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Why working in Japan is (no longer) impossible



Why working in Japan is (no longer) impossible

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Japan’s population is shrinking and its companies find it increasingly challenging to find workers. The government has set its eyes on attracting foreign immigrants to fill labor shortages, but there is a problem. Japan’s difficult language, rigid institutions, and infamous work culture make it an unattractive destination for skilled workers. Their solution? Work style reform.

But is immigration really the answer to the root causes of Japan’s demographic challenges?

FULL TRANSCRIPT + SOURCES:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17QIPinWmF8EDt15G1gNaLX2HetSGIrkA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116393133462297140352&rtpof=true&sd=true

FURTHER READING:

The Japanese Economic Miracle (Berkely Economic Review):

The Japanese Economic Miracle

How a Fading Japan Regained Its Superpowers (Bloomberg):
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/features/2024-04-24/how-japan-regained-its-superpowers-and-recovered-from-recession

View 26 Comments

26 Comments

  3. @user-0001. on

    Over-tourism is just for a moment. Japan will always be the Japan people enjoy for its culture and traditions, because no matter how much you try to fit in you'll always be an outsider.

  8. @ChoedanKal on

    i have no problem respecting Japanese culture. but get your filthy eyes off my 14 year old daughter while i’m standing right beside her I’ve caught so many men eye my daughter up on the train right in front of me. this is the only time i ever step out of Japanese societal norms and made a scene on the train. Saikyo ( gropers) Line. twice i have intervened while a Japanese schoolgirl was getting sexually harassed. and everyone in the carriage was pretending nothing was happening. really blew my mind. seems it is ok as long as its not your child. as a whole this is the only thing i struggled with in the 5 years we lived there. i don’t blame all Japanese tho there are bad eggs in every country. But some things that Japanese let slide can be very difficult to let be🤷🏾‍♂️🙇🏽🙇🏽

  13. @DisgruntledPigumon on

    Japan is dumb. Bottom line. Letting foreign workers in is the absolute worst thing they can do. They need to fix what’s wrong with Japan and Japanese if they ever want to keep Japan alive. As it stands there are already too many foreigners in Japan lowering the quality of the services and products provided. It’s just sad.

  16. @shannonmoore2460 on

    If ppl apply for jobs without job descriptions, and you're employed for life it almost seems like communism. Not matching the best ppl to jobs they are tailored for. Doesn't seem efficient. Seems like a recipe for misery and mediocrity without innovation.

  17. @millettemone6844 on

    History repeats. It was Japan in 80’s and now it is China who are considered unfair trade with US. Chip issue with Japan in 80-90’s and now it is AI issue with China. Thanks to Regan eradicating a chance for Japan to advance in technology. Japan could have helped US to develop new technology sooner if he trusted in Japan. He must have forgotten we are ally.

    Blame local government and municipality for low birth rate because they mismanaged public and private daycare system. There is shortage and some are unlicensed. Women have to give up full time job if they cannot send kids to daycare if they do not have parents or in-laws to take care of kids near-by. My dentist is an assistant professor in private dental school in Tokyo whose wife is also a dentist. Their parents live far away. They could not find daycare for their kids. His wife and kids moved to Yokohama for daycare. They can afford two households but lots of other people who earn less cannot do it, so they give up on kids. Japanese politicians and bureaucrats are not most in functional people. Japan needs DOGE.