Customer Reviews

Notes from Toyota-Land: An American Engineer in Japan

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book details the social structure and rigid hierarchical control found in the executive levels of Japanese companies, and not specific manufacturing techniques and methods. The reviewer who claims the title is misleading because the author worked at Hino and not Toyota does not realize Hino is part of Toyota (see http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/01/0425.html). The book is informative and interesting. Don't expect dry information on manufacturing.

Written by Darius Mehri, an American of Iranian descent who worked in Japan for three years as a design engineer for a Toyota supplier, Notes from Toyota-Land provides fascinating insights into life, work, and corporate culture in contemporary Japan. This book is largely a devastating critique of Japanese management practices that, according to Mehri, promote unsafe work habits in the name of speed and efficiency, require employees to put in long hours of "voluntary" overtime, and inspire a wasteful and stifling groupthink attitude. (One of the book's sections is titled "The Price of Obedience," another "Death by Overwork.") But Mehri also writes about the social aspects of his experience, which are equally revealing-sometimes depressing and often very funny. The author did a lot of drinking with his coworkers and his conversations with them tell readers a lot about what its like to work under such a paternalistic corporate system-as well the attitudes, aspirations, and prejudices of "typical" Japanese professionals. This book should be required reading for any American going to work for a Japanese company so they can be prepared for what, as described in this book, will be a rewarding but very challenging experience.

An insightful book, the story of an American engineer in Japan. The author took advantage of this unique opportunity to tell of his experiences working for a Toyota subsidiary in Japan. In Japan, the conditions seem harsh on the lower level engineering and office staff. Many American business studies stress the conformity of the Japanese decision making process and the "good-neighbor" policy relationships of corporations to the city councils in the area in which they reside. The author demonstrates from office experiences that the conformity is often enforced by the individual's fear of being ostracized. It is a very top-down hierarchal structure with some values that American corporations would consider politically incorrect, such as the role of career women and how foreign guest workers are treated.
The author explains the concept of tatemae versus honne. In the workplace confrontation is suppressed under the mask of tatemae (the way things are supposed to be). After some social drinking the individual's "honne", how one actually feels may appear.
I appreciate what this author has done. What I read was so different from what other business books have to say about Japanese management that the reader has to wonder is this author at a typical Japanese corporation. Could one judge all of American corporate culture by working at a subsidiary of General Motors? Probably yes, Corporate Cultures must carry most of the cultural trait of the country.
Any reader from the curious to a business studies major will find this book fascinating. A light book, no analyzing, just the author telling of his office experiences in a radically different culture.
We have all heard of American corporations adopting many of the Japanese business practices. Their strong points seem to be to aid the factory floor. Hopefully their office culture will not be adopted here.

This is is a sophisticated and intelligent analysis of work, life and politics in Toyota-land. The horror of daily life, and the political manipulation and corruption make it an interesting counter-part to Anna Funder's Stasiland. It makes one wonder, where would you rather be a native worker, in Japan, or in the old East Germany. A gripping book, surprisingly enough. Mehri writes with the insight of someone far more experienced in the ways of the workplace.

I have worked in the Japanese automotive industry, and I have friends that have as well (both management and lower level at several different companies). This book is invaluable in dispelling the myth of "superior" Japanese management and manufacturing. Many of the lower rated reviews don't seem to understand lean manufacturing and how Japanese culture actually prevents operations from being efficient and hinders creative, effective design.

The book is filled with terrific insights into what the workplace is really like at a Toyota subsidary in Japan. The insights are provided by Darius Mehri, an American who worked there as an engineer for several years and kept a diary of his experiences and observations. Mehri details the often unfortunate limitations that a rigid hierarchical system can create, as this rigidity is usually blindly obeyed despite the limits on technological advancement. Employees are often forced to abandon their common sense in order to support the understood order of the workplace, which often leads to absurd results. As Mehri's journey progresses, conditions at the factory worsen in a sort of Kafkaesquian absurdity, where legitimate questions are raised (by him) but no legitimate answers are given (by the company). Unfortunately, most of the workers are helpless to change their plight as the events unfold. Mehri artfully describes this state of events, which are somewhat depressing, but he also sprinkles his story with numerous comedic takes on the insanity that he observes around himself! This is defintiely a worthwhile, quick read - and he has put more information at his website, www.notesfromtoyotaland.com.

As others have reviewed, this is obviously the author's first job in an industrial setting and some observations are quite naive. It is also not a Toyota plant as one might assume from the title, but a little further down the supply chain. This, in itself is a unique viewpoint, as little has been written about Toyota's 1st or 2nd Tier suppliers or their captive companies. If you have many years of engineering or manufacturing experience under your belt, you might consider that many of his negative observations are not unique to Japan - just lack of exposure on his part.
An interesting read to see the social side of Japanese industry, but little insight into the inner working of TPS.

After considerable time in academe, Darius Mehri encountered many difficulties that are common in any first job. Some are more pronounced in Japan, while other difficulties would be more pronounced in other countries. With a few more job experiences under his belt, Darius may learn that - in any setting - things such as protocol, advice from senior members, not immediately tilting at windmills, would help him have a more rewarding work experience.

As other reviewers have mentioned, parts of this reflect experiences the author would have at any first job.

Japan is definitely different (from the US anyhow) especially in the way women are treated, and consensus is created (and desired).

Sure parts are a bit naive and parts are unreflective, but that's what makes it interesting.

This is proof that we live in an age where anything can get published. This book takes place at HINO MOTORS LTD. - a small 60yr old facility on the outside of Tokyo, not a new efficient toyota plant as one might assume from the book title. The author goes on to critique manufacturing techniques and stratagies at this diesel truck producer. Unfortunately, he leaves out many of the most important factors that make lean manufacturing so important on the Japanese factory floor. I find it very odd that someone with no manufacturing experience would be able to critique and draw conclusions on vehicle manufacturing in Japan. However, the book does have it's strengths - if your interested in strategies for dating Japanese women, or stories of drinking sake with co-workers, then this may be the book for you.