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A socio‐economic paradigm can take birth not by a single imagination, but by realistic thinking of a new galaxy of efforts or insight into the great critical mass of new signs. In this way, my presentation here is abstract in sketching out “The future of mass‐production as a system in capitalism.”

The Japanese spirit, as an integration of gods indigenous to Japan (“Shinto”), Confucianism and Buddhism, seems to have formed today's economy and society in Japan, for good or bad, just as modern societies in Europe and America were once created by the spirit of Puritanism.

Introduction Science and Technology vs. Holistic Wisdom There have been attempts to get rid of monism in the outlook on the world (die Weltanschauung) which includes human wisdom, in concert with decentralization and diversification in the power structure of politics and economy. It is certain that at least people in Western civilized nations have been enjoying a material life richer than before, thanks to the wisdom of “Cartesianism” and the subsequent experimental knowledge and technology. However, in the midst of a deadly impasse which is accompanied by the fear of nuclear warfare, environmental disruption, increase in entropy, racial prejudices, increasing disparity in wealth, alienation of human beings and so on, the Utopian idea that “technological innovations equal the progress of mankind” must now be thoroughly criticized. Science, which forms the very basis of technology is knowledge, not wisdom. So it is of vital importance to review such an idea thoroughly in the light of “holistic wisdom”, bearing in mind this aspect of modern civilization which was built on the basis of science and technology as tools. What is the most important with a tool is how to use it. The value of a tool is determined by how a man with established identity will use it.

The view that Japanese management is not such a harmonised solidarity as would initially appear is discussed. Three groups within Japanese management are identified: the power elite, belongers and survivors. The percentage each group represents and group characteristics are given. The role of the power elite is discussed in greater detail with particular reference to the taxation system and the structure of wealth which operates within Japan.

Worldwide economic atmosphere smells ominous to us. Talks of bad business and recession are frequent on every paper and magazine, and such new words as “Heisei depression” and “combined depression” are popular now in Japan. Innumerable books which foretell the coming of economic panic are piled on the shelves of booksellers. For all these, however, most people seem to be quite immune yet to such a severe recession. What should we think about it? Particularly young people are not in the position to feel weak business itself. The explosion of “bubble prosperity” may have narrowed their ways to business course, yet they still have their pocket money, and goods abound around them in markets. Travelling abroad is also easy for them.