What image was brought to mind by the sight of the Japanese workers doing mass calisthenics?

The image of Japanese all rising as one to the prompt of music over the loudspeakers and being led in exercises by an "invisible" leader gave the impression of a group of robots.Theroux pointed out that the Japanese had created machines and then obeyed their orders and directives. He compared them to clockwork toys that would one day be worn out by the excessive demands of the machines.