Japan, a nation that survives and thrives

“The whole of Japan is a pure invention. There is no such country, there are no such people.”

This is how Irish playwright, author and poet Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) described this marvelous country, which imitated no one and which no one will be able to imitate.

Japan benefitted from its openness to the West. European civilization and the modern American trend inspired it but several characteristics distinguish it, particularly in the fields of education and work.

While reading a magazine on self-development, I read few topics about Japan. Students in Japan study moral education and learn how to deal with people.

Aim of education

Students from the first elementary stage through to the third intermediate do not fail because the aim of education is to build character and not just to teach. They do not hire janitors although they are among the richest people in the world.

Children in Japan are taught how to clean their school and class every day. There are also strict rules regarding use of mobile phones as they are not allowed in some public places out of respect for others.

Japan is a successful nation, which has created a great model despite its fall after World War II. Nations full of life may get ill but they don’t die.

This article was first published in Okaz on February 16, 2017.
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Turki Aldakhil is the General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel. He began his career as a print journalist, covering politics and culture for the Saudi newspapers Okaz, Al-Riyadh and Al-Watan. He then moved to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat and pan-Arab news magazine Al-Majalla. Turki later became a radio correspondent for the French-owned pan-Arab Radio Monte Carlo and MBC FM. He proceeded to Elaph, an online news magazine and Alarabiya.net, the news channel’s online platform. Over a ten-year period, Dakhil’s weekly Al Arabiya talk show “Edaat” (Spotlights) provided an opportunity for proponents of Arab and Islamic social reform to make their case to a mass audience. Turki also owns Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre and Madarek Publishing House in Dubai. He has received several awards and honors, including the America Abroad Media annual award for his role in supporting civil society, human rights and advancing women’s roles in Gulf societies. He tweets @TurkiAldakhil.