It is strange to me that it is only in the 3rd year that I began to feel strange with "systems" in Japan. Systems that are supposed for people are not for people but for the black and white paper rules. What was supposed to be good, and was set up to assist people to overcome problems, becomes a "job" that only function well with the written "manual". Though the technology is so advance in Japan, that a suica/passmo can be tabbed in whatever way and you still get through the gate as long as there is enough balance. Yet the system to assist people has not give any thoughts towards outliers, where the outliers actually represents a real need. It just doesn't work.
For example, in a requirement of a certain position, you may be overqualified in experience with what they are looking for, but your resume will never be considered if the system considered some other technical issues. No particular concern will be paid to your qualifications nor experience nor your passions. Another example is about scholarships. The system actually sets age-limit as well, the system decides who is a scientist, but not the passions of the students, nor the value of research topic. Exemption of school fees is a system that set up to facilitate people with financial difficulties, yet the decision will be made according to the income in previous year rather than the actual income and the expenses to be made this year. Therefore a 1st year student with a handsome scholarship gets an exemption of school fees, where a final year student without a scholarship has to pay in full. There is no way to appeal, no windows for you to talk, because the system said no reverse decision should be made after a decision is made. A student help center is set-up for you to "talk" about your problems, rather than set up to help you overcome the problems. The dormitory is given to a student with handsome scholarship and is rejected to another student with no scholarship, and when you check with them because you are pretty sure that in you are qualified with the prerequisite, yet the staffs will tell you that everything follows the system, and that there will be no change. Customer service appeared to be a job, it doesn't originate from a serving attitude.
I could even remember when a travel company called me to clarify my
attendance and payment to a tour, and my Japanese friend was furious
with those comments that they made. I was surprised with his impatience, but then now I think I can grab the reason behind his frustrations after I myself have to deal with the customer service people. I began to understand the "kindness" and the "kind act" works only within the system. Then I slowly realized perhaps that is the reasons why many Japanese are indifferent with systems, policies, and often react in a cold way. I may probably come to understand the theory behind of social isolation, social indifference on a more human basis, if I happened to see and deal with these things more often. (and I hope I will have the wisdom from above to skillfully deal with situations, and hopefully the avoidance attitude in me will not be deepened. )
A research finding from a friend disclosed that areas with higher trust has higher suicide rate. It should be interpreted very carefully, if the trust refers to trust towards the system? or the trust towards man? I realized this about a year ago, that the word "trust" about system is an ambiguous word, which it might not has anything to do with interpersonal trust. The system said that is it, and that is the system. If the system says that certain people gets help, then certan people gets help. That is the trust that they are referring. But do they trust the system will actually offer real help when they are in real difficulties? In fact, many people who needs help do not turn to the system. So, what does trust really means?
Note: probably understanding the system is crucial for ministry. There may be a need to make a decision to fight the system, or to skillfully work within the system. What would Christian penetration be?
