Hime Island (Japan): 50 year-old experiment with municipal egalitarianism

The New York Times has an interesting reportage on Hime island in Japan, and its 49-year old experiment with municipal egalitarianism:

Excerpt from MARTIN FACKLER:

““Our thinking is, ‘let’s all share the economic pie and get along, instead of giving all of it to the rich,’ ” said Mr. Fujimoto, whose father, Kumao Fujimoto, devised the work-sharing system in the 1960s. “Avoiding competition is the traditional Japanese way.”

Now, with the current crisis causing a national questioning of American-style laissez-faire economics, and business leaders and unions seeking alternatives to widespread job cuts, Hime’s work-sharing scheme is suddenly being held up as a new model. Islanders call it ironic that the current crisis has made traditional values appear progressive, even utopian.

Nor does the island’s penchant for equality stop at work-sharing. At an annual village ceremony to mark the coming of age of 20-year-old islanders, women are forbidden to wear traditional kimonos for fear the differences in quality could reveal their households’ economic status.

Dismayed by the inconsistent television reception across this mountainous island about half the size of Key West, the current mayor installed a free cable TV system that now reaches 97 percent of homes.

Even by clannish Japan’s standards, the island seems a friendly, close-knit place. Islanders cheerfully greet passing strangers. Roads, parks and even public toilets are immaculate. Doors are left unlocked, and the island has only one policeman.

Mr. Fujimoto also cites traditional attitudes to explain his own political longevity, a claim most islanders seem to accept. He says islanders shun public elections because of a deep-rooted abhorrence of confrontation. He said the last time the village held a mayoral election, in 1955, it split the island, creating ill feelings that took a generation to heal.

To avoid a repeat of such trauma, he said, the island decided to choose mayors by consensus, finding someone on whom everyone could agree beforehand. Last year, Mr. Fujimoto won his seventh straight four-year term, once again by default in an uncontested election.”

1 Comment

oldguy June 30, 2009 at 6:50 pm

In the wake of the global economic collapse due mainly to uncontrolled greed,
the concept:

““Our thinking is, ‘let’s all share the economic pie and get along, instead of
giving all of it to the rich,’ ” said Mr. Fujimoto,”

“… he and most other islanders call Hime a repository for traditional Japanese
values, like economic egalitarianism and social harmony. They say the rest of
the nation has lost these in an embrace of more competitive capitalism,”

appears at first blush to be laudable. However, diving deeper we find things
are less than wonderful:

“At an annual village ceremony to mark the coming of age of
20-year-old islanders, women are forbidden to wear traditional
kimonos for fear the differences in quality could reveal their
households’ economic status.”

Really? So we are all “average”? Perhaps we should all wear Gray? this
smells too strongly of Mainland Red China…

and the following actually reeks of the Communist One Party Way or worse, North Korea:

“Mr. Fujimoto also cites traditional attitudes to explain his own political
longevity, a claim most islanders seem to accept. He says islanders shun
public elections because of a deep-rooted abhorrence of confrontation.
He said the last time the village held a mayoral election, in 1955, it
split the island, creating ill feelings that took a generation to heal.

To avoid a repeat of such trauma, he said, the island decided to choose
mayors by consensus, finding someone on whom everyone could agree beforehand.
Last year, Mr. Fujimoto won his seventh straight four-year term, once again
by default in an uncontested election.” ….
““My job is to prevent elections by keeping everyone equal, and thus
happy,” said Mr. Fujimoto,

““Everyone is basically satisfied,” said Shusaku Akaishi, 29,
who works at his family’s gas station.

hmm so those who are not satisfied are somehow silenced, or forced to leave?

1 Comment →

oldguy June 30, 2009 at 6:50 pm
In the wake of the global economic collapse due mainly to uncontrolled greed,
the concept:
““Our thinking is, ‘let’s all share the economic pie and get along, instead of
giving all of it to the rich,’ ” said Mr. Fujimoto,”
“… he and most other islanders call Hime a repository for traditional Japanese
values, like economic egalitarianism and social harmony. They say the rest of
the nation has lost these in an embrace of more competitive capitalism,”
appears at first blush to be laudable. However, diving deeper we find things
are less than wonderful:
“At an annual village ceremony to mark the coming of age of
20-year-old islanders, women are forbidden to wear traditional
kimonos for fear the differences in quality could reveal their
households’ economic status.”
Really? So we are all “average”? Perhaps we should all wear Gray? this
smells too strongly of Mainland Red China…
and the following actually reeks of the Communist One Party Way or worse, North Korea:
“Mr. Fujimoto also cites traditional attitudes to explain his own political
longevity, a claim most islanders seem to accept. He says islanders shun
public elections because of a deep-rooted abhorrence of confrontation.
He said the last time the village held a mayoral election, in 1955, it
split the island, creating ill feelings that took a generation to heal.
To avoid a repeat of such trauma, he said, the island decided to choose
mayors by consensus, finding someone on whom everyone could agree beforehand.
Last year, Mr. Fujimoto won his seventh straight four-year term, once again
by default in an uncontested election.” ….
““My job is to prevent elections by keeping everyone equal, and thus
happy,” said Mr. Fujimoto,
““Everyone is basically satisfied,” said Shusaku Akaishi, 29,
who works at his family’s gas station.
hmm so those who are not satisfied are somehow silenced, or forced to leave?