NHK's signature program, "Project X," is back after 18 years.

I had very high expectations for this program to portray real engineers in the field, and after two broadcasts, I am delighted with the program.

Again, I am "delighted.

I look forward to continuing this program.

I am reminding you of this in a scattered manner because what I am about to describe reads like an "anti-Project X."

But I also think 'someone has to say it,' so I will.

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(1) Engineers in our country are treated very poorly in terms of treatment, annual income, and understanding of technology.

(a) That is why "Project X" is accepted as an "excellent program" that illuminates overlooked engineers.

(b) On the other hand, the program creates a climate of acceptance for 'keeping the status of engineers at a low level.'

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(2) Not even their supervisors are willing to praise engineers who have achieved their goals publicly.

(a) In "Project X," this kind of boss behavior is treated as a "virtue" throughout.

(b) This craftsman-like "apprenticeship system" has reduced engineers to a low status.

(c) "I appreciate you in my mind" is synonymous with "I don't appreciate you, which is a significant deviation from today's values, and again, they produce the program with Showa values.

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(3) Engineers themselves are not willing to publicly announce their technology.

(a) The "Neglect of information dissemination" in the name of "virtue of modesty" is noticeable. The engineers themselves make too little effort to have their work widely appreciated.

(b) even if we talk about intellectual property or trade secrets, there are many ways to do it. If you don't disseminate your work correctly and insist on its usefulness, the technology will fall into disuse.

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(4) There is too much bias toward the "weak group strikes back" scenario.

(a) "The Weak Group Strikes Back" is an exciting drama.

(b) However, it is no exaggeration to say that (unfortunately) a project's success or failure is determined by its investment (money), human resources (people), and time frame (the limit to which the investment can continue).

(c) The above (b) is not limited to engineering but is expected for all projects, but this understanding is left unexplained.

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(5) The stories of "failure" covered in "Project X" are too microscopically biased in the direction of "technology" and "personnel affairs.

(a) Although biased toward technical failures, most project failures are due to inadequate market research and poor preliminary preparation

(b) To create drama without that story would seem grossly lacking objectivity.

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(6) No one talks about (1) through (5) above.

(a) There must be a lot of people in our country who are well versed in (1) through (5) above (e.g., university professors doing organizational studies, bureaucrats managing budgets for national projects, etc.)

(b) However, I have not seen (or have remained silent about) anyone evaluating "Project X" from a "project management" perspective. Well, I understand how you feel.)

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(7) In general, "Project X" "exploited the dreams and hopes of engineers" to "complete the project," which does not seem to have changed one millimeter from the "exploitation of their challenging " of today's youth.

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Again, I am "delighted" with NHK's "Project X."

I am "a little" concerned, but I look forward to more of your programs.