Japanese Corporate English Training: A Lesson in Strategy

Abstract

In “Language as a ‘Weapon’: What Does English Mean to Japanese?” Takao Suzuki makes the point that Japan was rendered all but militarily defenseless by the Peace Constitution implemented following the Second World War. He argues convincingly that language and information became for modern Japan “not only a means to deter disputes and avoid confrontations — equivalent to military preparedness in some other countries — but … also the only means left … to reach an early settlement of conflicts should they unfortunately become heated” (Suzuki, 1987, p. 26). Suzuki goes on to specify that the weapon of choice for the Japanese is the English language and that for English to be a truly effective weapon in the global economic struggles of the future, the Japanese need to work tirelessly at improving their training and mastery of it.