How the Japanese salaryman often ends up miserable here. Why it is so common and how it comes about.

Why they want to become salarymen in the first place and how it in many cases ends up in misery.
#japaneseculture #ruraljapan #japanesefood #soulfood #Retiringinjapan #australianinJapan #aussieinjapan #fujiapples #jimoty #retiretojapan #buyinglandinjapan #japanoldhouse #japaninterviews #interviewjapan #startabusinessinjapan #japancatcafe #abandonedhouse #akiya #uppbeat #japaneselanguage #japanese #japan #australianinjapan
#japanese #kominka #akiya #emptyhouse #ruraljapan #inaka #japanesecountryside #abandonedhouses #farminginjapan #cafejapan.
Early next year i plan to expand my rural Japan cafe to include rescuing stray cats in my area to turn it into a unique Cat Cafe. Any help is very much appreciated.
www.buymeacoffee.com/realrura...

[@jonmarshall1502]

Before we got married,I told my Japanese G/F if she was expecting a life of luxury and what not that she should leave me now. All I promised was to make her laugh. Together almost 20 years now.

[@RealRuralJapan]

I got married on the beach 25 years ago in a rented suit not a lot has changed financially since then! Haha!

[@jonmarshall1502]

@@RealRuralJapan I didn’t even bother with the suit 😂

[@valdius85]

@@RealRuralJapan I got married wearing her grandpa kimono 😂 It was my size as well ❤ She earns more than I and is smarter than I.

[@Mike-ry4ti]

Same here mate, transactional relationships are doomed to failure.

[@valdius85]

@@Mike-ry4ti depending on what values are transacted and what someone’s values are to begin with. All relationships are transactional.

[@midnightteapot5633]

Mort in French means death, it is not called a Mortgage for nothing.

[@franko8572]

And “gage” means “pledge”. “Mort”+”Gage”=Mortgage “Death”+”Pledge”= Death Pledge

[@davidbagley1783]

True

[@user-rt4fw5fk3u]

That’s deep man!

[@stevens1041]

Love details such as this.

[@ln5747]

Because obviously you have to continue to pay it back until you die, if you don't do so before then. Why wouldn't you?

[@jjj12384]

I get it now why so many isekai genre is about middle age guy > europe style world > become younger > adventure system where increasing rank is all merit based. Sounds like the whole nation want the same thing

[@vladys5238]

one funny element is that even in their most radical fantasies... there still is a level fo reverence and respect for the "old guard" whenever you have some crazy senior person who is clearly not as capable as our protagonist the protagonist will bow do the whole ceremony and never come directly in conflict with that person. They can't even imagine completely disrespecting a senior even if he's stupid and it's a fantasy setting. The fantasy is "Doing literally any small thing that doesn't align or taking a shortcut around the system and outsmarting it"

[@crypticcorgi8280]

Kinda like how some of us really look down on the "manic pixie dream girl" trope in America. But never wondering why men are drawn to women that actually cares about their emotions and instead of seeing them as a burden for having emotions. There is actual compassion given towards men's emotions. Why would that be popular here?

[@rifqimujahid4907]

bro whyd u assume the whole country watches anime xD

[@DinnerForkTongue]

​@@rifqimujahid4907 Because it's their culture?

[@Mr.TrUnrBrigs-oo4yz]

​@@DinnerForkTongueit really isn't their culture, just a tiny part of it we get to see more than the other bits we wouldn't understand.

[@youreyesarebleeding1368]

I've often heard this saying, "Japan is the only nation that has been stuck in the year 2000 for four decades," implying that Japan was ahead of their time during the economic boom during the 80s, but has since stagnated and the world has caught up and surpassed them. This type of work culture is unproductive, which perhaps plays a role in their lackluster economic growth. Me personally, if I were living in Japan, I would not be motivated to engage with this work culture. I would try to make enough to get by on my own via side hustles, and either spend my time doing what I wanted or leave Japan for better employment prospects.

[@GaryCameron]

Floppy disk is still widely used in Japan

[@gino14]

"Japan is twenty years ahead of its time, forty years ago."

[@Cfb2987]

@@GaryCameron Really!? Oy!!

[@TimmyT-ri5lo]

Europe is behind 2000s

[@DinnerForkTongue]

​@@GaryCameron Floppy disk, fax and paper currency.

[@valdius85]

The depressing thing is also that the skills many of the salarymen have are useless. Much of the overtime is unproductive. So the salary per hour is relatively low since unproductive companies pay little money. Endless spreadsheet updates of smaller and smaller tasks to do. Other companies do these tasks, so there is no skill gained.. To clarify, I mean the work environment, not individuals. There are many great employees in Japan.

[@RealRuralJapan]

A company that needs its workers to work overtime means it already is an unproductive company. If people can't get the work done in 8 hours, it means the management is at fault with its systems. The issue is the management usually think they are the smart ones because they have experience. Experience is important but if you are an experienced idiot, it doesn't help the situation at all.

[@Wheelio]

@@RealRuralJapan *"Experience is important but if you are an experienced idiot, it doesn't help the situation at all."* This joke made me laugh too hard! Too true! Thank you!

[@LBC_squared]

​@@RealRuralJapanMazda.

[@LBC_squared]

​@@8bg201for reals.... Ppl at Mazda get promoted if it's the proper time.... Like wtf. Then the employee has to write an essay of why they want to be an associate manager.... What happened to rewarding for performance...

[@japaneselonewolf]

Overtime anywhere is unproductive. Staying late and working weekends doesn’t mean quality work is being performed. Stop having endless meetings that eat up the eight hour day.

[@user-rp7bi7mk9x]

I'm a 25 yo man living in osaka. Been here for 6 years and just got out of a relationship with my Japanese ex fiancée because she wanted to have fun lol. Really opened my eyes and gave me a certain perspective about life. I'm still working on my dream to become an architect but I see the older guys at work here and I don't wanna end up like that. I'd rather have fun and live my life to the fullest. Plus it's not hard to get women personally but takes money to go out and stuff. The salaries are very low. It's pretty brutal here and I wish I was prepared when I came here but I don't regret anything. I've learned a lot.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Better to find out now than later.

[@user-rp7bi7mk9x]

@@RealRuralJapan true that

[@WaldoBagelTopper]

I am sorry to hear that, but I am glad to hear that your life is still yours to pursue your dream. I hope that things get easier somehow for you my friend. Women come, women go. But your success will be yours and your own.

[@HandSolitude]

If the salaries are low you probably have to go elsewhere to make money.

[@effexon]

@@HandSolitude other option is to make use of cheaper real estate and use that salary to pay off house/apartment. essentially let time work for you if work situation is stable.

[@s_alum]

I'm Japanese and yea, just walk away from bigger company... I myself is IT engineer / programmer and lots of my friends wanted to pursue stability and reliability on their life/income, I chose to go with very small but super productive software production team in Tokyo (kinda closer to European style of company culture... I know this because I studied in UK uni for about 2 years and had a friend doing internship in local web engineering company). Salary is more than double of some of my same-aged friend's one, and I'm happy that I did so. There is a term called "JTC" which stands for "Japanese Traditional Company", which are the companies which have exact company cultures that were talked about in the video. Normally JTC means fewer, bigger, better ones (like NTT, Toshiba, SONY, Fujitsu, Toyota, Nissin, Dentsu, FujiTV, etc...) though we still judge companies by whether they have "traditional Japanese style work culture". I personally HATE it, but some of my friends kind of liked their stability. I personally think this is not a good idea for Japanese economics, and hope new business will grow in Japan better.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Risk adverse when it comes to jobs here which is understandable in a way. I definitely couldn't do it.

[@a_bravestrong]

As I once read: “Men go broke trying to prove they are not broke to women who are broke.”

[@whitygoose]

as it was foretold.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yes

[@pulkitriat3301]

Gotta take a screenshot

[@rengurenge]

That's whole meaning of mens life, mating, reproduction.

[@stevens1041]

I'm from a very expensive city in North America. Always amazed me how I could buy products from Taiwan, Korea, even Japan, much cheaper than the Japanese can. One of my hobbies is building computers--couldn't believe the parts all cost more over in Tokyo. I had a fantasy of Japan as this technological wonderland, especially since they used to make a lot of those products--nope. I realized quickly, life in Japan is tough.

[@RealRuralJapan]

They did and then the consumer wants cheaper and cheaper and then it goes somewhere else. Every country has it turn when it comes to all what makes up the sweet spot of overall cost and quality expected by the end user.

[@Cordycep1]

electronic wonderland was is 80s & 90s with the sony walkman

[@whiterabbit3439]

Lived in Japan 95-98... electronics/Japanese cars domestically cheaper. I think the weak Yen is the issue now.

[@qjtvaddict]

Try Chinese parts

[@Stinger913]

@@RealRuralJapankinda insightful tbh. Like rn we think of China as a center for cheap and increasingly quality consumer goods, including electronics. Regardless of how you feel about the government, therm’s the facts. But there’s already talk of once China develops where will the manufacturing shift to? Southeast Asia? India is mentioned a lot. Who knows maybe in 30-40 years from now India will become that new country known for the affordable goods as China passes the baton for that type of consumer good manufacturing.

[@highbrand]

Had a management position in Japan and used to leave before my kids woke up and came home after they were in bed. Now backin my home country I'm happy I get to see my kids every day. Not as many public holidays though.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Good on you man it is never worth it.

[@JasonISF]

Where's your home country?

[@highbrand]

@JasonISF surprised by how few public holidays in Australia compared to Japan

[@JasonISF]

@@highbrand yeah and I reckon they should make all the public holidays national, instead of different ones state by state.

[@rcane6842]

​@@highbranddo you think Australia, in general, has quite a laid-back work force?

[@mebeasensei]

..yeag..can relate about renovating. Im aussie and we love our old houses and renovating. Aussie guy in Japan: Hey, Mariko, we can buy an empty rural house and land for almost nothing, do it up and live a dream life! Mariko : old house??? eeeewwwww, eeeekk, yuck, no thanks. I'd prefer we get a brand new mansion (Japanese cookie-cutter apartment in high rise block) off the plan for 600K dollars ..where pets are banned, where we have to pay a monthly maintenance fee and a building fund consolidation fee that adds up to a 500 bucks a month! And then we can also pay 250 bucks for parking! And you can't play a guitar, piano, make any noise, keep a parrot..in fact you can't do anything. ! And as a bonus, it depreciates to nothing in twenty years!!!

[@Alcorcon2000]

Does it depreciate because they build newer buildings? They become outdated quickly.

[@sebas8225]

It depreciates because of japan's natural disasters good luck trying to raise value on a home hit by a natural disaster.

[@RealRuralJapan]

@sebas8225 and @Alcorcon2000 Women decide what house is bought and they like new houses this is the real reason. If women liked old houses they would be worth a fortune.

[@cultusdeus]

I hope she was shown the door, right?

[@Avantime]

@@RealRuralJapan This is true in all of East Asia, because not too long ago everyone, including the Japanese, were living in relative poverty compared to Europe, US or Australia. For them there's no 'charm' in old Showa-era heritage buildings like we do with the Victorian-style villas, it's either houses with old, cheap wood and rusty corrugated iron, or apartments with no elevators. Apart from some heritage Ryokans in Onsen towns, I'm sure most Japanese would rather have these old houses knocked down. Another thing is that old houses need a lot of upkeep, and DIY isn't in their nature as most middle class people consider such manual work as 'beneath them'.

[@jiyushugi1085]

Very well done! An accurate summation of the plight of many salarymen. Nice house you got there. I must've been lucky. I was a poor, part-time English teacher in Kyoto when I met my wife to be. She came from a wealthy family but was quite happy to marry me. I went on to become a well-paid translator, copywriter and interpreter working for Dentsu and other large companies. That was almost 40 years ago and we're still very happily married.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Very cool!

[@leifdux7277]

Whao that's amazing! Happy for you! (*ˊᵕˋo🍰oﾄﾞｫｿﾞ

[@USBEN.]

Like a fantasy setting. Very rare.

[@bryanferguson4927]

If the government is serious about the depopulation issues, they need to implement some societal changes. There are a number of issues, but the long work hours followed by drinking with the team every night needs to be reined in. People are too tired to take care of the emotional needs of themselves or their families and they're definitely too tired to pillow.

[@RealRuralJapan]

So, you want the government to tell people not to drink after work and somehow enforce it? No thanks.

[@bigwavesun]

You know, as a kid Japan sounded awesome, but as an adult I dont even like half my coworkers so this salary man thing sounds like a big old hell no

[@edwardfletcher7790]

70 and 80yo Japanese politicians are NEVER going to implement change. That's why Japan is struggling with so many societal problems, the old guard are still running the country like it's the 1990's ☹️ It makes me so sad to see, because I love the country and people so much 🫤

[@ii4826]

@@edwardfletcher7790 You make it sound as if the West, which is embracing change, should be a successful and good place.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@ii4826 I'm taking exclusively about Japan. This conversation is about Japan and its gerontocracy problem.

[@GfSavages]

I always knew generally that Japanese work culture was very hard on Salarymen but I never have heard it put in such a straight forward manner. Thank you for explaining it.

[@RealRuralJapan]

It can be brutal for many, but it works for some.

[@ElRigs83]

All women want security and in a capitalist society that usually means money

[@stumac869]

It's same in any society. The only difference in a communist country is nobody has any money except the elite party members who live in luxury.

[@visuals2763]

They should probably get to work then

[@nikitaw1982]

and don't deliver much in return.

[@nikitaw1982]

they want shiney things. like children.

[@crypticcorgi8280]

If that is so, then what is more secure than making your own money? Idk, kinda seems like a justification to reduce men's human worth to what is in their wallets. A bit of a gynocentric take. Kinda just pawning off that agency to capitalism. When there are more options in capitalism than relying on others based on self imposed gender roles. As a man, I prefer women who carry their own wieght. A partnership, not an entitled dependant.

[@James-yl3kk]

Imagine if instead you bought an older house cheap and instead dumped all those mortgage payments into an investment fund. 25 years later you'd have a massive retirement fund. Millions of empty properties, but people would rather live in an expensive shoebox.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Most Japanese women you mean. Most blokes would live in a cave and be perfectly fine after they found their perfect wife.

[@Marconius6]

Ah yes, all you'd have to do is live in a shitty, cheap old house for 25 years...

[@James-yl3kk]

@@Marconius6 yes I know, no women will do this LOL

[@Marconius6]

@@James-yl3kk Wasn't talking about women, I wouldn't do it either, that doesn't sound worth it at all.

[@James-yl3kk]

@@Marconius6 you prefer the 35 year mortgage

[@madmerlot841]

I hated office politics. Good thing I live in the states and remote work since 2020. Most of the people I work with are women visa workers from South Asia who live in the states so I'm not really missing much social-wise when I was in the office. Way different culture from Japan salaryman culture thankfully.

[@jboquiren1]

It looks like such a beautiful drive with the mountains in the background!

[@gendalfgray7889]

Same life everywhere, nowhere to run from slavery. But some places have it better than others.

[@dimmacommunication]

True

[@user-cp3ip3rw7r]

An Indonesian who works as a construction worker in Japan said, "Japan is easy. Working in Indonesia is much more difficult."😅

[@ChimeraGilbert]

I’m not an expert on Japan, but I will say that I think their fixation on seniority and respect is self-defeating. In Japan you’re taught to always respect your senior, not to be a nuisance, and to follow orders. This is interesting because Japan has some of the lowest crime rates in the world. But they also have this issue of the dead-end job prospect.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yrs😮😮

[@James-yl3kk]

It's so true about the new stuff. I think it's basically peer pressure. They'd rather have huge debts than a cheap old house and no debt.

[@RealRuralJapan]

I remember when the fad started when everyone was ripping up carpets in Australia and polishing their floorboards. The older Aussies were like i grew up in a cold house with floorboards I'll keep my carpet thank you very much! What are these people doing! This is now the standard for most new and renovated houses. Basic standards change over time and Japanese people remember grannies cold old kominka and they want nothing to do with it. I live in one floorboards and all and they are nowhere near as comfortable as a modern house and if you are starting a family that is a whole other concern. I understand where they are coming from and the standard has changed for them.

[@bigwavesun]

Its the old nail that sticks out mentality I bet. They basically peer pressure each other into misery

[@marlan5470]

@@RealRuralJapan Welcome to the 21st century: you can easily install underfloor heating (even hidden wall heating) with a modest budget and add new insulation.

[@RealRuralJapan]

@marlan5470 If you can afford the bills you can but most Aussies are hocked to the hilt.

[@marlan5470]

@@RealRuralJapan Check to see if this is true: "Australia's Federal government has recently approved a new initiative to reduce energy consumption by Aussie Homes with the Homeowner Insulation Program which offers installation of roofing insulation valued up to $1,200. This grant is available to owners as well as landlords of residential property in Australia."

[@Avantime]

This is true in all of East Asia, because the women prefer not to work after having kids, especially attractive ones who'd rather spend their time chatting with other housewives in cafes, nail salons or whatever. That means the men has to have the means (i.e. a house and a luxury car) and the security of a secure job in a big firm/government in order to support them on a single income. The risk adverse nature of Japanese women also means that they usually don't date outside their preferred comfort zones, until they're too old. The young and attractive ones get swooped up quickly, while the career-focused and plain-looking ones march on, and then try and settle for less after heavy prodding by their parents. Of course one who marries for money and economic security rather than love, emotional connection and shared experiences would eventually find the marriage becoming stale, and that's when the cheating occurs.

[@StylishCasuall]

Yeah but there are also plenty of stories about asian women not wanting to marry because they'll be expected to quit. I guess it goes both ways: both parties kind of expect things to turn out this way

[@Avantime]

​@@StylishCasuall Oh yeah, but here's the thing: Many women in Japan don't have a career that is worth continuing, because opportunities for promotion are limited, and men fear competition. Your average Japanese office lady (OL) is often stuck in a career dead-end after 10 years, and they get pressured from colleagues and bosses telling them that they're supposed to get married and quit. Very few get promoted to middle and senior management, especially in the big old firms full of old fashioned patriarchy, where the pecking order is set out far in advance via seniority and which university (or even which year/class) they went to, and the men knew their place in the seniority list. Those women who push on are either working for foreign multinationals (much higher glass ceiling/meritocracy), Small businesses and family enterprises, female dominated careers e.g. Nurses, and those in esteemed jobs e.g. female doctors, lawyers and academics. And some women actually love their jobs, either that or they made too many sacrifices to get where they are, just to marry and quit. It's less common in South Korea, China and others. That's because unlike Japan, real estate there is so completely unaffordable that no man could ever pay off a mortgage on a single income, so both partners have to work. For example it's extremely uncommon to find Millennial/Gen Z women as housewives in Hong Kong, and the glass ceiling there for women matches Europe/US. Many HK households hire Filipino and Indonesian maids to cook and get their kids to school, while both parents tough it out in the office. Still most women, if they have the looks, would much rather be a trophy housewife than to get stressed out at work, every working day until retirement.

[@jcg4350]

​@@Avantime average salary for filipino maid in HK is barely 600 USD for a more than full time job: in-house maids are available 24H a day, 6 days a week, almost modern slavery. So convenient for HK wives to have a dedicated maid for peanuts.

[@itsnelson123]

"This is true in all of East Asia... blablabla" ..really? In all of East Asia? Huh? What a Loser talk.

[@Avantime]

@@jcg4350 What can I say, people will go to where the money is. It just happens that the HKD is going up as it's pegged to the USD. And if you think Filipinos had it tough in HK, have a look at Saudi Arabia.

[@David-fq6ly]

Having worked in Tokyo for almost 20 years now and considering to move to rural Japan and start my own business now this hit close to home. Subbed! Also the area you live in looks really nice!

[@RealRuralJapan]

Cheers. I hope the move works well for you.

[@_BlueHorseshoe_]

Insightful and agrees with all the economic and demographic data. I’d like to point out one thing though: no matter how fast you climb the corporate ladder, there are only so many positions above you. This is true in every country and any type of economic system, and why systems should distribute power and wealth more evenly, or at least provide an opportunity to the individual to create their own wealth.

[@efovex]

Beautiful footage and interesting insights! Thanks!

[@RealRuralJapan]

Cheers

[@pji1979]

Came across this randomly and it's super interesting. Thanks!

[@RealRuralJapan]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@cultusdeus]

If she insists on brand new then it isn't love, it's business.

[@RealRuralJapan]

It has become the standard unfortunately. Try giving a secondhand wedding ring to most women in the west and look at their face. A new larger diamond ring is the standard if a woman is marrying an older guy too.

[@ytaaccount]

just want to say that your precise and concise descriptions of the situations some of the men are in are done extremely well and really helps in understanding the overall social picture. appreciate that.

[@cocolenchojapan]

I missed this video! I love Japan but would have a very hard time working for a Japanese company. Being former military and government employee I totally understand and agree. We get complacent and comfortable with our steady paycheck. I am struggling with that now as I wish to retire soon in my early 50s.

[@ellye3400]

You omit mentioning that are still quite significant, traditional social pressures in Japan on women being expected to give up their jobs, stay home and raise a family if they get married. Sure more people are staying single & remaining in the workforce but many employers in Japan still treat a woman's marriage announcement like it's her farewell whether she wants to resign or not, the pressure and expectations are there to conform. Some of my friends loved their jobs but said the office atmosphere definitely changed, comments here and there from colleagues, and they were 'encouraged' to quit.

[@RealRuralJapan]

You are correct as well. So many things to talk about and trying to put it all in a video is impossible. But what i like about feedback like this is i can certainly try to cover this. Most of my customers are women and i am sure i can get some accurate information on this exact situation. Cheers and thanks for pointing this out.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Early next year i plan to expand my rural Japan cafe to include rescuing stray cats in my area to turn it into a unique Cat Cafe. Any help is very much appreciated. www.buymeacoffee.com/realruraljapan

[@RealRuralJapan]

I like rescuing cats but my channel is about Real Rural Japan. I don't chase views, clickbait or do any of that other nonsense. What you see is how it is.

[@tonysmith8379]

I subscribed as soon as I read this. Good video.

[@Bax365]

Best of luck to you and your business good sir.

[@lolroflroflcakes]

To be fair I feel like the large majority of office jobs in most places arent conducive to good mental health. Last time I had an office job it was in a pretty good environment with friendly people and it still made me miserable. So i guess basically everyone just needs to ditch the office and learn to fly. In my experience airplanes solve most issues.

[@lordnorthumberland277]

Yeah, this is something I came to realize a little while ago. Office culture in general is hell. America has too much political correctness, diversity hiring, HR nannying and frequently abysmal pay and benefits with frequently tone deaf or malicious bosses. The fact is, Japan's office culture sucks, but so does America albeit for different reasons. All the more reason to be self employed or be blue collar/a tradesman.

[@mark9294]

Great video. Subbed

[@yakisobapancake1234]

I used to live in Osaka and I had a Japanese wife...I can relate to this video😂

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Ohh that "had" hurts 🫤

[@jtho8937]

Had? :(

[@UltraPayrollMaster]

you had me at "had".

[@jeffwilliams7054]

Did you divorce or separate? Are you ok with sharing what happened?

[@ryanray6215]

@@jeffwilliams7054 Japanese wives love when the husband is not at home , only comes late late night to sleep . Husband role for a Japanese wife is to bring the money , all the money he makes ! And that is it . When he retires , usually wife kicks him out of the house and divorce is normal at that late stage .

[@fancymcclean6210]

Fascinating. Subscribed. Greetings from NZ. Flaxen Saxon

[@davidbagley1783]

Everyone has strong feelings... its our nature to want to be free

[@seraph741]

It's not going to change until they stop doing it. If it's going to make them unhappy, they need to reject the societal norms. I get that there are systemic barriers in the way, but at the end of the day, they are choosing to be unhappy. They have other options; they just might not be easy options.

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

Fascinating insight into Japanese culture. Thank you.

[@artezan3970]

I’m a recent grad considering working remotely as a Software Engineer in rural Japan to save on money. The U.S. is pretty much unaffordable for the younger generation. I’m considering finding a way to live there, as an English teacher and part time remote developer. Getting a visa/residency will be interesting…

[@RealRuralJapan]

Good luck. Rural Japan is best Japan!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

English teacher work is NOT easy. Please do LOTS of research... You might also consider countries in SE Asia where it's $50/week for a nice apartment and lots of people speak a little English.

[@vavibab]

I want to try that too, Japan dev shows a lot of job offers, most of the full remote offers I've seen require you to be already there and be at least mid level. But I guess you could get a us job and work from Japan

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@vavibab The job offers generally presume you have a Japan resident permit...

[@thomasawdffaw123]

what? like 80% of the U.S. are super affordable. Just don't live in a big city

[@lindsaybrown7357]

Interesting observations and insights. Also enjoyed the drive through the town. Visted last year, coming back this year, renting a car might be a good way to get around. Agree about The Office, one of the best shows made. All the best from a fellow Aussie.

[@user-lt2tb7ri5n]

Great video.

[@jeffwilliams7054]

Thank you

[@RealRuralJapan]

You're welcome.

[@mina_chiba]

I subscribe for the black cat! Hello from Chiba!

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

Makes me feel very good about my early attempts at dating and my work life over the last 45 years. Interest video.

[@ashermanangan]

thank you for showing the rural japan

[@nathanbutcher7720]

Socities working against men - especially in the dating scene - has been in every society that has even been or will likely ever be. It's just that Japan is particularly brutal.

[@cassandra2968]

Technically, wouldn't have been men who have worked against each other? Women who seek new and expensive things learn from their fathers most of the time. In order to prove that she can be taken care of. It goes back to ancient times. Hence dowries which still go on in some cultures.

[@nathanbutcher7720]

@@cassandra2968 it goes back to biology. Men can sire endless number of children but women only one every 9 months. To that end, women only need one good man and have no need for the rest. What do the rest of the men do? Get enslaved or killed off in wars or fight among each other. It's not women's fault, but as a consequence.

[@Yogurt4655]

Societies working against men lmao, get real. Men rule the world and always have. Any perceived injustice against men as a gender is the fault of the patriarchy 99% of the time, you just don’t want to admit it.

[@acceptablecasualty5319]

​@@cassandra2968I wouldn't say that they learn from their fathers in general, but rather the relationship dynamic of their parents in general? Of course, that also includes the father. But yeah a lot of societies are moving to economies were it'd probably be better if both parents worked short-ish hours, instead of one parent being the absentee provider

[@ultimobile]

last time I stayed in outer Tokyo I regularly caught the train back out at 1030pm at night and saw it full of salarymen in suits just coming home from work. Yep the stories of Japanese retirement divorce because they've never spent any time together before and suddenly realised they are not compatible !? Urk.

[@TimBrislawn]

Thanks for the brilliant and concise explanations . . . and it was so enjoyable listening while taking a fun car ride in the country. I wish you would make a quick mention of what prefecture this is.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Nagano.

[@colincowie640]

Nice video

[@OHHHHUSBANT]

Really puts into perspective having a hobby in competitive counter strike and tech brings a level of happiness while trying to be an adult

[@dannygrant251]

Subscribed 👍🏻

[@meln4214]

Great and insightful video. I also live the "Ricky Gervais" office 😂❤

[@CushionSapp]

Interesting

[@georgeinjapan6583]

Later the wife and children often despise their providing husband (usually for not spending enough time with them after working 60 hrs./wk)...disgusting.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Yep

[@cristobal.ashton]

Spot on

[@flyingcardinal]

beautiful country side

[@RealRuralJapan]

Yeah, its nice out here.

[@kiwihame]

In New Zealand we call such women "Gold Diggers". I feel very sorry for the Japanese Salaryman. I buy stuff from Japan, and prices are exorbitant.

[@Koba_78]

This seems to be the case across East, South East, and South Asia. Their work cultures are very similar.

[@captainsunbear5472]

ya but only young women can give birth to babies, who else are they going to marry?

[@maymay-ci1oi]

Quick, how old is too old to have kids... Show me your knowledge

[@based_circuit]

@@maymay-ci1oi For men, technically never. For women, sometime in their 40s, since fertility exponentially drops off a cliff every year past 36 or 38.

[@laulaja-7186]

Ya know something else, only young women have enough of their lives left to raise those babies too. Especially since modern society has extended childhood well into middle age with education, and s lot of humans never do reach economic viability within their lifetimes given skyrocketing rents and property costs.

[@rengurenge]

​@@laulaja-7186So women already are expected to do it all and raise children alone while "men never expires" even when they are 5 minutes before grave because they already plan to drop all childcare and survival and hardships on womens shoulders, then men wonder why women don't want anything of this and avoid them like disease.

[@rapid789]

With which country do you compare? I worked/studied in a number of EU countries and the US, but conditions there are often much worse than in Japan. Especially for people at the lower end of the employment sector. Most Italian men in their 30s still live at home bacause their salary with internships etc is so low they cannot afford any flat.

[@RealRuralJapan]

People like to talk about Japan and the sexless marriage and no baby thing. But the Europeans it seems have just been watching Eurovision for the last 40 years and not getting much done themselves. The demographics and situation in Italy is absolutely dire.

[@rapid789]

@@RealRuralJapan Yes, the demographics of Western Europe is indeed interesting. If you take into account that a large percentage of the children born has a foreign background it means that without the large waves of immigrants from the Balkans, then the middleeast etc some places would be empty. I live in Vienna and there is some truth in it when one says: 97% of people in retirement homes/geriatric hospitals are Austrians, 90% caring for them are foreign and 70% of the children on the subway have a foreign background. When I am in Japan (my mother is from there) I still see that most people (97%) are indeed Japanese, even in the young demographic groups and even in big cities.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@RealRuralJapanfloods of Eastern European cheap labor didn’t help

[@acceptablecasualty5319]

One of the biggest flaws of early Eurozone economy is their failure to stimulate construction for housing. It's the single most important type of infrastructure

[@hailsatyr]

Been living in Japan for 6 years, got married here. Most of the things explained are not new to me, but it's good to see this perspective. I also told my wife a few times that it's cheaper to buy a used car or used house, but she says the insurance is going to be more expensive than a new house at the end.

[@monoruby3113]

To me, this sounds quite similar to the Turkish parental mindset that is "Okuyun memur olun çocuğum." (EN: "Study and become an officer/civil servant/white-collar(?), my son.") Parents wish so hard for their children to become government office workers, mainly for the financial safety and stability reasons mentioned here. Private sector companies are evil and should not be trusted. (Heh, as if the government is an angel.) And then, they will have an expensive marriage (mostly because traditions) and so on and so forth. Or at least this was the case until the recent years. Not because the mindset vanished or anything, but the economy crashed so hard that nobody can afford to live anymore. You can't have a stable life in a country that's constantly rolling downhill. At least Japan has that part going quite better for them.

[@cccc87659]

does salaryman mean someone who works at a big company? I was really surprised to learn you cant job hope there...what a crusher to innovation and efficiency... for men is salaryman the most common type of job if you live in the city? what would be considered the other big categories...trades person? (i imagine entrepreneur and artist are a thing, but they must be a vast minority)

[@RealRuralJapan]

Pen Pushers who are paid a salary and usually require a suit for work.

[@zane176]

I was in Japan for a month in March. I heard about the salaryman or sometimes called 社畜(shachiku). My job life isn’t as bad as theirs, but I could still relate to them. I would often go to izakayas and hang out with them. They’re some of the chillest people in Japan. I often bought them drinks. I miss hanging out with them. Hopefully, they’re doing okay.

[@Endymion766]

A poor young man could get married in the old days. What's changed? Women have changed. They don't want young poor men anymore and the older guys just sort of use them for fun times. No more marriages, no more families.

[@RealRuralJapan]

It's the i deserve more mentality.

[@jiyushugi1085]

The women are also working more now, many in good jobs. They look at the lives their mothers have and say, "No thanks." They're self sufficient and are doing just fine without marrying.

[@Endymion766]

@@jiyushugi1085 yes, they have changed. women once could see the beauty in romance and motherhood and looked forward to it. They no longer can. It puzzles me that they see my boring office job as preferable. Well, they can have it.

[@maymay-ci1oi]

I don't get it, as an woman, the idea of marrying a guy more that 5 years older than me sounds disgusting

[@maymay-ci1oi]

​@@Endymion766women like men need resources and money, in the past women, due to patriarchy, were forced to seek out a man to get resources, now they can do that on their own. Men need to be more interesting now a days

[@cryptoslacker-464]

Love the America version of the office. Great show lol. I realised yesterday I'm what is termed a ; "economic nihilist". While I think I probably am. I don't feel I can fit into what is deemed normal or typical, in the work force . So I just do work to get by and take economic risks than might seem crazy to others. But for me I can't win the traditional way, so therefore, I have nothing to lose anyway. Or I need to take the road less travelled to succeed. I think it's working so far. No immediate large success. It's a slow path but better than working yourself into an early grave 🙂

[@gsdggasgs1799]

Thank you so much for your advice previously. You suggested I watch your "how not to buy a akiya" video again, I did and it makes sense. This video confirms what I suspected. My experience in Japan so far was about the same. When I came here I also knew Japan had this hierarchical seniority based system they inherited from their militaristic past, and as cringe as it is I came here seeking that "stability" and belief that they would accept me into that as I well, look outwardly Japanese and ??? The salary thing I make a "relatively high salary" working in IT but its peanuts compared to when I was in the US and what does it matter if you are going to take on debt (mortgage) and they will keep printing/devaluing money. Now I'm 5 years older and with what has happened in my life, and the broader world, i realize that i was a idiot. I still am a idiot, maybe the pendulum swings. But you seem to be a example that maybe letting the pendulum swing would be good. I'm sorry for making this seem personal. It's just stress from Japan stuff.

[@AmbuBadger]

I always thought it would be nice to work and live there, but as I got older, I realized it was far better to work _here_ and vacation _there._ Hawaii is full of Japanese women living here via marriage, and 99% of my buddies are with a woman who is a totally different gal from the one they were dating. Sure, that's how a lot of women are, but until you date Japanese girls, you won't really understand it! I'm a _hafu_ and my mom used to live in Tokyo-- I used to think that would make me an ideal candidate for living there, but now I know better.

[@user-ll9qk2el4d]

Very informative.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Glad you liked it.

[@lbennhtx6072]

Sad situation. 😮

[@thatguynar]

This is one of the reasons I’ve always hesitated accepting a job offer with the option to move to Japan even if I really really like the country. The work culture is just so archaic compared to what I’m used to. Even if I live in a 3rd world country at least here I’m being paid very decently and living a comfortable and relatively stress-free work life. It’s a nice place to visit but I can’t really see myself working there. I’ve seen these Japanese salarymen a lot of times whenever we visit Japan and most of them look tired and depressed.

[@DaakkuuYRS]

I don't understand what those salarymen guys are thinking. What's the point in getting married and having children if you don't have time to see them and just being a working machine?

[@eurekasevenwave2297]

They might just not know anything different. It seems to be pervasive in that culture. That said, they would do themselves solid for some introspection and learning to let go of what society WANTS them to do, vs what THEY want to do.

[@Malumen]

Societal scripts, you still get to spread your genes. It's also brainwashed to be the only way to bring Japan back to the glory days of the 60s-70s.

[@MidwestBoom]

They're not thinking they're told. This is how you succeed in society. So that's what they do and then they don't realize until years down-the-line that's its not a good idea.

[@GE0attack]

Well my dud you follow the herd in Japan anyone who sticks out that's not seen as good so people do whatever they can to fit the social fabric they are part of.

[@lineage13]

I quit my CEO job in Tokyo partially because there's just too much drinking.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Yeah, it is a boozy culture these guys are always passed out on trains.

[@Matthew_Ssali]

Try coming to the uk😂 here it starts at 15-16 people drink before before getting drunk(pre's at home) ,then on there way to going out (drink from a corner shop), then drink at the bar/club.

[@acceptablecasualty5319]

​@@Matthew_SsaliThat's for fun. In Japan you work to eight, and are expected to go on a crawl not with friends, but your co-workers

[@Harve6988]

What is there alternative to being "a salary man". When does being a salary man just become "having a job"? How do you choose not to be a salary man? Is it just have your own business? What about western companies in Japan? Surely they aren't the same? How are younger men able to get married or attract partners? Or do they just not? Or are there select people for who this doesn't matter for? Anyway the whole thing seems pretty idiotic, anti-meritocratic, and probably is the reason Japan does so diabolically in productivity stats.

[@Matthew_Ssali]

Hikiomori

[@FunkyKiwi7]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. It's very helpful in understanding their mindset and culture.. I think you articulated it very well.

[@radomirblazik]

Awwww , what a landscape... Looks like northeastern Spain, the highlands of Teruel or the lower Pyrenees to be more exact.. But less run down. With cute villages and actual public transportation Do they need hang glider instructors over there? Asking for a friend...:-)

[@Poirecorp]

Figuring out left side driving, while listening to an articulate explanation on social issues in Japan is an oddly enriching experience.

[@nj2mddude205]

Salaryman is a good way to describe employees of the US government. Within a few years of employment, federal employees are already thinking of and planning their retirement. I can't believe I devoted 35 years to the federal government. Now that I'm retired, I, as well as my retired piers, view our time in the federal government as a waste of time. But we all have a million dollars in our retirement accounts.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Definitely time to do what you want to do now.

[@user-wo1en8ip3s]

I've always heard that the only reason you work in the Civil Service is for the security. You may hate your job but at least you won't get laid off from it.

[@nj2mddude205]

That's the perception, but there are many people who choose to be civil servants (generally over 30 family men/women) to take advantage of the fringe benefits and the no overtime work requirement. Another reason federal employment has been seen as favorable is the telework policy many federal agencies have in place. I, for example, teleworked from 1996 to 2022. Otoh, young men/women have no interest in being civil servants. The salaryman aspects of the job are real and discouraging. Btw, I've witnessed large scale layoffs/buyouts/forced retirements and employee firing. So it happens.

[@pmo8135]

Try healthcare. Scam comes along and poof goes your career

[@richardfox2865]

That sounds like an extreme waste of life: how unfortunate 😕.

[@guotesuoze]

That countryside is crazy! Also, how fast you drove into your driveway. I was shrinking haha

[@RealRuralJapan]

Camera makes things seem faster.

[@grzesiek1x]

I really like videos like this !! Really honest video but this gives a better insight into things than just some travel guides etc. I have recently eneded a relationship with a japanese girlfriend so it is more interessting even your point of view :)

[@RealRuralJapan]

No worries

[@mariotaz]

True true

[@Wong-Jack-Man]

You're just a cog in the wheel and that goes for anywhere. All of it just rooted in anthropology from how we organize hierarchies and maintain them to order. If you put in decades as a salary man you proved yourself to society and signals that are worthy to find a partner to mate with. It's changing today because as we have become just human capital and commodities havimg a family and leaving a "legacy" has also lost its appeal. The age of the salary man or wage slave in the west is slowing dying.

[@kashinathchillal9867]

I am indian and i can completely relate to this explanation of a salaryman. It is same here in India.

[@xenomorph42]

Been in Japan for 24 years from the States, I am married, family and I worked for a few companies and always had problems, I decided 15 years ago that I am not in my country, and I can't change the system fair enough, so I will change "myself" and start my own business, now I live a life of peace, I don't work for anyone but myself and I live it and helped me love and appreciate japan more and that would have never happened if If I never made that move. Great video, not one thing I disagree with you, spot on.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Cheers thanks for the kind words.

[@LawrenceCaldwellAuthor]

So that's why they look like that coming off the train in droves... Oh, I noticed.

[@boroqouqouc]

2:55 Where was this? The view looks beautiful

[@RealRuralJapan]

About 4kms from Nagano City train station.

[@boroqouqouc]

@@RealRuralJapan thank you sir

[@Baldcafe]

It was the exact same in China

[@cleenlivin]

Very interesting and informative. As someone who grew up in the USA and can remember when Japanese technology, manufacturing, cars and electronics set the new high bar I always wondered what happened to that countries dominance in these areas. For example, It seems like South Korea came out of nowhere and became the premier manufacture of consumer electronics. Your video has definitely given me insight into why the change. I’m reminded of the saying “good times breed weak men” in that when you take away the challenge, fight, hunger and competition, people (country’s even) appear to become complacent, sit back and bask in their accomplishments. Maybe a lesson for us all to learn to strike the balance between professional achievement and personal life.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Manufacturing goes to where it is cheapest to produce that has the relevant level of skilled labor. This is because consumers always want a good deal on stuff they buy. It is nothing more than this IMO.

[@MageBlackstone]

Thanks for the insights. But this is nothing new. One side appreciates status (e.g. amount of income), other side appreciates youth and beauty. The former is generally when one is older, the latter is only found when one is young.

[@taterrhead]

geeze it is beautiful in the Japanese countryside

[@johnmcmahon5225]

True, but that could be Pennsylvania or Tennessee.

[@map3384]

I heard that the percentage of Japanese wives having extramarital affairs is quite high. They marry the older high earning career men and cheat with younger men. One Japanese KZbinr said there are many apps for Japanese married women to use to find other sexual partners. I was shocked to hear since we Americans see Japan as a traditional society.

[@RealRuralJapan]

These are the same people who then do a video that say 99% of Japanese haven't had sex in the past 30 years too. Fact is anyone who has been to Japan for even a minute knows young guys don't go for older women. This happens of course but it is super rare this stuff is mostly clickbait. Most of these channels are the reason why most people know nothing about Japan.

[@sebas8225]

Aka real life NTR!

[@gen1969try]

Lived in Japan (Tokyo) for 5 years and again worked for a Japanese company in Australia for a year. Never again would i have Japanese bosses. Absolutely no concept of work life balance. Back in Tokyo you were given a guilt complex every time you dated to ask for time off. The grass truly is greener in Australia in terms of work culture and I was a total Japan-o-Phile!

[@RealRuralJapan]

Common story unfortunately.

[@mas3974]

Very interesting video. Sounds like a very hard life. Chained to the work ethic. However stability is a good thing, but I can guess not a very happy life.

[@ItsAllGoodGames]

LOL i was like well that aint a "new" looking home haha

[@kayumochi]

I lived and worked in Japan for almost 20 years before leaving and laff at those who romantisize the country.

[@davidbudka1298]

I became interested in Japan because I work long hours in the U.S. While I have undergraduate degrees in the environmental sciences, I ended up working away from home or in low paying food processing jobs. I finally got a decent paying job, but I work 6 or 7 days per week, 8 to 12 hours per day. It isn’t easy anywhere!

[@udirt]

The silly thing is that if you have a 1000 salary men living there wishing to get into higher management which will only happen for a few perfect at most. The others will stay in the pressured state forever, would all be OK if they accepted it for the whole time. But not arranging yourself with surroundings and sealing yourself into them is gonna make you sad.

[@brucebaum1458]

Just found your channel very very interesting subject, my brother married to Japanese girl, he’s a builder went to Japan and built a house for in-laws, the Japanese do some very weird things in construction especially with wiring/insulation looks like 5yr old does it. Anyway big earthquake right in village his house no damage everyone else not so lucky. Look forward to more stories on Japan.

[@Dakota_B_]

pretty little town.

[@ichaukan]

Isn't Aggretsuko kind of like "The Office" if it were set in Japan?

[@RealRuralJapan]

No idea haven't even heard of it.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Crazy observation about your video - but all the cars are partly black and mostly white. I complain about lack of colour here in the UK but over there it's on another level!

[@RealRuralJapan]

Bright cars attract police attention is my theory. Noone wants to pay a ticket.