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Article: Japan's quartet of important advisors.
- Article from:
- Contemporary Review
- Article date:
- April 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Contemporary Review Company Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Chukoku - the Japanese way of advice - is very much alive in the country. Not for nothing do the Japanese prize the counsel of those who have been the nation's leaders. In a land where the led are reluctant to be leaders, the high-fliers who have achieved prominence in the civil service and private commerce, are, on retirement invited to become advisors on all matters; the Japanese call the process amakudari ('descending from heaven').
As Japan looks to solve the problems and challenges it has never had to face before - from no more employment for life to a re-vamped international role - the media clamour for advice for self-help articles and sound bites on every ...