I am Yoshida, president of Yamada Shusei Ltd., a professional apparel garment repair group in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.
The Israeli-Palestinian situation remains tense and has direct and indirect effects on Japanese business managers. In situations where dialogue and coordination are necessary, it is essential to know each other's basic stance and cultural background. Therefore, in this issue, we will focus on "Hellenism" and "Hebraism," which are considered to be the two major origins of Western culture.
"Hellenism" is an anthropocentric culture that originated in Greek culture and is characterized by humanism and rationalism.
"Hebraism" is a God-centered culture based on God's revelation, justice, and love, which began with the Hebrews' belief in Yahweh.
The importance of understanding "Hellenism" and "Hebraism" for Japanese managers lies in the following points.
"Hellenism" is a culture that respects human reason and creativity, and emphasizes scientific and logical thinking and the beauty of harmony. It is the spirit that managers need to enhance their own abilities and knowledge, and to generate innovative ideas and strategies. "Hellenism" is also a culture that accepts diverse cultures and values and learns from each other through dialogue and exchange, a spirit that is necessary for managers to cooperate with others and work toward common goals in this era of globalization and diversification.
On the other hand, "Hebraism" is a culture that follows God's will and practices justice and love, a spirit necessary for managers to take responsibility for their actions and decisions, to care for society and the environment, and not to be distracted by interests and emotions. "Hebraism" is also a culture that interprets history and reality according to God's revelation and has hope toward the end of time. It is also a spirit that is necessary for managers to face difficulties and not lose sight of their mission and vision even in uncertain situations.
Thus, "Hellenism" and "Hebraism" are two ideas that are essential for managers for their personal growth and development, as well as for their contribution to and transformation of society. They are not opposites, but complementary, and it is important to incorporate them in a balanced manner. Understanding "Hellenism" and "Hebraism" will help managers to reflect on their own identities and values, and to develop an eye for global affairs and become better managers.
