To Be Continued

Karen Zheung

AP L&C, Period 7

June 17, 2013

To Be Determined

        Who am I? And why am I here? Those two questions that plagued philosophers and great thinkers for centuries seem to be the bane of our existence. But upon the discovery of answer to those questions will our existence suddenly become more meaningful? Will the fighting finally cease as we drop our weapons in a race to embrace each other? Most likely not. Middle Eastern men will continue to be discriminated by their beards1, minorities will continue to work for a barely sustainable salary2, and the LGBT society will continue to fight for marriage rights3. Perhaps the answers that we are searching for won’t save the world. Then why do people still try?

From the moment our small bloody infant bodies slide out of our mother’s womb we begin a new story, marking another point in the timeline of humanity. November 7, 1996 is the day where I along with hundreds other was born into this world. And though I have lived for almost 17 years I do not have any remarkable experiences to share or meaningful advice to give. I cannot tell you a story as deep and emotional as Toni Morrison.  Her fictional yet very real character, Pecola4 conveys a sad reality-- that we are all bound to the standards of white beauty-- better than I ever will. Blue eyes, white skin, super thin: that is the criteria for one to be considered pretty. While it may not be so evident in our Fairfield County with white teenage girls getting spray tans, it becomes flagrant when I walk into the Chinatown stores and see the double eyelid glue for sale, the color-changing circle lens on display, and the expensive skin whitening products carefully stacked in pretty little boxes labeled with the faces of Asian models that have all undergone cosmetic surgery to make their noses longer and eyes bigger. And though I want to say that I am unaffected by this I know that I have fallen prey this belief at one point in my life.

I sit next to my dad in the car with the windows rolled down, enjoying the breeze that runs through my hair as I admire the beauty of the small white town marked by success called Darien. But soon my hair is knotted by the wind and I am reminded that I do not live in big house, I do not have parents with lucrative jobs, and I do not have the latest iphone or fashionable clothes. Although these superficial things don’t usually matter to me they do at that moment as I am reminded that I do not have white skin. But the damage that this does to me is very minimal compared the women that were “rudely and brutally exposed to the shocking gaze of American slave-buyers”5 (Douglass 11) and the Japanese that were living within barbed wires6. We are all different people that share the same fundamental core. Between my yellow skin, your white skin, his black skin, and her red skin we all carbon based life forms containing the same organic molecules7. “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman 32). When broken down, the basic components of the human body are “water 35 L, carbon 20 kg, ammonia 4 L, lime 1.5 kg, phosphorous 800g, salt 250g, saltpeter 100g, sulfur 80g, fluorine 7.5g, iron 5g, silicon 3g, and trace amounts of 15 other elements."8 Despite our similar chemical makeup we treat each other differently based on the outside rather than the inside.

Though I am part of the minority, I’m not at the same time. Does someone like me have the right to tell others about my “struggles” as a second generation Chinese immigrant, when I can’t even speak my native dialect anymore? I wasn’t able to console my mother when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I couldn’t find the right words to express my thoughts when she started wearing a hat at home to hide her “ugly bald head”.  I cannot blame this lack of communication on anyone but myself. I have never been openly discriminated against, forced to “speak American”9, or teased for my slanted eyes and yellow skin to the point where I long to be someone else. “Wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out”10 (Anzaldua 36). My tongue was not cut by the white man or anyone else. I had cut it off myself. In order to distance myself from the things that made me more aware of who I was and wasn’t I plunged my being into a digital world where watching cartoons and reading comics was all that matter. But now I am coming out of that world as my story through this manifesto.

Regardless of what that story is, the mode in which they are being recorded is undoubtedly changing. What started out as cryptic paintings inside a prehistoric cave has slowly evolved into grandiose ideas being printed on books for mass production and dissemination to the people mimicking the growth of a human, from the nonsensical ramblings of a child to the heated and insightful debates held between adults. While I sit here typing my manifesto to be posted and shared on the cyber world, our forefathers dipped their quill pen in the ink as they carefully formulated the documents we now hold as the foundation of the philosophies that define America. Perhaps my actions are being reflected this very moment by a being centuries ahead on a machine grander than the almighty computer and motherboard. However texts aren’t the only forms of storytelling. In this digitalized era, movies and animations are quickly rising in popularity. Fossilized poetry11 won’t be the only remnants of human thought. Our generation will leave behind a mass of videos varying from the downfall of Flint, Michigan12 to the sweet Disney movies of Beauty and the Beast. The future will never have any confusion as to how extinct animals once looked like, unlike the scientists of today, who spend countless hours pondering the true color of a dinosaur’s hide. But whether or not this new mode of writing is better cannot fully be determined. A better question to ask would be: will our testimonies be able to stand the weight of time? Considering that hundreds of artifacts have been scavenged from various historical sites it’s probable that our stories will last as well. However with the majority of this era’s information being stored on the database of the internet there runs a risk of it being forever lost due to some unprecedented power crash or universal bad wifi. The intangible nature of digital information makes our generation’s legacy more easily lost than any before us. Will my effort and hours of pain all go to waste if I cannot guarantee that this will still exist in 2100? Or even 3013?

Do the great writers and thinkers before us turn in their graves? For men have become the tools of their tool13. Will the men and women above us shake their heads at our overdependence on technology? The day when humans are plugged into a matrix may not be too far off at this point14. It seems as if our generation will leave behind nothing but the obesity of fast food, the danger of nuclear warfare, and a polluted environment. As your pupil in the art of rhetoric and social change I could take this task on, but what good will come of it when I lack both the motivation and aggressiveness that Frederick Douglass15 displayed in “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, before the President? How will I ever be able to answer to Emerson’s call for an American Poet?16 How can I possibly fill the job description that Whitman’s Song of Myself had so wonderfully and erotically done?17 I can’t love the grass as passionately as he, nor am I ambitious enough to try.  Churchill will be remembered for his patriotic speeches18, Goebbels for his frightening ability to rally a nation19, and Hirohito as the Emperor that gracefully saved Japan20 while I will be……famous for my anime obsession?  Is this really the legacy that Karen Zheung will leave behind for generations—if it’s even remembered for that long?

I have already accepted the fact the fact that I probably won’t amount to much. After all, my purpose here is not to become a household name. I do not desire to have my existence etched into a high school history textbook as a politician, a criminal, or one that has been wronged by the American system. At this point the easiest solution may be to just follow Thoreau in a life of solitude in the woods21. So do I give up now? Does my journey for purpose and self-worth end here-- in my junior year of high school? Even so, I choose not to lead a quiet of quiet desperation22.  My writing may never elicit the same reaction23 that June Jordan did, or predict an accurate economic future24 as Alan Blinder’s, but then again I am not so noble. I do not wish to lead a rebellion or even start one. Rather being a leader, an instigator, or a follower, I will be my own person.  But of course none of that can be said or written with a hundred percent certainty. Remember, しわが一つずつ増えていく25。Eventually I be laid under the “uncut hair of graves” (37)26. But before that happens I will live a modest life. I will try my best so when I become part of nature I will not have any lingering regrets because even after my journey comes to an end. Honestly, I cannot tell you my exact position with the world and universe. I cannot tell you that I will go out into the world and create some big social change. Therefore I’m not going to promise any of that to myself because it’s pointless.

I’m a junior soon to be senior and I realized that I will probably never find out why I’m really here or how much I’m really worth. Even if I found that answer, I wouldn’t even know what to do with it. My future have yet to be determined so I won’t spend this moment mulling over it. So rather than writing down whatever sounds good on paper I’ll tell you the truth and that is I’m going to die; we all are. Which is why I will strive my hardest to live, take everything in right here and now. So that when it’s my turn to function as one of the many blades beneath your feet I will be able to become the foundation that the world is built on.

End Notes

1: . Middle Eastern men will continue to be discriminated by their beards- Reluctant Fundalmentalist

2: minorities will continue to work for a barely sustainable salary- Fast Food Nation

3: LGBT society will continue to fight for marriage rights- Same-sex marriage bill falls short in Illinois CBS News

4: Pecola- The Bluest Eye  Toni Morrison

5: “rudely and brutally exposed to the shocking gaze of American slave-buyers”- “To What The Slave is The Fourth of July?”  Frederick Douglass

6: Japanese that were living within barbed wires - Adventures in Japanese 4 Cultural Lessons

7: carbon based life forms containing the same organic molecules- Prentice Hall Chemistry

8: are “water 35 L, carbon 20 kg, ammonia 4 L, lime 1.5 kg, phosphorous 800g, salt 250g, saltpeter 100g, sulfur 80g, fluorine 7.5g, iron 5g, silicon 3g, and trace amounts of 15 other elements."- Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

9: “speak American”-How to Tame a Wild Tongue Anzaldua

10: “Wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out” ”-How to Tame a Wild Tongue Anzaldua

11: Fossilized Poetry- The Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson

12: the downfall of Flint, Michigan- Roger and Me

13: For men have become the tools of their tool- Walden Henry David Thoreau

14: The day when humans are plugged into a matrix may not be too far off at this point- The Matrix

15: motivation and aggressiveness- “To What the Slave is the Fourth of July” Frederick Douglass

16: How will I ever be able to answer to Emerson’s call for an American Poet?- The Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson

17: fill the job description- “Song of Myself” Walt Whitman

18: patriotic speeches- WWII speeches Winston Churchill

19: frightening ability to rally a nation- WWII speeches Joseph Goebbels

20: Emperor that gracefully saved Japan- Emperor Hirohito WWII unconditional surrender speech

21: life of solitude in the woods- Walden Henry David Thoreau

22: lead a quiet of quiet desperation- Walden Henry David Thoreau

23: the same reaction- June Jordan

24: or predict an accurate economic future- Alan Blinder

25: Remember, しわが一つずつ増えていく- Wrinkle (しわ) by Gumi (Song)

26: Eventually I be laid under the “uncut hair of graves”- “Song of Myself” Walt Whitman

Barf Blog Review

Criteria:

-Current Events 

-Activity (posting consistently)

- Humor 

- Visuals (not boring or tiring to the eyes)

- Engaging voice 

- Easy navigation 

-Language

- Relevance (can we relate to) 

- Evidence (facts, statistics, something to back up)

- Deeper Insight 

BarfBlog Review:

Of our living necessities as a human being food tends to be the one that plagues our mind the most whether it’s the gross school lunch, a nice home cook meal, a snack before a game, or even hundreds of miles away wondering when your next meal will be. Whether you’re craving it or hiding from it, food will continue to stalk us through the endless advertisements, the grocery store and even in confront of our own home.  The Barfblog, managed by Douglas Powell, Ben Chapman and Amy Hubbell reports many food-related incidents, exposing the mendacious food industries’ shocking and disgusting secrets.

On a superficial level the Barfblog is appealing enough to catch one’s attention without having to actually read the post. The overall layout of the site is pretty simple. With the search bar, archive and category options one can easily navigate through the posts and choose a topic of their interest or find a post several months back. The pictures along with the lengthy but intriguing titles also gravitates the audience in. Who wouldn’t be interested in “elephant poop beer” or “sex cereal” or a picture of a dog cleaning up its own feces?

The contents of the post don’t fall short of our expectations either. Powell uses humor to keep the audience interested in the issues of food safety that have already been overplayed. The balance of jokes and information is enough to get the readers to continue. His opinions are also backed up by facts and statistics making it more than a ranting page. Each post comes from a recent story seen in the media and news. His discussion on the E. coli, the FDA budget cuts and salmonella relate back to his audience and provides further insight on the food industry. Barfblog’s ability to stay up to date and active in its posting shows the author’s commitment on this issue. Along with their credentials it gives the reader the sense that what they are reading is accurate or at least more accurate than what the corporations report or don’t report. Although it is biased in only reporting the evils of the food industry, it’s engaging enough for all audiences.

We all view food as the fuel to live, but is it really? Food has done a lot more damage than it should. People have suffered from food poisoning and died in more serious cases of contamination.  Next time your shopping for food be sure to stop by the barfblog.

Revision

拌面 and 扁肉. Those were my favorite foods as a child. Living in China, not a day went by when I didn’t get my share. Although my grandmother would laugh at my obsession she’d still comply. My childhood recollection is blurred, but I can still remember the peanut buttery taste.

This is my daily meal. Breakfast: nothing. Lunch: salad. Dinner: steamed broccoli. Not interesting but healthy, I believe. Sometimes it changes when my mother cooks. The amount of Chinese food I consume has decreased significantly since entering elementary school.

My grandmother often comments on how I’ve changed since moving to America. She tells me that I used to dance everyday. Currently, dancing is something I would never do. Food is what she remembers the most. “You don’t eat as much anymore, especially meat. You used to love eating meat!” During elementary school, on vacations I’d visit her in New York and each time she’d cook lots and lots.

Primary school. It’s the one stage that I wish didn’t remember.  Upon my arrival, my English was limited. Being the only Asian in class it was always awkward. Right after nap time, was snack time. The other kids would take out their cookies, animal shaped crackers, and chips all carefully packed into zip lock bag by their parents. From my bag I withdrew a red bag of small shrimp tailed chips. My snack was different.

“Where’s your snack?” I hated that question. When I stopped partaking in the ritual of snacking, my teacher began to give me hers. Although it was American and I would no longer be asked “what is that” I wasn’t satisfied.

Around middle school my grandmother began to predict the future. She’d still cook a lot during my stay but not as much. “Does it taste good? You’re American now. Would you rather eat pizza?”  I repeatedly told her that it was fine, but she didn’t seem to believe me. “When you get older you’re going to get sick and tired of coming here.” I immediately denied that claim. Thinking about it was enough to make me cry.

Since I started high school I have visited her about two or three times.

 My grandmother would call me a several times a month with my health dominating the conversations. “Did you eat yet? You have to eat properly. Make sure you don’t starve.” My answers were either a “yes” or “okay”. I’d say more, but I don’t know how.

Now, I only receive calls from my father asking when I get out of school.

I studied Chinese for two years, but have yet to use it at home. My attempts are always halted by the image of my accent and pronunciation being teased.

A couple months ago my mother asked me what my favorite food was. I told her I didn’t know because I don’t. But whenever she makes 拌面 I never reject it. A part of me still craves the peanut buttery taste from thirteen years ago.

What kind of marriage is this?

JUSTICE GINSBURG: Mr. Clement, the problem

is if we are totally for the States' decision that there

is a marriage between two people, for the Federal

Government then to come in to say no joint return, no

marital deduction, no Social Security benefits; your

spouse is very sick but you can't get leave; people -­

if that set of attributes, one might well ask, what kind

of marriage is this?

We people marry it’s for various reasons and it’s assumed that they’re hoping to benefit from the marriage. With the DOMA same-sex couples married in one state may moved to another state and no longer be recognized as married, losing the federal benefits granted to them. Justice Ginsburg makes a good argument by pointing out what we value in a marriage and questioning the moral of it.

Here, Justice Ginsburg to speaking to Mr.Clement, but her real audience goes far beyond the physical courtroom.  Justice Ginsburg is also speaking to those in the nation that care enough about DOMA to read/listen to it. When considering her very wide audience, not everyone will understand the abstruse way of the court, the jargon, or many of the other cases that are constantly being referred to.

When Justice Ginsburg makes her argument or raises her point, she starts out with the big picture moving down the smaller picture. She goes into the specifics as she mentions joint return, marital deduction and social security benefits, which is useful because most of the audience will understand what they are and their importance to marriage.  Keeping the audience in mind, the question is straight to the point. By using simple diction it avoids confusion in addition to making the question stand out.

What allows Justice Ginsburg’s argument to work is that we, as humans have feelings and certain values. When she questions what kind of marriage has ”no joint return, no marital deduction, no Social Security benefits” she’s basing this on the assumption that we as people value these factors in a marriage. Aside from the marriage status and having your love for another legally recognized, it’s safe to say that the federal benefits granted in marriage is what makes it so appealing. It can be argued that loving one another is enough for a marriage but when “your spouse is very sick” and “you can't get leave” those benefits be a lot more vital. The warrants for her claims are valid as well leading the audience to admit that such a marriage isn’t much of a marriage.

The tone is professional but also personal towards the end where it hits home. She uses examples that the audience can easily relate to that really raises the importance of the question. Most of the arguments against DOMA are that it’s unconstitutional and unfair for the reason that a couple may be married but receive nothing from it.  This question also challenges the defenders of the DOMA on what they believe marriage is. If they believe that it’s the federal benefits that are really the foundation for marriage then to deny them to a same-sex couples that is already married is really questionable  to whether or not it’s constitutional. 

Food Blog

拌面 and 扁肉. Those were my favorite foods as a child. Living in China, not a day went by when I didn’t get my fill of it. Although my grandmother and mother would laugh at my obsession they would still comply with my wishes. My recollection of my childhood and few and blurred but I can still faintly remember the peanut buttery taste.

This is my daily meal. Breakfast: nothing. Lunch: salad. Dinner: steamed broccoli. Not that interesting but healthy I believe. Sometimes it gets switched up when my mother cooks. The amount of Chinese food (not the ones in take out restaurants) or non-western food I consume has decreased significantly.

My grandmother often comments on how I’ve changed since moving to America. According to her my extroverted personality has changed. She tells me about how I would dance everyday for the other adults. Currently, dancing is something I would never do. However food is what she talks about the most. “You don’t eat as much anymore, especially meat. You used to love eating meat!” During elementary school on vacations I’d visit my grandmother in New York and each time she’d cook lots and lots.

Primary school. It’s the one part of my life that I wish I had couldn’t remember. If possible I’d exchange it for a blank slate. Upon my arrival my English was limited and being the only Asian child in class it was always very awkward. Right after nap time, it was snack time. The other kids would take out their cookies and animal shaped crackers and chips all carefully packed into zip lock bag by their parents. From my bag I withdrew a red bag of small shrimp tailed chips. My snack was definitely different from the others.

“Where’s your snack?” I hated that question. When I stopped partaking in the ritual of eating after napping, my teacher began to give me her snacks. Although they were American and I would no longer be asked “what is that” I wasn’t satisfied with it.

Around middle school my grandmother began to predict the future. She would still cook a lot during our stay but just not as much as she used too. “Does it taste good? You’re American now. Would you rather eat pizza?” Although I repeatedly told her that it was fine she didn’t seem to believe me. “When you get older you’re going to get sick and tired of coming here. You’ll stop coming here.” I remember how I immediately denied that claim. Just the thought of it was enough to make me cry as child.

Since I started high school I’ve went to visit her about two or three times.

CGS is a really unique school. I never expected that there’d be school focusing on Asia and the Middle East and I never expected that there’d be so many students.

I always hated phone calls. They’re annoying and I never know what to say. My grandmother would call me a several times a months. How are you doing, is school fun, etc. She was particularly interested in health. “Did you eat yet? You have to eat properly. Make sure you don’t starve.”  My answers were either a “yes” or “okay”.

The only phone calls I ever receive now are from my father asking when I get out of school. I still think phone calls are a waste of time but those short conversations were nice.

Thanks to CGS I was able to study Chinese for two years, but I have yet to use it at home. When the thought of them laughing at my American accent and horrible pronunciation comes to mind I don’t really feel like showing them my improvement. However I am still Chinese, even though I’ve lost my mother tongue.

A couple months ago my mother asked me what my favorite food was. I told her I didn’t know because I didn’t. But whenever she makes拌面 I never reject it. A part of me still craves the peanut buttery taste from 13 years ago. 

The Truth Behind JITCO

Karen Zheung

Ms. Parham

AP Language and Composition

The Truth behind JITCO

            Japan is a country very different from America in size, culture, and even business strategies. For years they remained closed off to outsiders and prohibited any entry until they were forced to trade. Even now Japan remains a very insular nation. However, if Japan wishes to be able to compete in the market they must adopt the western ideas of off shoring and outsourcing. In my pervious blog I focused on how Japan outsourced their own workers to foreign countries. As for off shoring Japan imports foreign workers rather than sending the jobs overseas. In Japan’s effort to stay on the competitive edge they off shore in not so obvious ways further deteriorating it’s relation with its surrounding neighborhoods.

            Since Japan has a policy of giving college graduates life-time employment there’s a shortage of unskilled workers to take on basic manufacturing jobs. As a result of this shortage a Japanese training program called the Japan International Technical Corporation Organization (JITCO) was created. JITCO attracts many Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Chinese by supposedly supporting “the transfer of Japanese technique and skills to developing countries through the schemes of training” either through a training or internship program. (Satoshi). As alluring as this sounds many of the trainees soon find out otherwise.  In order for the workers to secure a spot as a trainee many paid “fees and deposits to local brokers, sometimes putting up their homes as collateral.” (Tabuchi). Upon arriving in Japan the workers found themselves working long hours under minimum wage. Zhang Yuwei, had paid $8,860 – several years income—to a broker for the spot in the program. Ms. Zhang worked about eight hours a day for about $3.77 an hour for the first year assembling cell phone keyboards sold by Sharp. As her wages increased (still under min. wage) so did her hours. In addition the “employer demanded her passport and housed her in a cramped apartment with no heat, alongside five other trainees.”  (Tabuchi). Working conditions were so bad that “managers would tell Japanese employees to avoid her work area.” (Tabuchi).

            Although JITCO claims to be sharing its technical skills while sharing cultural knowledge, those employed under the system strongly attest to that. Rather than gaining any new knowledge the workers are only seen as a source of cheap labor with their well-being completely over looked. Jiang Xiao Dong, aged 31 died after heart attack in June 2008 from being overworked. Japanese Labor Standards Office officially certified his death as “karoshi” meaning death from overwork. The Office found that on average Jiang worked “over 80 hours a week for the 12 months preceding his death”. (Human Rights). Nor is the cultural exchange taking place when managers verbally abuse the trainees with follow orders or “swim back to the Philippines.” (Tabuchi).

            While this program is definitely advantageous for the Japanese it undoubtedly creates more racial tension especially between China and Japan. While it’s unclear what the future holds for JITCO and the trainees it’s evident that Japan will use immoral methods to get advance its economy as any other country would.  

Works Cited

"2010 Human Rights Report: Japan." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State,

            08 Apr. 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.

Hiroko Tabuchi. "Japan Training Program Is Said to Exploit Workers." The New York

            Times. The New York Times, 21 July 2010. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.

Ozawa, Harumi. "AFP: Japan's Trainee Programme 'human Trafficking':Lawyer." Google

News. Google, 22 July 2010. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.

Satoshi, Kamata. "Japan's Internship Training Program for Foreign Workers: Education

or Exploitation? :: JapanFocus." Japan's Internship Training Program for Foreign Workers: Education or Exploitation? :: JapanFocus. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2013.

Outsourcing and Offshoring in Japan

Karen Zheung

Ms. Parham

AP Language and Composition

March 1, 2013

Outsourcing and Offshoring in Japan

Outsourcing and offshoring is typically a term used in the American business.  On that note, it’s rare for us to think that eastern Asian countries like Japan also have their own business of outsourcing and offshoring. Although these business techniques were look down on at first, it is becoming widely accepted as a necessity to boost the Japanese economy.

Outsourcing and offshoring isn’t as popular in Japan as it is in America. In the past little companies had ever considered using these techniques due to cultural complications such as language. However in 1997 that began to change when Japanese companies realized the need to “demonstrate their ability to change.” (Strom 2). At that time, Daiwa Bank and IBM Japan were considered to be one of the first companies that officially outsourced. Initially there was resistance from the bank and society, but not for financial reasons—for cultural ones involving the “treatment of people.” (Strom 1). However when Daiwa’s business “more than tripled IBM Japan’s outsourcing revenue” it became clear that was the way to go if they planned competing with its rivals. (Strom 1).

In order for outsourcing to become as successful as it is in the States, Japan had to address some cultural issues first. In Japan, there is a lifetime employment policy where college graduates are guaranteed a job of life should they work right away.  With the introduction of outsourcing the younger generation will no longer have this reassurance. However many Japanese companies are still reluctant to use foreign workers. Therefore companies send natives workers overseas, paying them less they then they originally would in Japan. Outsourcing companies, like Transcosmo and Masterpiece have set up call centers in various cities in southern Asian staffed by Japanese employees. For many employers this is vital on the basis that foreigner workers will not have a thorough “understanding of the manners and politesse that Japanese customers often demand.” (Tanikawa 1). While this certainly deviates from Japan’s original way of running it, there are also some who find this change very pleasant. Employees like Natori report a “new sense of liberty” working overseas despite the low salary. (Tanikawa 1). Working in a foreign place may be a positive change for some. It gives you the opportunity to work in places you normally wouldn’t visit and more importantly, it sets you “free from some of the social and workplace pressures” experienced in Japan. (Tanikawa 1).  In fact Transcosmer executives pointed out that their Thailand-based employees show more efficiency than their counterparts in Japan.  Employees “concentrate on work better because of the clear separation” between work and private life, but also the lack of job security creates more awareness of their performance. (Tanikawa 1).

            Japan’s aging population also plays a key role towards their acceptance of outsourcing. As their population continues to age, fewer computer engineers are being produced. As it stands “more than three million Japanese are expected to retire from the service sector” by 2020. (Bellman 1). In order to meet demands it’s inevitable that the Japanese outsource. Outsourcing was certainly seen as a taboo in the beginning, but in order for Japan to compete against its peers these techniques will be instrumental even if it means changing the cultural boundaries.

Works Cited

Bellman, Eric. "India's Outsourcing Firms Lure More Japan Business." The Wall Street

            Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

Strom, Stephanie. "THE BUSINESS WORLD; In Japan: Outsourcing Without A Capital

            'O'"The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 July 2000. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

Tanikawa, Miki. "Many in Japan Are Outsourcing Themselves." The New York Times-

Global Business with Reuters. The New York Times, 21 July 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.