J apan, business ethics in

Abstract

Abstract In Japan, ethics is bound up with a religious dimension (two normative environments) and a social dimension (a framework of concentric circles). The normative environments, influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, and other traditional and modern Japanese religions, emphasize that not only individuals but also groups have their own spirit (numen). The framework of concentric circles lets moral agents apply different ethical rules to the circles. The dynamics of these religious and social dimensions lead to a different view of both individuals and corporations from that dominant in the West. There are mainly two influential normative environments in Japan: the transcendental normative environment and the group normative environment. Although there are many individuals, groups, and organizations that, taken together, constitute the overall social environment, the Japanese are likely to categorize them into four concentric circles: family, fellows, Japan, and the world. To provide opportunities for others to enter the Japanese market, as an ethical responsibility, Japanese corporations should have access channels through which newcomers can approach equally.