By Ishaya Ibrahim
For two days, academicians explored the study of Japan. The Lead City University, Ibadan, played host to the event organised by the African Association for Japanese Studies. It held from October 8 to 10.
The ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Yukata Kikuta, was at the opening of the ceremony from start to finish.
The vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, who also doubles as the association’s grand-patron, was also present.
The keynote speaker was a history professor at the University of Lagos, Ayodeji Olukoju.
He said Japan provides the world with an interesting history of its rise from the margins of South-East Asia to a superpower.
Olukoju, who spoke on the theme: History and Identity, as Comparative Indices in Japanese Studies in Africa, said: “Japan is an enigma that people could not understand. The Japanese have a common sense of national essence. It is their natural and spiritual identity,” he said.
This essence, he explained, is referred to as Kokutai, which is the rallying ideology for its national ethos.
He explained another Japanese ideology, Hataraku. He said the concept shows the commitment to work of the Japanese.
He said hard work in Japan connotes high achievement and going beyond the call of duty.
“There is a greeting in Japan that asks about your fitness. The fitness is your ability to work,” he said.
He said in Japan, workers do not try to outperform one another. They carry everybody in solidarity of purpose because they have a sense of belonging to the firm.
He said a Japanese feels embarrassed if he or she fails to perform their assigned duty.
He also highlighted the downside of the philosophy which includes working between 12 and 14 hours daily. He said it has resulted in death due to overwork.
Olukoju, former vice chancellor of Caleb University also said the third ideology of the Japanese is Atarashi, meaning, innovation.
He said the Japanese do not only adopt foreign innovation, but they also reinvented them to suit their local needs.
The professor who is an expert in economic history said those ideologies were the propellant for Japan’s rise from neo-colonial status in 1850 to a superpower. He said the feat has no precedent in history.
He, however, said the ideologies have their downside. For instance, he said kokutai, at some point in the country’s history, led to ultra patriotism which evolved to military expansionism. It has now been modified to reflect the post-world war eras.
He also said the Japanese have a national culture that views mistakes as a shame. This, he said, has led to a high suicide rate.
He said the lesson for Nigeria is that no nation can develop without a galvanizing ideology. He said the ideology gives purpose and direction to the citizens.
Kikuta, the Japanese ambassador, said his country’s relationship with Nigeria has resulted in development assistance, trade and investment, culture and education exchange.
The convener of the conference, Adedoyin Aguoro, said the platform provides an opportunity for Nigeria and Japan to explore more in the mutually beneficial relationship.
