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Still, not all of Zenchiku's decisions have been greeted warmly. Attempts by Morse to introduce Japanese consensus-management principles to the Lazy 8 were met with a less than enthusiastic response from the American cowboys. A "cowboy forum," in which the group met weekly to air their grievances and offer opinions on how the ranch might be better managed, quickly dissolved. "We move cattle," shrugs Seilbach. "How much is there to talk about?" Attempts to computerize the operation -- tagging each animal with a different number to follow their progress from birth through slaughter -- did catch on, despite the cowboys' grumbling. "An experienced cowboy knows much more than any computer," says Seilbach, "but that's the future. It's not just the Japanese either -- everybody's taking the cowboy skills away from the cowboy."
The crisp cold of a Montana winter afternoon creeps through the doorway as the cowboys prepare to go out and sort some more cattle. "Yeah, I hope to get to Japan someday," says Chaffin, donning his spurs. "Not me," says Seilbach. "I don't think I could take all those crowds." The group listens silently as Harry and Kaz tell horror stories about sardine-packed subway cars and hotel rooms the size of cots. "Lot of people," concludes Harry, to heads nodding in agreement. "Here? A lot of sky."