The Image Of Work And The Ideal Leadership In Shujū Kokoroegusa, “The Manual Of Master And Servant"

Deeply rooted in the synthesis of Confucian, Shinto and Buddhist ideas that characterized the 18th century Japanese philosophy called Shingaku (“education of the heart”), Japanese management is an internalized activity whose principles are seldom explicitly expressed. As a result, Japanese managers often find themselves in a difficult position when pressed for expressing their principles explicitly. Our research discusses the characteristics of Japanese management and highlights the religious influences and tradition that shape the behavioral and social-institutional context of Japanese leadership and management. In doing so, the research attempts to shed light on how organizations can enhance their cultural intelligence, leadership styles, management training, and corporate culture more especially when dealing with Japanese companies and employees. The research also delves into the concepts of work/labor, lifetime training, ethical leadership, and corporate social responsibility. Despite being hundreds of years old, the principles written in the “The Handbook of Master and Employee” are worth looking into due to their timeliness and relevance in the age of globalization, digitization, increasing consumer pragmatism, and resilience amidst global pandemics.