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8/12/1964 - Notes on interviews and attitudes in Japan by C. H. G. Oldham

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS CHG0 Notes Intervlews attitudes Japan Lugard Road Hong Kon6 August Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madlson Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte I Just spent interesting frustrating months entire Institute Japan As other Asian countries I visited objective about impact science society Of necessity involved talking great people walks university professors administrators government officials various ministries industrialists politicians businessmen scientists research laboratories newspaper Nowhere I encounter polite evasion questions I Japan Part difficulty language barrier But problem The typical interview would somewhat follows I would letter introduction perhaps mutual friend would telephone arrange interview I would arrive introduced Visltin cards would exchanged We would usually Victorian chairs around table 8reen would served I would begin explaining project During these preliminaries prospective interviewee would looking anles light though expectin6 invisible writing I coming I afraid I quite understand working exactly Institute Current World ffairs I would explain nobody really believed there could enlightened I described It I would abandon approach stress unofficial connection University Toronto This better Some heard Tuzo Wilson professor instigator project Sometimes sizing would fifteen minutes Then decision would placed rather deliberately table What I I would breath inaudible relief plunge first hurdle In interview questions merely unlock other One starts specific questions leads gsneral hopin8 establish rapport which frank expression opinions In about every interviews Japan happen For specific questions people would trouble CHGO answers I statistics official handbooks I existed But eneral questions seekin opinions facts I struck brick nowhere This always occasions I someone rapport established would probe parry thrust three hours stretch These exciting interviews which others partlcularly flrst between sAfter particularly frustrating Larry Olson A U F American Universities Field Staff problems Larry lived Japan years widey rearded astute observers Japanese scene He laughed showed New Dimensions Jpau In introduction described experence collecting materal A U F S reports It almost identical I gathered reasons difficulty communications stems paternalistic employment system Once employed either 8overnment university industry Japanese almost always their employer throughout their workin lives Promotion comes throush seniority rather merit employees content Jog trying mistakes Hence unusual situation thrust Larry Olson myself avoid saying anythln which cause embarrassment later oo0oo Two interviews usual pattern about Japanese science They however E insight contrasting Japanese attitudes attitudes which I learnt later representative fairly large segments Japanese society The first interview place Osaka second largest Jpanese cuter steel industry There I talked Mr Sato president large trading company I glven mutual frlend advice Go Osaka speaks English He indeed About sixty years callm himself oldtime Japanese conservative Buddhlst monastery My interests literature Zen Buddhism I nothing about science Science however caught company We employ scientists engineers machinery salesmen years I talked getting electronic computer But I really under stand these things I decided retire younger Mr Satm regretted intrusion science technology traditional Japanese accepted inevitable Japan first Western society sacrificed altar science He recognized science brought benefits country inevitable perhaps desirable countries towards international world culture science vanguard If could retaining traditions customs beinE replaced offspring science Other Asian countries following example In become modern dlscardin their itions unfortunately world present contribution world culture minimal The other interview quite different It nineteen Hiroshima In sense I Hiroshima pilgrimage Not marked important milestone subject which thanks ICWA I committed impact science soclety At first I thought being birthplace subject Certainly never before Hiroshima scientists laymen conscious science society Never after Hiro shima could scientists their laboratories concern mankind But second thoughts contact conflict science politics science reliEion Galileo beyond Nor Hiroshima coming science affairs universities accept legitimate subject academic notulte arrived instead I decided Hiroshima marked sudden onset adolescence It these thoughts running through I arrived Hiroshima Japan super deluxe limited express trains Osaka It sunny Saturday afternoon I Tokyo Monday morning With limited I decided guided quick overall after which I could return those places which interested It fortunate decision Not because because enabled Japanese lived since three years received school college education there She guide Her unemotional delivery information about destruction prompted inquire about views The small atmosphere about It course letely rebuilt There little remind visitor Hiroshima What there somehow pathetically inadequate overall impression small efforts commemorate significant events history mankind It doesn quite The famous exhibition which hypocenter memorial There rather Many names suggested subject Among science science social science science scientology subject X science affairs None entirely satisfactory I science affairs descriptive CHGO Eruesome museum relics photoEraphs Park memorials One memorial dedicated Hiroshlma citizens result The other erected donations children Japan touching One Japan paper folding Japanese children making paper birds It custom children garlands birds which supposed recover One child suffering radiation sickness before could complete garland Her story touched hearts Japanese children money raised build memorial other children result It particularly striking deeply moving because literally thousands completed garlands paper birds brought visltln school children After I talked guide asked about attitude classmates school college Frankly hardly discussed I asked friends realized significant Hiroshlma become world Since I guide I beEun realize before I think I asked about older people What parents think Oh people Hiroshima would prefer forget whole thing Many would There bitterness hardly interest ThoUgh serious educated friends history present So worry about future The fitted Mr Sato description younger whlch despaired She Western clothes requently Western Western furniture She lessons flower arranging ceremony eneratlon satisfy interests tourists during guide Mr Sato young guide insight conflictin attitudes which Japan meteoric modernization produced Yours sincerely C H G 01dham Received In New York August