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What is Happening in Japan?



What is Happening in Japan?

POV: A Japanese salaryman heading to work in a country that hasn’t changed for over 30 years.
Japan still looks rich on the outside, clean streets, advanced trains, polite people, but behind that image is an economy frozen in time.

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View 33 Comments

33 Comments

  1. @KenSlager on

    I see it the other way. Your boss disrespects you if you are sitting around just waiting for them to leave. No consideration. Best wishes mate.

  4. @huss1205 on

    Back in 2003, I stayed in Tokyo for 9 months, was amazed as a foreigner, but you soon discover that it is just a fasad. People are not happy, stressed and not living like the people in western Europe or the US because of stupid hierarchy and traditions. My Iraqi friend who worked as a programmer at some company in Tokyo, always left at 5pm, never gave a shit about the boss, and actually they stay late to collect overtime pay, probably not all the companies were like that…

  8. @fialee8ca132 on

    Don't complain too much… that $2 breakfast will cost $13 plus $1 tax plus $3 tip. Aside from the long hours, Japan is heaven. In America there's riots, massive crime, massive hate, streets are disgustingly filthy, homeless criminals everywhere, and if someone doesn't agree, they punch or shoot each other. Oh, getting randomly attacking people is just a game for some.

  13. @juansanchezvilla-lobosrami5404 on

    Jesus dude. You can't leave because your manager will not leave? I work from 6:45 to 3:30, 45 min lunch break. Unless Skynet or the aliens decided to mess with us, no power in this universe, manager, regional CEO or the big CEO can keep me in the workplace. It is illegal to even ask me to stay over my hours. I will do it to ease my work for the next day but not for the company.

  14. @Aravestia on

    I'm an office worker in Singapore & frankly been feeling this way lately. It's a weird feeling because on one hand I'm privileged to be in this position, but on the other hand I wish I had the time & money to not care and just travel, enjoy life and find meaning.

  18. @jplebihan on

    Thanks for sharing your experience! My wife is from Japan, and I divide my time between the US, Japan, and France/Ireland. I can definitely understand the feeling of routine you describe…
    For all its downsides, Japan still offers so much that’s hard to find elsewhere: great and affordable food everywhere, reliable public transport, safety, and healthcare that’s both accessible and reasonably priced. In the US, a single medical emergency can become a financial disaster, and good food or safe neighborhoods often come at a steep price, e.g. massive property taxes…
    France probably strikes the best balance overall when it comes to work-life quality, but even there, corporate work culture can be stressful in its own way… strong worker protections sometimes just lead to more subtle ways of pushing people out.
    Every place has its pros and cons, but Japan still feels like one of the easiest places to live well day-to-day. Some old traditions in some companies seem to be changing too. The expectation that one can't leave after the boss is evolving, more workers work from home a few days a week…

  20. @apquickallday on

    So wait, prices like groceries, rent, bills stay the same and that breakfast looked delicious and you're complaining?? Try living in the States where we have shrinkflation, rent increases and low paying jobs

  24. @Timmy51m on

    I can respect price stability, inflation in the UK has been extreme for several years now. I notice very few people are overweight in your videos. Thank you.

  29. @TheRAMBO9191 on

    Same day, same quietness, same drone walking. That's just crazy to see. Straight from a movie. Don't worry here in America you would get stabbed or shot and its very loud and opposite. That breakfast you got would be 10-15 dollars in America maybe even more it's sad. Plus we tip so even more money. Loyalty doesn't get rewarded in America. New hires come in and make more money until you quit and start over.

  30. @yuske7580 on

    I don’t know if someone can understand my opinion but the simple answer why Japan is having problem in labour shortages and loss of economy, it’s because of the language and culture.

  31. @SAGNIKANIVSAHOO-wg2lf on

    As an Indian(India is a country with large number of good companies,Unicorns and many successful people but with many economic disparities and poverty stricken and indiscipline people),I always used to think of Japan (which is more mordernised with less economic disparities and a more disciplined country);but your videos opened my eyes and made me learn more and also forced me to learn more accurately about Japan by doing more research through internet and other resources..