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analyzing and compiling papers on the historical documents found in the former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
