ABSTRACT
The Japanese propensity for competing with others will remain unchanged. They will continue to believe that in the long run free competition will be good for business and for the society at large. At the corporate level, Japanese inter-company competition can occasionally overheat because of such cultural factors as face-saving, and during times of slow economic growth it can result in so-called excessive competition. The Japanese long-term orientation will continue to be a major part of corporate planning such as capital investment, marketing, human resources training, and development. In addition, management will have to take into consideration various value changes that are taking place in the minds of people they manage. Pressure for social change, both from within Japan and from without, will no doubt influence Japanese social life and values in the long run. Yet cultural values and beliefs at the heart of Japanese business practice discussed here have a long history and are deeply ingrained.
