Also, it works well in Japan and for Toyota in particular because of the lack of labor mobility there. And I don't just mean Japan's general lack thereof; rathe

Also, it works well in Japan and for Toyota in particular because of the lack of labor mobility there. And I don't just mean Japan's general lack thereof; rather, I'm pointing to the fact that (1) in Aichi prefecture, the only major Auto maker is Toyota (whereas Hamamatsu and Tokyo regions have several), (2) selling a house in the countryside (which the surrounding regions of Toyota city is) is always a money losing proposition in Japan, making a long distance move very difficult, and (3) once you are an employee at one of the Toyota Group companies, you cannot change jobs to another Toyota Group company. The "Gods" that you nurture will stay with you for perpetuity (or retirement) under these conditions. disclosure: I was a researcher at one of the Group companies.