Japanese work ethics is defined by loyalty, hard work and commitment. It has gained notoriety around the world. Learn about Japanese work ethics and the good and bad sides of it.
First Published: 2020/10/26
Updated: 2024/05/22
Table of Contents
- Japanese Work Ethics and Employment Practices
- The Other Side of Japanese Work Ethics
- Adapting to Japanese Work Ethics and Culture
- History of Japanese Work Ethics and Culture
- Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
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Japanese Work Ethics and Employment Practices
Japanese work ethics is defined by loyalty, hard work and commitment that is applied in the workplace through specific practices. These are what is considered as traditional Japanese work ethics and employment practices.
Loyalty, Hard Work and Commitment
Loyalty, hard work and commitment are the most highly valued virtues of Japanese work ethics.
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Loyalty: Loyalty to the company is the foundation of Japanese work ethics. It refers to devotion to the organisation that can be shown by many things including obedience to superiors, and hardwork and commitment to do your best for the company.
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Hard Work: Hard work or diligence to complete tasks. Above talent, hard work is valued greatly in Japanese working culture with the belief that doing one’s best will give results. Hard work also extends to loyalty, as one would work their hardest out of loyalty and devotion to their company.
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Commitment: Dedicated pursuit of one’s duties and aspirations is also highly valued in Japanese work ethics. Working your hardest, prioritising company affairs, and committing to your duties and responsibilities are important in Japanese work ethics.
The above values are invariably applied or actualized in the work environment through the specific practices:
Lifetime Employment (終身雇用, Shuushin Koyou)
The system of lifetime employment first began in the 1920s as major Japanese companies realised the importance of having loyally devoted and long-serving employees. As for the employees, the lifetime employment system offered job security and stability, with many choosing to remain with the same company for their entire careers.
Seniority by Length of Service (年功序列, Nenko Joretsu)
Going hand-in-hand with the Lifetime Employment system, the Nenko Joretsu system rewards employees for their loyalty calculated by the years of service to the organisation. The longer one works at a company, the higher their chances of getting a promotion. Other opportunities and privileges given to senior employees include salary raises, bigger bonuses, and education & training opportunities. This system rewards long-term commitment and loyalty, as well as continuity within the organisation.
Continuous Improvement (改善, Kaizen)
Japanese companies embrace the philosophy of Kaizen, which emphasises continuous improvement in all aspects of work. Employees are encouraged to voice their opinions to help identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement, and to suggest improvements to enhance productivity and quality as there is always room for improvement.
Teamwork and Team Recognition
Japanese work ethics and working environment greatly emphasise the importance of teamwork and everyone working together towards a common goal. Group harmony and results tend to rank higher in importance than individual successes, so employee evaluations are generally based on how well they contribute to the team and the organisation as a whole. Employees are expected to prioritise the needs of the team or company over individual interests, fostering a strong sense of unity and cooperation.The Japanese concept of Hourensou (報連相) - to report, to inform, and to consult, is born from this.
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The Other Side of Japanese Work Ethics
Traditional Japanese work ethics and values come from a good place, but as all things are, too much of a good thing can be bad. The overzealousness and intensity of practising traditional Japanese work ethics and employment practices has resulted in severe consequences for Japan.
Overtime (残業, Zangyou)
Japan is notorious for its overtime culture including unpaid overtime. While Japanese labour laws stipulate limits on overtime hours and require employers to pay overtime wages, with punishments in place if employers violate these laws, there are still “black” companies that make employees work well over the legal limit as well as unpaid overtime. This can be due to a variety of factors, including company culture and peer pressure.
What is the law on overtime in Japan?
The maximum amount of overtime legally allowed in Japan is 15 hours a week and 45 hours a month. Employees are either compensated for the amount of overtime worked, or a certain number of overtime hours is already worked into employment contracts and monthly salary (whether overtime is worked or not). Companies that exploit employees with overwork are liable to imprisonment or fining.
However, this is not the norm in Japan anymore. As we mentioned, this extreme overtime culture is limited to “black” companies in Japan these days. If we have a look at statistics, the average monthly overtime in Japan has been decreasing over the years. According to 働きがい研究所 (Hatarakigai Kenkyuujo)’s Fixed Point Observation of Japan’s Overtime Hours, since 2014, overtime in Japan has been steadily decreasing from over 40 hours a month to over 20 hours a month in 2023.
※働きがい研究所 by openwork, “日本の残業時間 定点観測” [2023.11.09]
There is a chance that these are not the actual numbers as there is always a chance of underreporting, but it is still a good indicator.
Karoshi (過労死, Karoushi)
Karoshi, which translates to "death by overwork", is a serious social problem that gained attention in Japan starting in the late 1970s. It refers to cases where individuals suffer from serious health issues or even death as a result of working excessively long hours, often coupled with high levels of stress. The recognition of karoshi as a societal issue drew attention to the negative consequences of Japan's demanding work culture.
Karoshi can manifest in various forms, including heart attacks, strokes, and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Employees who work excessively long hours without adequate rest or time off are at higher risk of experiencing these health issues. The Japanese government has taken steps to address the issue of karoshi and promote better work-life balance. Initiatives include setting limits on overtime hours, encouraging companies to adopt flexible work arrangements, and raising awareness about the importance of mental health and well-being in the workplace.
Company Culture Expectations and Peer Pressure
There is a strong cultural expectation for employees to demonstrate dedication and commitment to their jobs by working long hours. This work culture expectation is deeply ingrained in Japanese society and can lead to employees feeling pressured to stay late and work overtime, even if they have completed their tasks. While many Japanese companies have started to adopt more flexible work practices and promote a healthier work-life balance, some actively discouraging overtime, in traditional companies, changing deeply ingrained cultural norms around overtime work remains a challenge.
Another form of company culture expectation and peer pressure is Japanese after-work culture Nomikai. Nomikai is not necessarily bad. For many, it is a fun way to unwind after a day’s work and to socialise with colleagues and superiors in an informal environment to become closer. However, depending on the company culture, Nomikai can be a way to further put pressure on employees outside of work hours. In addition, some companies have almost mandatory Nomikai sessions that employees find difficult to reject invitations to. Employees begrudgingly join these Nomikai sessions and pretend to make merry as they take up valuable personal time.
Power Harassment (パワハラ, Pawahara)
Pawahara is an abbreviation of power harassment (パワーハラスメント, Pawa- Harasumento) in Japanese. It refers to abusive behaviour in the workplace where individuals, usually superiors, misuse their authority or power to intimidate junior employees. Power harassment can take many forms including verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, excessive monitoring, unfair treatment, undermining the work or authority of others, unreasonable or excessive demands, gaslighting, and more.
Though power harassment is a potential problem in any workplace around the world, Japan’s traditional work environment and workplace culture, which is characterised by strict hierarchies and seniority superiority with a strong emphasis on loyalty and obedience, contributes to higher occurrences of power harassment. Victims of power harassment are often reluctant to challenge or report abusive behaviour due to fear of retaliation or damage to one’s reputation, as well as disrupting office harmony.
Adapting to Japanese Work Ethics and Culture
You may feel discouraged about working in Japan after learning about the bad sides of Japanese work ethics and culture. We are here to reassure you of that. There are many companies in Japan who have since moved on from traditional Japanese work ethics and culture, instead embracing Western practices or a balance of both.
There are many reasons to work in Japan and good Japanese companies waiting for you. At the end of the day, it really depends on how well you can adapt to the company’s culture and environment.
Here are some important things to know as you try to adapt to your new surroundings.
Understand Japanese Work Ethics and Culture
By reading this article, you’ve already made a huge step in adapting to Japanese work ethics and culture. Understanding how traditional Japanese culture works, including the hierarchy system, importance of teamwork and harmony, etc. will mean you will not be caught off guard when they happen. After understanding, comes practice, and acceptance.
Know Your Rights, Speak Up and Report
Just because “this is the way it has always been done”, doesn’t mean it’s right. Know your rights as an employee, the important parts of Japanese labour law that afford you your rights, and be familiar with your employment contract. If you find your rights have been violated or if you have issues at work, then consult with an expert. There are public services available in each prefecture that offer labour protection advice or consultation for foreign nationals.
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Talk to Someone and Take Your Time
Sometimes all you need is some time to adapt to a new environment, and having a friend or someone in a similar situation to talk to goes a long way in helping you acclimate to your new surroundings. Different people deal differently, some taking weeks, and others taking months or years. It is important to do things at your own pace and have a support channel. If necessary, seek professional help from counsellors and avoid ignoring mental health problems.
Change Jobs for a Better Environment
Changing jobs is always an available option. Though not always the case, many people do experience improved work conditions and better work life balance after changing jobs. The company you were previously working for may just not be a good fit for you. There are many Japanese companies around, as well as international companies that have branches in Japan.
Read about How to Change Jobs in Japan here.
History of Japanese Work Ethics and Culture
Knowing about how exactly traditional Japanese work ethics became the way it is may also improve your understanding of Japanese work culture. It is not simply “this is how it has always been” so just follow, in fact, Japanese work ethics, work environment and working culture are greatly influenced by economical situations and social environments through the centuries.
For example, the classic image of Japanese work ethics - loyalty and diligence, can be traced back to the Japanese feudal era that consists of the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333), the Muromachi period (1333 to 1568), and the Azuchi-Momoyama, also known as Sengoku, period (1568 to 1600).These periods were marked by war and the feudal system with the samurai class at the top of the hierarchy, second only to their masters. Samurai practised the code of Bushido, aka “The Way of the Warrior”, that emphasises seven virtues including loyalty, sincerity and respect. Virtues that are still emphasised in modern Japanese work ethics. The samurai also went above and beyond for duty.
Read more about Samurai and their Code of Bushido here.
In the Meiji Restoration period (1868 to 1945), Japan became influenced by Western culture and practices, this included industrial practices. This period saw the emergence of a more structured and disciplined work culture, influenced by Western ideas of efficiency and productivity.
Later, during the post-World War recovery period, Japanese work ethics became characterised by teamwork as collective effort became a necessity to rebuild the country. And in the 1920s, the system of lifetime employment called 終身雇用 (Shuushin Koyou) also started, which came hand-in-hand with the seniority by length of service system - 年功序列 (Nenko Joretsu). These systems created a strong sense of loyalty between employees and companies.
From the 1950s to 1988, when the number of white-collar workers soared due to industrialization, the concept of Japanese salaryman, male office workers with a strong image of upholding traditional Japanese ethics and corporate business culture, was born. The rise of salaryman culture with employees devoting long hours to their jobs and prioritising company loyalty, became synonymous with Japanese work culture.
In the 1980s, Japan experienced the “bubble economy”, a period of rapid economic growth and prosperity. The bubble economy period was characterised by excessive spending, luxurious lifestyles and high asset prices. It was during this period, when Japanese work culture intensified with employees working long hours and the sudden deaths of business executives still in their prime that the term for death by overwork, “Karoshi (過労死)”, became born.
Since then, the Japanese labour office regularly releases statistics on Karoshi, and governmental efforts have been made to resolve the issue, such as introduction of the modified working hours system, premium Friday (despite its lack of success), and the all-important reform of the Labour Act to lower of statutory working hours from 60 hours a week to 40 hours a week with maximum 8 working hours per day.
Read more about Working Hours in a Typical Japanese Work Week here.
What about modern day Japanese work culture? As you can see, traditional Japanese work ethics have been gradually shaped by the social environments and economy of its time. Which is why current Japanese work ethics, work environment and culture are very different from what it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Today, while elements of traditional Japanese work ethics and culture persist, there is also a growing recognition of the need for work life balance and well-being in the workplace. Japanese companies are increasingly adopting more flexible work practices and initiatives to promote employee health and happiness.
In the aftermath of COVID-19 as well, many Japanese companies are open to full or partial remote work, staggered working hours, and flexible working hours. However, aspects of the traditional work ethic, such as dedication to one's job and company loyalty, continue to play a significant role in Japanese society.
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