Find Out How Japanese Work Culture and Phenomena Work

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Have you ever watched anime and dramas that depict how the culture and work phenomena in Japan are? What is your impression of the anime or drama? The culture and work phenomena in Japan are certainly different from the culture and work phenomena in Indonesia. In addition, working in Japan has its own characteristics and problems. 

While Japan’s work culture is often praised and admired, it is also often the subject of debate. It is renowned for its dedication, discipline, and strong work ethic, but there is another side to it that needs to be understood. This article will discuss in detail the key aspects of Japanese work culture and phenomena, including its pros and cons.

Japanese Work Culture

One of the Japanese work cultures is guidelines for valuing your work. In Japan, there are many companies whose employees are praised for prioritizing work over personal life. In addition, many workers prioritize their work even during family events and so on if there is work that must be done. 

Japan still has its culture work overtime. Although the upper limit of overtime has been set at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year, the overtime culture still exists. The background of the overtime culture is low wages and poor work efficiency. Poor work efficiency can be in the form of many wasteful meetings and paper-based documents.

After that, strict understanding of time applies in Japanese work culture. If you are even a few seconds late, you will be considered late and lose the trust of the people around you. No matter how talented you are, if you are not on time, you will be seen as someone who cannot do his job.

Japanese work culture is often described as having craftsman mentality. In addition, Japanese people have a firm and unwavering attitude that does their work seriously and diligently. Japanese people practice hard to improve their skills.

Japan is characterized by seniority based culture. Even if talented new workers join the company, their abilities are often not evaluated and their salaries are not raised. In addition, new workers will not be able to occupy permanent positions held by seniors. In general, the longer you work for a company, the higher your retirement benefits.

Japanese Work Phenomenon

Illustration of man and coworker

One of the characteristics of the Japanese work style is lifetime employment system. The lifetime employment system is designed as a form of stable employment contract to retain talented people. In addition, many people want to work in large companies with stable performance, so it can be said that there is a strong demand for lifetime employment in Japan. 

Over time, there has been an increase in the number of people who want to change jobs to advance their careers. Japan's stagnant or even declining economy has made it difficult for many companies to maintain a lifetime employment system. Technological advances and the emergence of performance-based systems have also reduced the number of companies adopting a lifetime employment system.

Another Japanese work phenomenon is long working hours including unpaid overtime. Unpaid overtime is considered a bad habit in the Japanese workplace. This is because the Japanese Labor Standards Act prohibits workers from working more than the official working hours of 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week.

Overtime work that exceeds official working hours must be paid with extra wages so that unpaid overtime is a violation of the Labor Standards Act. However, this is considered common, especially in workplaces that are short of workers.

After that, a work environment that makes it difficult for workers to take vacations is also a Japanese work phenomenon. In Japan, workers are given paid leave under the Labor Standards Act. However, in reality, most workers cannot use their paid leave. Many workers do not take paid leave because they feel that taking leave will cause problems for those around them.

It has become commonplace to recruiting new graduates in large numbers in Japan. Many new workers join the company at the same time, and for several months after joining the company, they will undergo careful training to develop them into the company's strength. 

The recruitment of new graduates in Japan is concentrated in April. The recruitment of new graduates in large numbers has been maintained for a long time because it is very suitable for a system such as lifetime employment.

Corporate Loyalty and Loyalty (Shushin Koyo)

One of the main pillars of Japanese work culture is shushin koyo, the system of lifetime employment. Although this system has faded in recent decades, especially in large companies, its philosophical legacy remains very strong. Employees are expected to show high levels of loyalty and dedication to the company, striving to contribute for many years, even for life. This creates a strong bond between employee and company, leading to stability and deep skill development. However, shushin koyo can also limit career mobility and innovation, as employees may be reluctant to move to another company.

Hard Work and Dedication (Ganbatte)

The word “ganbatte” is often heard in Japanese work life, showing the spirit of hard work and determination to overcome challenges. This culture encourages employees to work overtime, even late at night, to ensure that tasks are completed perfectly. Karoshi, death from overwork, is a sad phenomenon but a clear demonstration of the pressures of this work culture. Although many companies are trying to reduce excessive overtime practices, the pressure to meet expectations and meet targets remains high.

Consensus and Cooperation (Nemawashi)

Before important decisions are made, the nemawashi process is often conducted. This involves informal consultation and negotiation with the various parties involved to reach a consensus. This process ensures that all parties feel heard and that the decisions made are widely accepted. Although time-consuming, nemawashi can prevent conflict and encourage effective collaboration. However, this process can also slow down decision-making, especially in situations that require a quick response.

Hierarchy and Seniority (Senpai-Kohai) 

The seniority system plays a significant role in Japanese work culture. Senior employees (senpai) have respected authority and experience, while junior employees (kohai) are expected to respect and follow their lead. This system creates a clear structure and defined career path, but it can also stifle creativity and innovation if junior employees are hesitant to bring new ideas to the attention of their seniors. The senpai-kohai relationship often extends beyond the workplace, forming strong social bonds.

Meeting and Communication (Ringisho)

The ringisho system, where proposals and documents are submitted through a series of hierarchical approvals, is a hallmark of Japanese work culture. Documents are circulated to various levels of management for approval before being implemented. This process ensures accuracy and careful consideration, but it can also slow down the decision-making process. Written communication is often preferred over oral communication, to ensure a clear and detailed record.

Attention to Detail and Quality (Shokunin)

The concept of shokunin, a spirit of craftsmanship and dedication to quality, influences many aspects of Japanese work culture. Employees are expected to pay attention to detail and produce high-quality work. This is reflected in Japanese products, which are renowned for their quality and reliability. However, the emphasis on detail can lead to high stress and a lack of flexibility.

Company as Family (Kaizen)

The concept of kaizen, or continuous improvement, emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement in all aspects of work. Employees are encouraged to proactively identify and solve problems, to improve efficiency and productivity. The philosophy also embraces the idea of the company as a family, where employees feel a sense of ownership and shared responsibility.

Generational Differences

Japan’s younger generation is showing a shift in attitudes towards traditional work culture. They are placing less emphasis on shushin koyo and more value on a better work-life balance. They tend to be more vocal in expressing their needs and expectations, challenging the norms of established work culture.

Impact of Globalization

Globalization has brought significant changes to Japanese work culture. Japanese companies are increasingly adapting to international work practices, adopting a more flexible and results-oriented approach. However, some aspects of traditional work culture remain, creating an interesting dynamic between tradition and modernity.

Challenges and Future

Japan’s work culture faces significant challenges, including declining birth rates, an aging population, and global competition. Japanese companies need to adapt to demographic and economic changes, offering more attractive and balanced working conditions to attract and retain top talent. Balancing traditional values with modern needs is key to building a sustainable and competitive work culture.

Positive and Negative Aspects of Japanese Work Culture

A number of positive aspects of Japanese work culture namely the existence of a system regarding workers, many people take their work seriously, collaborate with others to complete work, can learn a lot while working, and are polite. The Labor Standards Act sets permissible working hours to prevent them from overworking and sets a minimum wage to protect workers from unfair wage arrangements.

Many Japanese people faithfully and sincerely complete the work given to them. In addition, many Japanese people may understand the importance of teamwork and communication in their work, because they are often required to work with others. If you have a skilled senior, you will be able to learn a lot about work, communication, and etiquette. This is because many companies are very strict about etiquette in Japan.

A number of negative aspects of Japanese work culture namely lack of sense of speed, dislike of change, often not clearly stated, every process takes time, and peer pressure. It is not uncommon for companies to need permission from their superiors to do something. Lack of sense of speed is one of the reasons why every process takes a lot of time. In addition, only a few people like change.

Japan has rules and etiquette in the workplace that are often not clearly stated, so people who are not used to them may feel a little confused. When Japanese people get together, there is often a feeling of peer pressure. This is because Japanese people feel they have to do something because everyone else is doing it even if it is not stated in the company rules.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Japanese work culture is a complex and dynamic system. While it contains many advantages such as dedication, teamwork, and high quality, it also has disadvantages such as excessive work pressure and lack of work-life balance. A deeper understanding of Japanese work culture, including its advantages and disadvantages, is essential to interacting and collaborating effectively with Japanese professionals, both inside and outside Japan. Change is constant, and adaptation is key to the sustainability of this work culture in a rapidly changing world.