Japanese/ US space budget comparison

> Hmm.. from my understanding the overhead and support budgets are in
> that "other"category, so to first order both organizations are about
> the same in overhead. From my admittedly limited direct experience,
> Japanese aerospace organizations have much more bureaucracy and
close
> control of their workers, and typically have somewhat worse working
> conditions. They get more "paper" out of each employee, but usually
> not more work and definitely not more new knowledge.

The Japaneses system is much more controlling over its employees.
Each worker is observed and subjected to ruthless efficiency reviews
(kaizening) and pressure from other employees to conform. Individual
initiative is frowned upon and each person is expected to keep his
place. Promotions and jobs are frequently decided upon the fact that
the prospective employee went to the same school and even in the same
class.
The Japanese system is efficient. But it supresses individual
freedoms in the name of the group. It also has a tendency to racism
and patriarchy. Their efficiency is an admirable thing, if you could
extract it from the cultural and suppressive elements.
Before anyone accuses me of Japanese bashing. I love the country
and lived there for two years. I made a lot of good friends and
learned a lot. But I know from experience about the things I
mentioned.

Dao Sennin