I've said for many years that the language barrier is a major factor in keeping Japanese workers from earning pay in global markets that's more commensurate with their abilities. If more Japanese workers were more competitive for global jobs, there would be more pressure on Japanese companies to improve their working environments and compensation. But there was the Bubble and the domestic focus of Japanese companies to distract.
Unfortunately, many other nations have become very competitive in English proficiency now. 1980s-2010s was the period to build an English-proficient workforce and enjoy the economic benefits (as my country Singapore did decades ago).
Keep trying to apply for jobs in companies or countries with better working cultures.
Well, I live in Finland, and I've only ever worked in software here. It's pretty much the opposite of Japan, and I think there are some good ways and some bad ways in which that happens.
What I believe is that making more money buys more options. Japan's actual GDP per capita is surprisingly low for a country with such a strong and well educated population. Working conditions would probably improve significantly there if that number doubled or tripled overnight, because of the second order effects: A lot of people would be willing, at least now and then, to leave the extra money on the table in exchange for e.g. not working 80 hour weeks. Anyone who tells you the opposite has not thought hard enough about what making more money really means.
Finland's GDP per capita is surprisingly strong by the same token for a country with such aggressive taxation policies, and no "game breaking" natural resources. (Norway has oil and they are absolutely loaded. Sweden doesn't, but they have neoliberalized a lot since the 1970s.) A few factors which really help this: Finnish people have sky high English proficiency, especially in engineering, and aiming from the start at an international or at the very least EU-wide market is the norm here for tech companies. The Finnish market is only 5 million people, and firms really do just make much more money and much better products when markets are large enough for them to specialize.
I suspect Japanese companies might be caught in a strange middle-market-size trap where the ~100 million population is just large enough that few companies truly feel the need to aim internationally, but in practice it is actually a quite small economy in the modern world to have as your only home base.
Not to sugarcoat or downplay the struggle, but on the bright side - i don't know other countries where "made in <...>" really mean something. Only Japan. Not even Germany anymore.
How do you want to change thinking towards those problems of a whole nation? It's not like "it's the company doing it" - it's japanese people doing this to their own people. So this would be were to start.
.. uprising workers are needed here. New thinking towards well-being of employees must be adapted. Without a social overthrow, I think, it's impossible to change such system.
Or, you found an company yourself and do it differently, addressing the very each problems and market yourself, so that everyone is fighting to be with your company and you as the boss.
So you see, it's near to impossible. One can't wish for uprising, as it won't be happening. One can't wish for change of the Japanese society. It won't be happening as long traditional thinking is still state of the art.
May be in 30y when there's a new generation of managers who think like you and are keen to to different.
Good luck my friend from Japan! Greetings from Germany.
In case you really want to know and still didn't Google it:
On Germany/Europe, we have strong laws for employees. That's a big part of the working culture over here, as each of the employees know about and have the chance to exercise his/her rights given by law. For example , the working day is defined as 8h + 30mins of break. If you're about to work longer, then you get better money/compensation for it. There's a strong law for recreational times/vacation, where each one oughta get min. 24d of payed off-time. There are laws saving employees from mobbing, and if it happens, it's easy to sue because of the employees rights. And so on...
So, urge your legislation to pass such laws as a start. With the time, everyone gets accommodated to this and everything will change for the good.
You are no doubt right that it will be difficult to change this situation. In fact, it is impossible to change society as a whole. Let's face it. There may be real managers who are starting companies privately and making them easy to work for. However, it is not possible to change all companies.
I just think there are people suffering all over the world. So ... I hope those people can be saved.
I also want people around the world to know that there are many people suffering. That's why I made this animation based on my own experience. zoom I want people to know that there are many people in the world who are suffering. I want everyone to see my animation and know what is going on. I know that nothing will change the situation.
I've said for many years that the language barrier is a major factor in keeping Japanese workers from earning pay in global markets that's more commensurate with their abilities. If more Japanese workers were more competitive for global jobs, there would be more pressure on Japanese companies to improve their working environments and compensation. But there was the Bubble and the domestic focus of Japanese companies to distract.
Unfortunately, many other nations have become very competitive in English proficiency now. 1980s-2010s was the period to build an English-proficient workforce and enjoy the economic benefits (as my country Singapore did decades ago).
Keep trying to apply for jobs in companies or countries with better working cultures.
Well, I live in Finland, and I've only ever worked in software here. It's pretty much the opposite of Japan, and I think there are some good ways and some bad ways in which that happens.
What I believe is that making more money buys more options. Japan's actual GDP per capita is surprisingly low for a country with such a strong and well educated population. Working conditions would probably improve significantly there if that number doubled or tripled overnight, because of the second order effects: A lot of people would be willing, at least now and then, to leave the extra money on the table in exchange for e.g. not working 80 hour weeks. Anyone who tells you the opposite has not thought hard enough about what making more money really means.
Finland's GDP per capita is surprisingly strong by the same token for a country with such aggressive taxation policies, and no "game breaking" natural resources. (Norway has oil and they are absolutely loaded. Sweden doesn't, but they have neoliberalized a lot since the 1970s.) A few factors which really help this: Finnish people have sky high English proficiency, especially in engineering, and aiming from the start at an international or at the very least EU-wide market is the norm here for tech companies. The Finnish market is only 5 million people, and firms really do just make much more money and much better products when markets are large enough for them to specialize.
I suspect Japanese companies might be caught in a strange middle-market-size trap where the ~100 million population is just large enough that few companies truly feel the need to aim internationally, but in practice it is actually a quite small economy in the modern world to have as your only home base.
Not to sugarcoat or downplay the struggle, but on the bright side - i don't know other countries where "made in <...>" really mean something. Only Japan. Not even Germany anymore.
I will say that for clothing, Made in USA tends to be very high quality - at least for the kind of fashiony workwear that I buy.
And pastries are great in Italy.
I meant real, complex things, like cars, electronics, machinery.
How do you want to change thinking towards those problems of a whole nation? It's not like "it's the company doing it" - it's japanese people doing this to their own people. So this would be were to start.
.. uprising workers are needed here. New thinking towards well-being of employees must be adapted. Without a social overthrow, I think, it's impossible to change such system.
Or, you found an company yourself and do it differently, addressing the very each problems and market yourself, so that everyone is fighting to be with your company and you as the boss.
So you see, it's near to impossible. One can't wish for uprising, as it won't be happening. One can't wish for change of the Japanese society. It won't be happening as long traditional thinking is still state of the art.
May be in 30y when there's a new generation of managers who think like you and are keen to to different.
Good luck my friend from Japan! Greetings from Germany.
In case you really want to know and still didn't Google it:
On Germany/Europe, we have strong laws for employees. That's a big part of the working culture over here, as each of the employees know about and have the chance to exercise his/her rights given by law. For example , the working day is defined as 8h + 30mins of break. If you're about to work longer, then you get better money/compensation for it. There's a strong law for recreational times/vacation, where each one oughta get min. 24d of payed off-time. There are laws saving employees from mobbing, and if it happens, it's easy to sue because of the employees rights. And so on...
So, urge your legislation to pass such laws as a start. With the time, everyone gets accommodated to this and everything will change for the good.
Wish you success.
You are no doubt right that it will be difficult to change this situation. In fact, it is impossible to change society as a whole. Let's face it. There may be real managers who are starting companies privately and making them easy to work for. However, it is not possible to change all companies.
I just think there are people suffering all over the world. So ... I hope those people can be saved. I also want people around the world to know that there are many people suffering. That's why I made this animation based on my own experience. zoom I want people to know that there are many people in the world who are suffering. I want everyone to see my animation and know what is going on. I know that nothing will change the situation.
https://youtu.be/qyCEpMlesJU
You haven't experienced Korea yet.
Are the working conditions in Korea terrible?