and are still felt today, will now have a chance to be known in throughout the world.

The original Japanese-language edition of Three-Way Satisfaction – The Story of Japanese Ohmi Merchant was written with the general public of Japan in mind, which meant many aspects of common knowledge in Japan required no explanation. That knowledge is not common outside Japan, however, and I therefore thoroughly reviewed the text of the book for the English-language edition, revising difficult-to-understand passages, adding new passages to provide additional background not found in the original version,  and giving annotations to aid greater understanding.

Long-term sustainability, rather than the pursuit of profit, forms the very essence of Japanese business. This point is starkly different from what is taught in U.S. university and graduate school business management courses, and may accordingly cause some initial bewilderment. That being said, while the principle of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, is seeing increased adoption in businesses globally today, there is no doubt that some corporations outside Japan have also long adhered to principles similar to the sanpo-yoshi  triple win philosophy of the Ohmi merchants, who founded their practices on the tenets of Buddhism.

In presenting the achievements of the Ohmi merchants, who devoted themselves to organizational sustainability, refrained from charging high interest rates and placed the common good ahead of profit, it is my wish that this book will spark new interest in Japanese-style management and provide hints for the direction of business activities going forward.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Kunitoshi Suenaga

at Seiran-tei, Kyoto