Why foreigners can’t hack it in the Japanese workforce. It’s not for the faint hearted.

[@三上家]

I think the trick for most foreigners is to make money overseas and live in Japan or start a business there. Working for a Japanese corporation is really hard not just due to higher level of language expected but also the actual rules and actions within the work place - work culture. If it makes any difference, in reverse the Japanese really struggle in Australia with the complicated language too, they often end up working for a Japanese restaurant or boss.

[@larrikinjapan]

So true

[@murrayobrien9192]

Yeah I'll be spending a lot of my retirement in Japan, just enjoying all the good things and not having to endure the bad. I love travelling in Japan especially on local trains to out of the way places. So many incredible adventures await.

[@Zerpentsa6598]

Live in Japan? Only if you're well off. You're better retiring to Thailand or Malaysia.

[@murrayobrien9192]

@@Zerpentsa6598 My wife is Japanese and we are currently building a small house there. Will still live mainly in Australia but Japan is low cost compared to Aus. We can live comfortably in either country.

[@TheCenterOfFocus]

I work for a japanese firm as an American. I have a relatively high level of Japanese (Business Japanese J1+ if that means anything to you), but what keeps me up at night is the stress of trying operate like a Japanese person as much as possible. Sending an email I triple check. Before making a phone call I rehearse. Before making a decision I run 10 different possible outcomes through my mind before deciding. It is a conservative inaka company (I am stationed in Tokyo), and I don't want to cause anyone meiwaku with my foreigner-ness. Probably not a healthy way to think, but that is how my coworkers operate and it is what keeps the peace. The amount of ass covering that needs to be done in Japanese companies is crazy. I think this is a main reason behind the country's lack of productivity.

[@larrikinjapan]

I can imagine the stress you have to put up with every day.

[@AussielovesJapan]

When l worked in Japan 🇯🇵 it was long hours ( sometimes) 8.30am to 5.15pm and maybe staying behind until 7.30pm. I worked with some people who when a deadline was getting close would work until 11.30pm !! . But l liked the team atmosphere of everyone together. Even after work we would all go out for food 🍱 and drinks 🍺 and had a great time. I tried to do this here in Australia 🇦🇺 but everyone wanted just to get home after work. Thanks again for the video. Keep living the good life in Japan 🇯🇵.

[@larrikinjapan]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Cubby9999]

That's because it cost a lot of money to pay someone to do anything simple for you. It is a constant DIY lifestyle on top of work in Australia.

[@NotUwU-_-]

I hope you have a family

[@pacificatoris9307]

Probably, one major cause is that the things are too small for larger-framed foreigners. Like, desks, workable are too low for taller mates. Rooms, toilets, etc., the same story.

[@larrikinjapan]

No all that stuff is fine.

[@wildphilpresents]

Part of this work culture...is why I'm moving there. I am that type of employee and while it has made me great success in America, as I got into management, having to deal with people that you have to motivate to do just the bare minimum can be immensely frustrating. After 20 years of managing that, I felt I may give Japanese culture the chance too.

[@larrikinjapan]

I have worked with some non Japanese here like that. They spend most of their time complaining.

[@andreahoehmann1939]

We Germans are among the most efficient workers on the planet - but we are undoubtedly also among the laziest. Apart from the crisis of the last five years, we have always been at the top of the list of booming economies in the world. If the Japanese ever want to copy this way of life, they can ask me. If a single company ever wants to adopt this way of working, I could imagine applying to them.

[@esdeath89]

I can only imagine what would happen if we could combine hardwork of Japanese and efficiency of Germans. 🤯

[@mm-gg1rj]

So I have a question. If you working ten plus hours a day. Do they at least pay you for the overtime? Also if you end up working to death. What would be the point of even living there? Here in america. There are two types of people here. Those who want to work as little as possible and those who want to make as much as possible. But if you can't take a vacation whenever you want or enjoy japan. Why even move their or work there?

[@larrikinjapan]

You do get paid overtime. People do get time off. There are 3 main holidays New year 1 week off golden week in May 1 week off and Obon in August 1 week off.

[@mm-gg1rj]

@@larrikinjapan So let me ask you this. With all that work that you can do there. Can you have a good standard of life? Raise your kids in a nice area then enjoy retirement?

[@larrikinjapan]

I have and am

[@nebukadnezar4431]

can you share the thumbnail picture?

[@larrikinjapan]

What do you mean?

[@nebukadnezar4431]

I love the Fotograf you added as a thumbnail for the video, maybe you have a link to a high res version? :)

[@larrikinjapan]

No sorry I just use low res for thumbnails

[@murrayobrien9192]

I think so much of this goes back to the military culture. We could consider it honourable but it's also akin to paid slavery. It's such a long history of total and utter control by threat of violence in Japan stemming from the Edo jidai. I could only work in Japan in my own business. I have respect for the Japanese people and their incredible loyalty, work ethic and tolerance, but is working as a paid slave 70 or 80 hours a week what life is really about? Not for me thanks. My life in Australia has been a nice balance.

[@larrikinjapan]

It is a touchy topic. Not everyone is working a lot of overtime. I was focusing more on how they work to the best of their ability. I think most of their mindset comes from the education system they are taught to do as they are told.

[@murrayobrien9192]

@@larrikinjapan yes but I would argue that the education system derives from Edo jidai/ samurai/warrior/military culture. It was such a brutal time...disobedience often equated with death.

[@indigodawn3174]

A lot of Asian countries have large amounts of work culture. South Korea I believe has a stronger work culture than japan given its suicide rate.

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

I'm Turkish, maybe I could help. The way we were raised, we were told we are first a military, "ordu-millet", more like a legion-nation. You trust your family and therefore develop trust and don't question authority. There is also a term for it: 'us' a.k.a. manners. The opposite is 'asi' being rebellious. This is important in society because trust is brought up in the family value system. You cannot be taught it in school and therefore is missed at this point. We are members of society after all. There are perks and benefits to society, one is good nutrition: the Japanese have such high iodine intake, they have no problem memorising information. That is why one note is enough - this should be the benchmark for all societies. Another is trust. You cannot develop skills if you don't trust the system. I think there is much to learn from the Japanese miracle.

[@Alex-gt5ho]

Hydraulic press channel moved to japan?😂

[@larrikinjapan]

I have no idea who that is