Risk Learning

Although Japan is obviously entering a new era in the 21^st century, symbolically shown as information technologies or globalization, it seems to me that the small country has not fully been able to catch up with these new trends. Some people, some companies are rather much advanced in such fields. Regardless of whether or not we like it, we are compelled to follow the today’s trends while it remains doubtful that we for sure know the substantial nature of the new era. Furthermore, the today's trends are developing so speedily that we are dependent on existing technologies and systems on one side, on the other side, we are behind them. Namely, we are losing risk minds while new risks are sneaking to Japan and its people. Japan is experiencing the very turning point.

Today’s societies in any country are so complex and diversified that even the inhabitant people in one country don’t know what’s going on. Exactly saying, there are so many things happening every day that people are paralyzed by these events. Especially, so many pieces of bad news flow as an arrow every day. We get accustomed to such news that we take much of bad news as a matter of course. Japan is not exceptional. Japan is exposed to too much news mostly through media including TV, magazines and so on. Contrarily, information in foreign languages seems to be limited to foreigners. Actually since some English daily newspaper are available in some big stations, you obtain certain level of information in English on Japan. But these pieces of information are released a little superficially and at random every time incidents happen. It’s doubtful that they are instructive. This can be said in the Japanese language. Here is necessity we have to recognize the risks existing in Japan and learn how to deal with those risks according to some principals.

How about books, which systematically put together certain information. To write about my experience. When I went to some established bookstores in Tokyo to look for instructive books in English on Japan or the life in Japan, I could find the corners on Japan easier (many of the big bookstores have the crooners on foreign book’s floor). Most of the books on the shelves were about positive sides on Japan such as the culture, travel, sports and so forth. In the business corners too, many titles of those books have something to do with the success of Japanese business.

There are, however, only a few books writing about negative sides on Japan. When foreigners coming to Japan, who don't know so much about the country, it would be troublesome. Arising out of ignorance, it could lead to serious incidents to them. I know that foreign visitors at bookstores tend to turn their eyes to the books whose titles are something interesting or positive sides. However, such information as the risks in Japan is the same important as something good because it could affect your life. As a result, you will come to understand that this kind of book is in truth very positive for your better life in Japan and your countries.

The purpose of this book is mainly to provide foreigners coming to Japan with information on the risks and the essence of risk management. Moreover, I wish Japanese people read this book to develop risk minds. Now is time in Japan when the safety myth has collapsed already. I believe that this book will be very instructive for your better life in the no longer safe country. As I emphasize later, I would like to insist that risk is "not" the one that we fear, but that we live with by recognizing it fairly. In the process of confronting risks, the uncertain factors may direct us to the good way. I'm very glad if this book is helpful to your life in Japan even back to your countries. Good luck!