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  • I've just dislocated my tongue.

  • Hell camp was founded in the '70s, when Japanese

  • corporations were beginning to take over the world,

  • and it's still the country's strictest business school.

  • Each year, hundreds of salarymen are sent here by their companies

  • to learn how to be better managers.

  • I can't help but notice I'm the only woman here.

  • Women are still very underrepresented

  • in senior management roles, so this could be my lucky break.

  • To pass this course, you must successfully complete

  • all the modules. Failure is the ultimate shame.

  • The first rule of good management... Shout louder!

  • Next, it's time to introduce ourselves.

  • Your name, where you're from, and your feelings

  • as a manager and human being.

  • That's a long list! And all through the medium of shouting.

  • Already I can see some people are pumped up and getting really high

  • on this kind of management stance,

  • but there are other people who are really struggling.

  • They're standing up and they're trying to do the right thing and

  • they're trying to speak, but their emotions are just getting cut short.

  • That's really hard because these men are sent by their companies

  • and, if they don't do what they're told, and they don't complete this

  • course, then it's shameful for them and their jobs could be on the line.

  • On a positive note, at least I know how to say hello to a grandma.

  • SHOUTS: Konnichiwa!

  • The next module is about greeting your co-workers.

  • Hello! Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa!

  • Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa!

  • Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! Whoa! Konnichiwa!

  • Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa!

  • Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa!

  • Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa!

  • Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa!

  • Formality and ritual

  • are the cornerstones of Japanese life and business.

  • To be successful, you must obey the rules.

  • This is why Japan is still the world's third-largest economy.

  • It's because guys like this, they don't want to be firebrands,

  • they don't want to be mavericks,

  • they don't want to be Lord Sugar or Richard Branson,

  • they don't want any of that.

  • They don't want their name on the door because it's more

  • important than that. It's about being a cog in the wheel.

  • It's being part of the greater good.

  • That's why you have companies like Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi,

  • Canon, Panasonic, Sony.

  • My own favourite - PlayStation.

  • How would you feel as a worker

  • if your manager shouted at you like that?

  • How would it make you feel?

  • How important is it for you to be a good company man?

  • A lot of what I've seen around today seems to be about...

  • MAN SHOUTS

  • Somebody really, really, really didn't like the main course!

  • Well, that's the end of lunch. Big shout out to the chef!

  • I haven't even finished my pudding!

  • So, over lunch, we've all been assigned our badges of shame.

  • So the idea here is you start from a position

  • of ignorance or inadequacy

  • and, as the days go by, they're removed one by one

  • as you complete each course.

  • You've got things like speed writing, exercise,

  • singing - vital in the workplace,

  • the ten business commandments, manners...

  • you've got a graduation exam, you've got a training camp report,

  • you've got vocal training... MIMICS SHOUTING

  • ..you've got a one-minute speech,

  • you've got your phone manner,

  • you've got reading,

  • showing the path, and 40 questions.

  • So, there you go.

  • The badges of shame are on.

  • These? No, these are for all the TV shows I've made.

  • Some of the recruits are on their last day here.

  • The course ends with them formally pledging to be better managers

  • when they're back at work.

  • It's a procession of men standing here and crying.

  • It's really painful to watch.

  • From what I understand, they're mainly saying how ashamed they are

  • that they didn't have the capacity to push through in business.

  • That they're embarrassed and humiliated

  • that they couldn't express themselves.

  • For me it's upsetting, but I guess, for these guys,

  • it's sort of an affirmation of shame at where they've been

  • but sort of delight that they've now got this new inner strength

  • whereby they can just discipline their workforce.

  • The men at the back, covered in their ribbons of shame,

  • have failed the course.

  • 80% of this intake.

  • They must now return to their companies in disgrace.

  • But the men in suits have passed

  • and will return triumphant, clothed in glory.

  • MUSIC PLAYS

I've just dislocated my tongue.

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