Some people criticize the lifelong employment
system saying that employees will become spoiled
and will not work hard. Mitarai is aware of this
demerit. It is true that lifelong employment can put a person who was born in that country. Based on
these qualities, however, the person should learn
about other countries to understand them. Then,
if the person goes to some other country, he or
she will be able to act as a citizen of that country.
I think this is a true cosmopolitan. This applies not
only to individuals but also to corporations. I am
managing my company as a cosmopolitan in this
meaning. This is my core being.”
Mitarai thus runs Canon as an international
high-tech company on the basis of the Japanese
tradition of lifelong employment.