"Sometimes they call me 'Daddy"': F

[dawnstar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: "Sometimes they call me 'Daddy"': FBC Special Posting   11/20/1999

"Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: As I said earlier. Burmese are kind, humble and
generous people like Japanese.  But Japanese have become very
westernized. And Burmese need to be well outspoken.  Sometime, they are
very humble,  I find it difficult to solve the problem without
sufficient information.  People here like to respond in smiles, not in
words.  I urge them to be outspoken and be open about their concerns. 
Anyway, I enjoy working with them.  We are good friends.  Sometimes they
call me "Daddy."

Thank yoiu Zar Ni and FBC for reminding us of the tragic and complacent
nature of these aggressive, and cut-throat profit seeking foreign
businessmen in a 30/70% deal with the junta. *

Instead of assembling bikes and cars, they might be less
"humble","modest" and "kind", and help assemble democracy instead of
dictatorship. Suzuki, building dictatorship piece by piece eight hours a
day. 

living in france shows me day after day, as far as media goes, how
utterly brainwashed the french media and media listeing public must be,
brainwashed and in the production of brain washing. and that's france!
imagine how brainwashed japan and the junta are. think about it. if
cultural diversity is the goal, perhaps one thing about Seattle is good,
more diversity, and less nationalist brainwashing. the problem is
balance. and as you can see here, the gap between workers and
management, master and slave under the regime. and suzuki manager
wonders why people dont speak out? Suzuki go home! ds

zar ni wrote:
> 
> Quote of the Day:
> 
> "Sometimes they call me 'Daddy.'"
> 
>                 -- Mr Yutaka Yoshioka, Managing Director, Suzuki Office in Rangoon,
> commenting on Burmese assembly-line workers
> 
> This Special Posting contains:
> 
>         1).  Interview with  Mr Yutaka Yoshioka, Managing Director of Myanmar
> Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. by Maung Ko Lay of Life Style Magazine.
> 
> Dear Fellow FBC Activists and Supporters of a Free Burma:
> 
> During the years leading up to the World War II, Japanese corporate and
> military establishment liberally used the slogan "Asia for Asians" and
> touted equality and fraternity amongst the Asian "races."  Like many other
> Asian countries which were under various forms of Japanese occupation,
> Burma was raped, plundered and looted by well-known Japanese corporations
> including Mitsui, Marubani, Mitshbishi, and so on.  Five-years of Japanese
> military rule did far more extensive damage to Burmese economy, culture,
> intellectual and spiritual life of Burma than the 120-years British
> colonialization.
> 
> Although the atomic clouds over Hiroshima and Nakasaki put and end to
> Japanese atrocities toward other Asian peoples, bringing the "Direct
> Descendents of the Sun" to their knees, they did not extinguish the
> ruthlessly exploitative attitude and predatory acts of Japan's corporate
> and political interests.
> 
> Now the horseshit of "We-are-all-Asians" and "We-are-humble-and-kind"
> coming straight out of the mouth of Suzuki's Rangoon office director is
> reminiscent of the "Asia-for-Asian" rhetoric.  Of course, it's all the more
> smoother and sweater when the exploited and the down-trodden call their
> predators "Daddy."
> 
> Our fellow Burmese back home would do well to remember that Josef Stalin
> was called "Uncle Joe" and General Ne Win "Ah-ba" or Daddy.
> 
> peace, love and hope,
> 
> Free Burma Coalition
> 
> Interview with  Mr Yutaka Yoshioka, Managing Director of Myanmar Suzuki
> Motor Co., Ltd. by Maung Ko Lay of Life Style Magazine.
> 
> Life Style: How long have you been in Burma?
> Mr. Yutaka Yoshioka: Two years. I started this position in 1998.  I visited
> Yangon and Mandalay
> as a Suzuki's representative two years ago.
> 
> Life Style: How long have you been working for Suzuki?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: 17 years, since 1982.
> 
> Life Style: How Burma is different from other SE Asian countries?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: Many ways- in political structures, economic systems
> and also in
> socio-cultural contexts. For example, market economy of Myanmar is very
> different from other
> ASEAN countries.  Burma's market is not functioning well yet, in another word,
> Burmese market has yet to open completely.
> 
> Life Style Do you import all spare parts from Japan?
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: Yes, main spare parts are imported from Japan.  Some
> are from Indonesia and
> Vietnam.
> 
> Life Style: Any plan to produce some spare parts within the country?
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka : Yes, We are still using imported parts at this moment.
> Later, we will
> produce batteries and tires in Myanmar. Suzuki's technology could well be
> used in Myanmar
> Ministry of Industry No.2's facilities to produce necessary parts.
> 
> Life Style: What is your investment planning?
> 
> Mr. Yukata Yoshioka: We assemble motorcycles and automobiles with parts
> imported from Japan and
> else where. Later, we will produce necessary parts to assemble them in
> Myanmar.  We also have a
> plan to export to international market.
> 
> Life Style: What is your timeline?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka :We have started with motorcycles, now we assemble Super
> Carry Truck  and
> Wagon R.  We will produce 200 each of Super Carry Truck and Wagon R before
> the end of this year.
> Under current rate of 8 working hours a day,  we will be able to produce
> 1800 motorcycles and
> 1200 automobiles in a year.  So far, we have produced 40 motorcycles,  53
> Carry trucks, and  48
> Wagon R.
> 
> Life Style: How would you comment on Suzuki's marketability in Burma?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka.: We find success in selling motorcycles than cars. Our
> distributor is Spa
> Motorcycle Ltd.  We've achieved name recognition. Therefore, we plan to
> compete in Burma's auto
> market soon.  In fact, Suzuki is a respectable well-known corporation.
> We have a number of great trading partners all over the world.  Since we
> have a factory
> established here (in Myanmar), we would like to widely distribute Suzuki
> cars to international
> market.
> 
> Life Style: In Burma, we know Suzuki as a motorcycle company rather than a
> car producer.  Do you
> see any prospect of competing in Burma's automobile market?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka:  As you know, generally, used cars are in Myanmar market
> today.  People here prefer used car for several reasons.  Amazingly, some of
> them are 10 years old.   They do not have any insurance plans or enough
> spare parts.  We ( Suzuki) offer maintenance plan, and also  provide enough
> spare parts.   Given that advantage, I believe that Suzuki will be in high
> market demand soon.
> 
> Life Style: What is your investment type? : a  joint venture or sole ownership?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka :Total investment is 1 million.  It is a joint venture
> which Burmese government and Suzuki share investment in the ratio of 30% and
> 70% respectively.  The Burmese government render its share of 300,000 $ in
> kind while Suzuki's 700,000 $ in US currency.  Tomen Corporation and Spa
> (Myanmar Ltd) each buy  5% of Suzuki's share.
> 
> Life Style: How did Japan's economic crisis affect Japanese youths? How long
> this crisis will last?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: Yes, it has had a negative impact on young Japanese.
> Many face difficulties in getting employment. Luckily, the situation is
> getting better.  I hope it will get back to a normal setting within a few
> years.   Also, many Asian countries have suffered a lot from the Asian
> economic crisis.  We understand that many countries in Asia are still
> struggling with serious financial problems.  To help out this financial
> burden, Japan recently announced its plan to provide Oversea Development
> Assistance (ODA) to the countries which have been struck by the economic
> crisis.  This type of assistance is much needed, and will surely improve the
> situation to a certain extent.
> 
> Life Style: Business Week 's motor market analyst reports that only five
> motor companies will dominate future world's motor market. They are General
> Motor, Daimchrysler, Valkswagen, Toyota Motor and Honda Motor.  Can you
> comment on that?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka:. Such kind of report is always popular in auto market.
> But we are also working in partnership with General Motor.  That includes
> stock and technology exchange.  General Motor does not have market partners
> in South East Asia.  So, Suzuki distributes GM's products to these markets.
> Our principle is to be independent.  Suzuki may be a smaller company
> compared to GM, we have our technology which makes us unique in the market.
> Therefore, we see GM as an equal partner not as a mother unit.
> 
> Life Style: Is there any similarity between Burmese and Japanese in terms of
> culture?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: Yes, we all are Asians.  We share similar values and
> customs. For example, we both are humble and kind.  I am satisfied with the
> performance of myanmar employees.  They are intelligent, and hold high moral
> value.  Only problem is the language.  Some of them can speak Japanese.
> Some don't. The official language of the company is English. There have been
> some problems of misunderstanding due to the language difficulties.
> 
> Life Style Do you see any pattern of "life-long employment" in Burma?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka :In Japan, the philosophy has changed. Young people want
> to move on to better paid jobs.  People like my age should not be thinking
> of jumping from one to another.  Burmese employees can choose their options.
> It is important that people understand the benefits of being loyal to one
> company.
> 
> Life Style What kind of management structure best for Burmese?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka :Well, it is hard to say exactly.  Surely, I would
> recommend Asia style management rather than western's one.  For example, to
> be more humanistic, in another words, some kind of management pattern based
> on family value.
> 
> Life Style:  How do you like working with Burmese? Any comments on working
> atmosphere?
> 
> Mr Yutaka Yoshioka: As I said earlier. Burmese are kind, humble and generous
> people like Japanese.  But Japanese have become very westernized. And
> Burmese need to be well outspoken.  Sometime, they are very humble,  I find
> it difficult to solve the problem without sufficient information.  People
> here like to respond in smiles, not in words.  I urge them to be outspoken
> and be open about their concerns.  Anyway, I enjoy working with them.  We
> are good friends.  Sometimes they call me "Daddy."
> 
> Life Style: Thank you.