ABSTRACT
The first Japanese banks and trading companies opened branches in London in the late nineteenth century; while the first manufacturing operation, YKK at Runcorn near Liverpool, was established in 1970. The judgement that, 'Most Japanese investment overseas has gone into commerce and finance', remains true and the City of London symbolises this pattern of investment. In spite of stereotypes of 'Japanese management' or 'the Japanese company', firms in Japan vary in terms of sector, size, business strategy and type of management style or philosophy as much as firms do in Europe or America. The British case therefore presents the paradox of the blue collar worker pattern, with its groupishness and solidarity, being closest to the Japanese pattern. The idea is to have two descriptions for all normal employees -'technician' and 'manufacturing staff - without detailed job descriptions. Supervisors are to have a wider role than has become the case in many British firms.
