A Case Study of Japan's Bureaucracy

Abstract : Remarks reflecting the rather churlish contemporary regard for the U. S. bureaucracy introduce an in-depth discussion of the Japanese bureaucracy and why it is nationally and internationally recognized as an esteemed and functionally elite institution. The case study incorporates cultural as well as historical evolution of Japan's civil servants through the rather startling adjustments of the occupation and into the viscera of Japan's bureaucracy today. The crux of the issue is Japan's great bureaucracy and our alleged rather poor bureaucracy. Can a historical and cultural analysis of a great bureaucracy be of any value? The paper concludes with the fact that, indeed, Japan's bureaucracy is an elite, professional organization that out-performs the U.S. bureaucracy as proven by its victories when the two administrative systems interface one-on- one. Some suggestions are made relative to improving the U.S. bureaucracy.