Working in Japan

After watching the documentary and discussing Japanese work culture in class, one thing became very clear to me: overwork is a serious issue in Japan. The concept of karoshi (death from overwork) shocked me, and the idea that many people stay with the same company for their whole life feels very foreign to me. In Japan, long hours, minimal vacation, and a strong sense of group loyalty dominate the workplace. While this reflects their cultural perspective of dedication and shokunin (mastery), I personally value work-life balance and flexibility.

In my country, it’s more common to change jobs several times to find the right fit. I don’t mind working more than 40 hours per week, especially if it’s for something I believe in, like my future startup, but I think it’s essential to enjoy what you do. For me, job satisfaction and believing in the mission of the company matter more than loyalty for loyalty’s sake.

This class helped me see how deeply culture influences our view of work. Understanding these differences is key in a global world, especially as we prepare to enter international work environments.

Comments

  1. ElsaMay 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM

    Couldn't agree more thank you so much for your post :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AboodiMay 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM

    Yeah how much work the Japanese have to do gave me a really big culture shock, I wonder if the environment is like that in Japanese companies in outside countries or in foreign companies in Japan.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CatherineMay 19, 2025 at 11:16 PM

    Im agree with you, work in Japan it’s totally crazy, I could never work this much. Thanks for you post it’s interesting !

    ReplyDelete
  4. AliMay 19, 2025 at 11:19 PM

    I agree, most people only for the money. They didnt care about what the side effect they get by working long hours in a field that they didnt like, in a culture that they didnt match. But working is one of the most time consuming part of your life so thats why its essential to do the job that you like.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulesMay 19, 2025 at 11:21 PM

    The karoshi shocked me too! It sounds so horrifying, couldn’t agree more

    ReplyDelete

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