It all started with their mastery of the entire tea experience. The Japanese, sometime around 500 years ago, perfected the brewing, serving and drinking of tea. As it is common knowledge today -which it wasn't at the time-, tea contains a great deal of caffeine, which elevates one's mood. And it is in such an elevated mood that one is inspired to such bold acts as building the world's greatest automaker (Toyota) and putting a printer in every home (Canon) and redefining gaming (Nintendo).
The question that arises is whether other nations can catch up by increasing their tea consumption. I'd say they are certain to get caffeine itchiness and that this strategy would probably backfire, as the great tea master Sen No Rikyu pointed out:
Though many people drink tea,
If you do not know the Way of Tea,
Tea will drink you up.
In a post to come, I'll talk about the introduction of coffee beans to North America and link it to the rise of American auto industry, Hollywood and Silicon Valley.
THE ROOTS OF JAPANESE CORPORATE SUCCESS
Posted by Can Duman
