The Reckoning

1. The Reckoning by David Halberstam

2. Major Players • Katsuji KAWAMATA, “the Banker” • Tetsuo MASUDA, union leader, ‘the Emperor” • Masaru MIYAKE, leader of 2nd union • Ichiro SHIOJI, “the Strikebreaker” • Sanosuke TANAKA, joined Nissan 1937 • Typical of worker from countryside

3. Ch. 7 “The Banker” • Nissan--Nippon Sangyo--founded by Yoshisuke AYUKAWA • --from good family • Mother was Inoue Kaoru’s niece • Graduated Todai w/ Engineering degree • Rose with militarists, Manchuria in 1930s • Challenged Sumitomo, Mitsui and Mitsubishi, old line Zaibatsu

4. The Banker • Katsuji KAWAMATA--came from IBJ, the Hiroshima Branch, where he had been sent • He was rough, crude, knew nothing of automobiles or unions. But was ambitious. • Sent to Nissan, Tokyo, in 1947. He found there that management feared Union. • W/Dodge Line, he fired 2000-plus workers

5. The Union Leader • Tetsuo MASUDA b. 1914 Tokunoshima off Kagoshima. • Father ran a small co. that went banrupt. They moved to Kagoshima, father died young. • Masuda went to Todai; joined Nissan 1938.

6. Masuda was smart, eloquent, charismatic • Played baseball so was hero-figure, leader • Returned from war politicized: • Old guard had ruined Japan • Independent--Leftwing but not JCP type • His vision was for industry-wide union that would serve the workers.

7. Ch. 8 “The Turning Point” • 1951 Asahara selected president, Kawamata runs things. • Nicknamed “the banker” because he did not know cars or the company. • Masuda had always won battles until Dodge Line--now losing. • Korean war was “gift from gods” but when growth slowed, times were tough.

8. Kawamata v. Masuda • The 2nd Union Strategy • Masaru MIYAKE emerges as leader. • Zero-pilot during war, he flirted with radical left after the war but after Dodge Line began to question strikes and disruptions. • Felt Masuda needed to be stopped. Kawamata seen as hope of company.

9. Cahnge of Kacho Status • Kachos--section heads--had been floor workers, part of unions v. management • New policy pulled kachos up into management • Result = suribachi or “grinding kachos down” tactic by unions

10. Miyake v. Masuda • War taught Miyake to speak his mind • Saw Masuda as a bully or tyrant • Started secret meetings • Kawamata agreed to fund 2nd union w/ IBJ funds

11. Ichiro Shioji • B. Kanda 1927, attended Naval Academy • Father died, took care of family • Hopped the buying trains, bought/sold produce • Openly egocentric , Coveted power • Cocky natural politician and street-fighter • Loved confrontation

12. Masuda was on a high • Saw men of management as old men from past • Men of death--they had killed Japan • Didn’t fear Kawamata because he’s never been in a union

13. Kawamata followed hard line--exhaust the union, hire thugs to protect 2nd union • Secured Nikkeiren support • By freezing out Masuda they provoked him to violence • Appealed to workers that Masuda was alien, un-Japanese in his conduct

14. Ch. 9 “Crushing Masuda” • Appeal was made to workers on basis that work is sacred, “a ceremony,” not a means to an end as in the west. • Masuda was jailed; emerged to big rallies • But, he had • Underestimated his opponents • Overestimated loyalty of own men

15. Old order had been democratized and modernized • But the old order was still there • Masuda’s dream of industry-wide union died. Nissan was stabilized. • Workers no longer challenged superiors

16. Kawamata was the big winner • Unions became an extension of management • Masuda drifted, broken man • 1960s lived alone, unemployed • 1964 died of heart attack aged 50