The Japanese are known to be hardworking people. In the summer, they take only two weeks off and then go to work earlier. However, they know how to relax. You can escape from the daily hustle and bustle not only on vacation, but on weekends and in the evening.
beach holiday
The Japanese go to the beach not to swim, but to walk along the shore, have a barbecue and sit in a tent. Well, splashing in the water is the last thing. As a rule, no one goes deeper than their own height. Girls without a circle - nothing. They don't know how to swim. They just stand in the water, wearing a circle, and catch the waves. But the guys know how to swim and very well. They don’t swim behind the buoys, the Japanese are very law-abiding. Girls on the beach are sure to have lush hairstyles, bright makeup and manicures. Any public place. After splashing in the water, they build sand castles and sunbathe. Asians love to bury each other in the sand. It is also fashionable to make oppai from sand. If you're heading to the beach in Japan, take the time to choose your swimwear. Girls can be detained by the police for a too open swimsuit, and men's swimming trunks must be shorts, otherwise the guy will be considered a yaoi.
Picnic
Going out into the countryside with friends or family is in the nature of things in Japan. The Japanese picnic is called imonicai. Such a pastime for the benefit of the soul and stomach is very popular among the Japanese, especially in autumn. More often, imoni is prepared in nature. This is a thick soup with potatoes, vegetables, mushrooms and meat. The Japanese enjoy this dish, drink sake under the fresh autumn sky and, of course, socialize. Many schools and organizations organize imonicai for their students and staff.
Mountains
One of the favorite leisure activities of the Japanese is a trip to the mountains with hiking trails through high mountain valleys and relaxation in traditional ryokan hotels. In Japan, there is a tradition of himatsuri - to climb Mount Fuji. Himatsuri completes the "Fire Festival" climbing season, when ritual burning of dry grass on the slopes of the mountains, lighting of huge bonfires in the form of hieroglyphs and colorful fireworks take place. On the eve of the holiday, at the foot of Fuji, the Japanese build torches that look like bamboo shoots, two or three human heights. In the old days, women were not allowed to climb Mount Fuji, but nowadays morals have softened, now several million people visit these places every year.
Alone with nature
The Japanese love and appreciate nature very much. Flowers, snow and the moon are beautiful for them. In Japanese, the following concepts have been formed:
Hanami - admiring flowers;
Tsukimi - admiring the moon;
Yukimi - to the snow.
Cherry blossom viewing is Japan's most favorite form of recreation in the spring. Japanese families go to the park early in the morning to take a seat, sit on the grass and admire their national beauty.
Baths and mineral springs
The Japanese like to visit the public sento baths or go to the onsen mineral springs. The difference between onsen and sento is that in sento water is not mineral, but ordinary, it is heated by a boiler. The most loved by the Japanese is the traditional onsen in the old Japanese style. Mineral springs are visited not only by adults, but also by young people. To visit an onsen, you have to go out of town, and there are a lot of sentos in the country, in Tokyo alone there are 2.5 thousand of them. Sento is open from lunch until midnight. For the Japanese, bathing is not just a hygienic procedure, it is a special philosophy, a triumph of the physical and spiritual, which allows you to feel happy and renewed. Since the bath is a public place, here people not only relax, but also have a conversation. It is believed that in the bath you can come to a peaceful agreement and face off with the enemy.
Rest in the city
In the evening or on weekends, when the Japanese do not have the opportunity to go somewhere, he rests in the city. Historically, Japanese males in the family have a particular sense of male superiority. Therefore, they choose entertainment away from home, so as not to burden themselves with the home environment and the company of their wife. But Japanese husbands dedicate Sundays to their wife and children, they go for walks, relax with their families, and on the rest of the evenings they choose to relax in the company of friends or colleagues. Numerous clubs, bars and restaurants open their doors to Japanese people who are tired of work and family every evening. Here, the Japanese can forget about their problems, having a drink with work colleagues or just with friends. Such a pastime is considered to be the maintenance of social contacts and is welcomed by the heads of companies and firms.
Another popular Japanese recreation is spending time in the company of women. Geisha are in demand mainly due to foreigners. And the Japanese prefer to have fun in the company of hostesses. After a hard day's work, a Japanese will not tell his wife about his problems, but will go and talk to a young Japanese woman. A hostess in Japan is most often a pretty young girl with knowledge of a foreign language who meets guests of a restaurant, casino, disco or entertainment complex. Previously, girls working as hostesses in bars or nightclubs were called night butterflies. Now the profession of hostess is very popular among Japanese women, about a third of top models also work as hostesses. Japanese men quite often resort to relaxing with charming girls.
The rest of a Japanese girl and woman consists of visiting a hairdresser, a cafe, karaoke and shopping. Japanese women love to get their hair cut. They enjoy the variety of forms and means available to them to embody their fantasies within the framework of modern fashion. In cafes, they meet with their girlfriends, talk and brag about their purchases or their husband's success at work.
Asians love to sing karaoke. In Japan and Korea, karaoke bars are very popular, where you can gather with friends, sing songs and eat dessert. A Japanese will sing even if he can't. Karaoke is not a place where they show off their talent, but have fun.
Sometimes the inhabitants of Japan spend their free evening in theaters where there are performances of musical, puppet and classical theaters. The modern Japanese theater is a bright, unique world that you want to plunge into again and again. Visiting the theater with a large company for a Japanese is a very good way to spend time and get a lot of positive emotions. He is at- young woman
Oppai- boobs
Hana- flowers
Tsuki- moon
Yuki- snow
The Japanese are known to be hardworking people. In the summer, they take only two weeks off and then go to work earlier. However, they know how to relax. You can escape from the daily hustle and bustle not only on vacation, but on weekends and in the evening.
The Japanese go to the beach not to swim, but to walk along the shore, have a barbecue and sit in a tent. Well, splashing in the water is the last thing. As a rule, no one goes deeper than their own height. Girls without a circle - nothing. They don't know how to swim. They just stand in the water, wearing a circle, and catch the waves. But the guys know how to swim and very well. They don’t swim behind the buoys, the Japanese are very law-abiding. Girls on the beach are sure to have lush hairstyles, bright makeup and manicures. Any public place. After splashing in the water, they build sand castles and sunbathe. Asians love to bury each other in the sand. It is also fashionable to make oppai from sand. If you're heading to the beach in Japan, take the time to choose your swimwear. Girls can be detained by the police for a too open swimsuit, and men's swimming trunks must be shorts, otherwise the guy will be considered a yaoi. 
Picnic
Going out into the countryside with friends or family is in the nature of things in Japan. The Japanese picnic is called imonicai. Such a pastime for the benefit of the soul and stomach is very popular among the Japanese, especially in autumn. More often, imoni is prepared in nature. This is a thick soup with potatoes, vegetables, mushrooms and meat. The Japanese enjoy this dish, drink sake under the fresh autumn sky and, of course, socialize. Many schools and organizations organize imonicai for their students and staff. 
Mountains
One of the favorite leisure activities of the Japanese is a trip to the mountains with hiking trails through high mountain valleys and relaxation in traditional ryokan hotels. In Japan, there is a tradition of himatsuri - to climb Mount Fuji. Himatsuri completes the "Fire Festival" climbing season, when ritual burning of dry grass on the slopes of the mountains, lighting of huge bonfires in the form of hieroglyphs and colorful fireworks take place. On the eve of the holiday, at the foot of Fuji, the Japanese build torches that look like bamboo shoots, two or three human heights. In the old days, women were not allowed to climb Mount Fuji, but nowadays morals have softened, now several million people visit these places every year. 
Alone with nature
The Japanese love and appreciate nature very much. Flowers, snow and the moon are beautiful for them. In Japanese, the following concepts have been formed:
Hanami - admiring flowers;
Tsukimi - admiring the moon;
Yukimi - to the snow.
Cherry blossom viewing is Japan's most favorite form of recreation in the spring. Japanese families go to the park early in the morning to take a seat, sit on the grass and admire their national beauty. 
Baths and mineral springs
The Japanese like to visit the public sento baths or go to the onsen mineral springs. The difference between onsen and sento is that in sento water is not mineral, but ordinary, it is heated by a boiler. The most loved by the Japanese is the traditional onsen in the old Japanese style. Mineral springs are visited not only by adults, but also by young people. To visit an onsen, you have to go out of town, and there are a lot of sentos in the country, in Tokyo alone there are 2.5 thousand of them. Sento is open from lunch until midnight. For the Japanese, bathing is not just a hygienic procedure, it is a special philosophy, a triumph of the physical and spiritual, which allows you to feel happy and renewed. Since the bath is a public place, here people not only relax, but also have a conversation. It is believed that in the bath you can come to a peaceful agreement and face off with the enemy. 
Rest in the city
In the evening or on weekends, when the Japanese do not have the opportunity to go somewhere, he rests in the city. Historically, Japanese males in the family have a particular sense of male superiority. Therefore, they choose entertainment away from home, so as not to burden themselves with the home environment and the company of their wife. But Japanese husbands dedicate Sundays to their wife and children, they go for walks, relax with their families, and on the rest of the evenings they choose to relax in the company of friends or colleagues. Numerous clubs, bars and restaurants open their doors to Japanese people who are tired of work and family every evening. Here, the Japanese can forget about their problems, having a drink with work colleagues or just with friends. Such a pastime is considered to be the maintenance of social contacts and is welcomed by the heads of companies and firms.
Another popular Japanese recreation is spending time in the company of women. Geisha are in demand mainly due to foreigners. And the Japanese prefer to have fun in the company of hostesses. After a hard day's work, a Japanese will not tell his wife about his problems, but will go and talk to a young Japanese woman. A hostess in Japan is most often a pretty young girl with knowledge of a foreign language who meets guests of a restaurant, casino, disco or entertainment complex. Previously, girls working as hostesses in bars or nightclubs were called night butterflies. Now the profession of hostess is very popular among Japanese women, about a third of top models also work as hostesses. Japanese men quite often resort to relaxing with charming girls.
The rest of a Japanese girl and woman consists of visiting a hairdresser, a cafe, karaoke and shopping. Japanese women love to get their hair cut. They enjoy the variety of forms and means available to them to embody their fantasies within the framework of modern fashion. In cafes, they meet with their girlfriends, talk and brag about their purchases or their husband's success at work.
Asians love to sing karaoke. In Japan and Korea, karaoke bars are very popular, where you can gather with friends, sing songs and eat dessert. A Japanese will sing even if he can't. Karaoke is not a place where they show off their talent, but have fun.
Sometimes the inhabitants of Japan spend their free evening in theaters where there are performances of musical, puppet and classical theaters. The modern Japanese theater is a bright, unique world that you want to plunge into again and again. Visiting the theater with a large company for a Japanese is a very good way to spend time and get a lot of positive emotions.
A source of information.
At the moment I I am in Thailand, and people, having learned that we came from Japan, begin to complain that we left this country for nothing, that their acquaintances live happily in Japan and earn tens of thousands of dollars a month by honest work, thus knocking down vital capital.
I won’t argue, Japan is a very convenient country in some ways, but beautiful in some ways, and quite someone can live in Japan absolutely happily, and for someone it’s even their favorite country.
But one thing I know for sure. Making money in Japan is not easy. This can be done only with hard work, and even then, they will not pay much.
As I already wrote, immediately upon arrival in Japan, I rushed to find a job, and soon I successfully got a job at a Japanese factory for the production of set meals - bento.
It was an Arubaite job — that is, not a full-time job, but from 9:00 to 16:00, and not necessarily every day. Payment for the number of hours worked is very modest: 800 yen / hour.
Even at the interview, we agreed on how many days I would work. I insisted on six (no weekends at all, and that's what I wanted), but the manager said I would work five days a week.
Immediately I was given a work suit, reminiscent of a spacesuit.
In the morning in the locker room, I changed my clothes to a completely white work suit: white pants with shoe covers, a jacket with a wrap-around collar that covers the entire neck, a hair band, a hair net on top of the bandage, and a hood on top of the net. The shift attendant checked that not a single hair was escaping from under the hats, we cleaned the top of the suit with adhesive tape, rinsed our hands with alcohol, put on white slippers and went into the workshop.
The room was 8 degrees Celsius and a lot of ultraviolet lamps. Eight degrees began to be felt immediately, in fact, working with food in Japan is working in a refrigerator. The white cotton suit did little to help.
They put on medical masks on their faces, rubber gloves on their hands and stood at the conveyor.
The essence of the work: a box with recesses rides along the conveyor, each worker puts in a box a piece of carrot, mushroom, cutlet, rice, to each his own. At the end of the conveyor belt, ready-assembled lunch boxes leave. 
In the beginning, I was given the responsibility of putting in pieces of carrots, while professional workers put two or four items in the slots at a time.
The tape went very quickly before my eyes, after 15 minutes I started to feel sick. Soon they changed the type of dinner, now I got the mushrooms. All shift actions were performed by Japanese grannies running. Again, the tape went at a terrible pace.
I do not remember how I waited for the end of the working day. On the second day, I couldn't go to work. The whole body broke. Eyes hurt from ultraviolet radiation. Luckily, you could refuse.
A day later, I went to work again, and the next I rested again. As a result, I half-heartedly went to the factory twice a week.
And it's still a heroic deed. Many foreigners, and sometimes the Japanese, could not stand the first hour and left.
All monotonous work was done while standing. There was a break for lunch - exactly half an hour, taking into account changing clothes. During work, there was not a second of free time, no one sat down to rest, no one went to the toilet, this was not welcome.
Almost all work in Japan, except for an office job, is done while standing. Cashiers, salespeople, factory workers spend all day on their feet. Often, on the way to work, I saw a woman standing behind the counter through the large glass window of an expensive store, and I never saw customers in that store. When, later, I myself began to work in a Russian souvenir shop, I also had to stand all day, and at the moment when there was no work and there were no buyers, I simply stood idle until the working day was over.
Work in the factory was much harder.
Every working day, the whole shift, I looked at the opposite wall with a clock, and when the hand finally crawled to four, often the work was not finished, and I had to stay longer. It happened that the work ended at four, but the shift had a choice: work more or go home. Most often, the shift (Japanese grannies) decided to stay to earn some money, so everyone from the group had to stay!
The most amazing thing is that the leaders of our shift were elderly clockwork Japanese old women and young cheerful women from Thailand and the Philippines! The Japanese are hard workers in life, but residents of hot countries usually have a lazy lifestyle.
I don't know, maybe if I had worked at the factory for years like they did, maybe I would have gotten used to it. But soon I managed to find a better job in a gift shop, it was a lifesaver.
Planning to go on holiday to Japan in 2019? Great choice! In this review, we will tell you everything about the seasons, the weather and where it is better to go and what to see in a given month. We will also find out where the best beach holiday is and what advice tourists give.
Japan is a world of sophisticated exotics. Jewelry combination of tradition and modernity. A place of harmony of mind and body. You can pick up many more epithets, but you can understand their meaning only by visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.
Where to look for cheap tickets? It is most convenient to do this with the help of search engines and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check in both and see tickets for different dates. Read also the instructions. The cost of tickets is approximately the following: you can fly round-trip to Tokyo or Osaka from Moscow and St. Petersburg from 25-30 thousand rubles, from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Khabarovsk - from 15-20 thousand. See the list of cities in Russia for which there are the cheapest tickets to Japan.
When is the best time to go on vacation to Japan?
Spring
First of all, this khanami, Japanese national tradition of admiring flowers. Nature begins its show with the flowering of the Japanese ume plum from late December to late March. However, cherry blossoms are considered the main event of the hanami. Thanks to the climate, this magical spectacle can last for more than three months (from the end of February to the end of May). There are times when, for example, on the island of Okinawa, sakura begins to bloom as early as January. A wave of Japanese cherry blossoms crosses the country from the southernmost island of Kyushu and ends in northern Tohoku.
Flowering lasts only 8-10 days, so there are two options: either follow the "wave" around the country, or seize the moment. In addition, other beautiful flowers begin to bloom from May: azalea, shiba-zakura and wisteria.
Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see khanami. However, the real excitement in the country is from April 29 to May 6. At this time, a series of official holidays take place: Sowing Day, Constitution Day, Greenery Day and Children's Day. The period of celebrations bears the single name "Golden Week". It entails traffic jams and queues, as well as difficulties in booking hotels. In addition, prices for holidays in Japan at this time rise sharply. We advise you to take this into account when planning your trip.
It is also not superfluous to mention that traditional festivals begin in mid-May, including Kanda Matsuri and Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo, as well as Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto.
(Photo © SteFou! / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)
Summer
Early summer is not the best time to visit Japan. From June begins the so-called tsuyu(rainy season) and continues until mid-July. Summer in the country is very hot, the air temperature is +34…+38°С, and the humidity can exceed 90%.
Nevertheless, only in summer you can conquer one of the main attractions of Japan - Mount Fuji, located on the island of Honshu. Climbing Mount Fuji is officially allowed only from July 1 to August 27. With the end of the season, you will not find accompanying professionals and rescue services that provide security in the summer.
Summer in Japan is the season of celebrations and grandiose fireworks. If you want to see one of the festivals, then we advise you to plan the route in accordance with the calendar of holidays of the country. You can find the calendar of festivals in Japan for the main tourist cities at the link. There is also another good resource. Both sites are in English.
In mid-August, the Japanese celebrate obon. It is believed that at this time the souls of the dead descend to earth. Local residents visit the graves of their ancestors and pay tribute to the memory. People go to their homes to see relatives. Moreover, in August, children have school holidays, so there may be problems with booking hotels and buying tickets.
Autumn
Judging by the weather, September is not the best holiday option in Japan in 2019. The heat has not subsided yet, the humidity too. In addition, at this time the country is especially prone to typhoons, which are characterized by strong gusts of wind and heavy rains.
By the end of September, the weather conditions soften, the number of tourists decreases and, in our opinion, the most favorable time for traveling to Japan begins.
October and November are the time for the traditional momiji, it is also called the red maple season. As sakura once covered Japan from south to north, so now in the opposite direction (from north to south), red-yellow waves of autumn leaves color the country. The best time to see Momiji is in Kyoto. Travelers are also advised to enjoy the Japanese autumn in Tokyo, Okayama and Hiroshima.
In reviews of holidays in Japan, tourists celebrate October festivals. One of the most representative holidays - jidai matsuri, a festival of eras dedicated to the history of the country. You can visit it on October 22 in Kyoto.
(Photo © Freedom II Andres / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY 2.0)
Winter
Going on vacation to Japan in winter is perhaps the most interesting from mid-December, when the country is immersed in the New Year's atmosphere. However, it should be borne in mind that the Japanese themselves at this time are constantly traveling around their native cities and traveling. We advise you to book accommodation in advance and form your routes as carefully as possible, since prices for holidays in Japan increase during this period.
Japanese landscapes become dull in January and February, so to see the snowy beauty, we advise you to stick to the northern regions. Feel all the delights of the famous Japanese hot springs onsen We recommend close to Mount Fuji. The combination of a natural hot tub, Japanese winter and a view of the snowy peaks of the legendary volcano is perhaps the best atmosphere in which to appreciate an onsen.
When traveling around Japan in winter, be sure to visit the world-famous snow festival in Sapporo, which is held annually in early February and lasts 7 days.
Where to stay in Japan? Living in the country is not cheap. We advise you to search for hotels on the Roomguru search engine, it will select the most profitable options among a variety of booking systems. For example, in Tokyo, a night in a hostel with excellent reviews costs from $26, but rooms in decent hotels in the same Tokyo are much more expensive - for example, the price for staying in a double room in a hotel starts from $95.
Beach holidays in Japan
The Japanese themselves are not the biggest fans of seaside holidays, since the traditional fashion for pale skin in the Land of the Rising Sun has survived to this day. However, there are beach resorts on almost every island in the country, and tourists can sunbathe on the coast while touring the country.
Choosing a beach holiday destination in Japan depends on your needs and hobbies. For surfers, the resort of Kamakura is more suitable. However, the archipelago is the most popular among lovers of outdoor activities on the water. Ryukyu and its largest island, Okinawa. The sea is always warm here, and the minimum water temperature here is +20°C. Colorful coral reefs attract divers from all over the world. In addition, the islands Kerama located near Okinawa, tourists can take advantage of the exclusive opportunity to watch whales.
In reviews of a beach holiday in Japan with children, tourists advise the city Miyazaki on the island of Kyushu. In addition to luxurious beaches, there is the famous Ocean Dome water park, which can accommodate more than 10 thousand people.
A truly unique place to relax in Japan at sea is the city Sirahama on the island of Honshu. Snow-white quartz sand was brought to its coast from Australia. The well-maintained beaches of the resort, hot springs and modern hotels attract both tourists and local residents.
The name of the city of Ibusuki (Kyushu Island) is translated as "the city on the hot earth". The thermal waters here come so close to the surface of the earth that the temperature of the sea water can reach +40°C. No wonder the city is called the Japanese Hawaii.
There is a saying: "To the sick and honey is bitter." So that the rest is not spoiled by ailments, we advise you to collect the right one.
(Photo © Shinichi Higashi / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
When planning a vacation in Japan in 2019, it should be understood that the concept of a low season in the country practically does not exist. Every season here has its own uniqueness. In addition, domestic tourism in the country is developed no worse than external tourism. Local residents move around the country en masse during national holidays, so this period is characterized by difficulties with booking accommodation, problems with buying tickets for transport and widespread long queues. Also during the holidays there is an increase in prices for holidays in Japan.
Japan is a very law abiding country and the crime rate is extremely low. Nevertheless, one should not forget about elementary precautions, and even more so oneself becomes a source of violation of law and order (as our compatriots sometimes like to do in popular resorts). Not everyone in Japan speaks English well, so it is best to turn to the police for help if something happens. In addition, for the convenience of foreigners, subway inscriptions and road signs are duplicated in Latin.
It is important for tourists going on vacation to Japan to know a couple more things that in some countries are considered the norm (even an unspoken obligation), but here they will be perceived as an insult:
- In Japan, it is not customary to leave a tip, the usual encouragement of 5-15% is already included in the cost of a product or service.
- In the country they are not traded either in shops or in markets.
- In addition, I would like to give a little advice about handshakes. The Japanese pay great attention to issues of personal space and restraint of behavior. Do not be the first to reach out for a handshake, as this type of European greeting may not be in line with the values of every local.
Those who like to bring something "from across the sea, ocean" should take note that souvenirs and delicacies can be produced exclusively in one or another region of the country. For this reason, we advise you not to postpone the purchase of what you like. In reviews of holidays in Japan, tourists are advised to purchase jewelry and costume jewelry. Although their prices do not differ from European ones, the quality and design are at the highest level. If Japan can attract girls with natural cosmetics based on pearls and algae, then men will certainly not be indifferent to cutting-edge and computer games.
(Photo © Moyan Brenn / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)
Intro image source: © risaikeda / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
There is a stereotype that it is good to work in Japan. This stereotype comes from our compatriots who work by invitation in foreign companies, where the Japanese try to adapt to the level and style of foreigners. Meanwhile, Japan's traditional work system has a peculiar structure, and it is quite difficult to exist in it. That is why there are not so many foreigners building a career in classic Japanese companies. Epson's Marina Matsumoto tells how the average office worker exists in Japan.
Tokyo. View from the 45th floor of the observation deck. Photo by Swe.Var (http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/swe-var/)
Dress code
Of course, the conditions depend on the specific company, but in principle the dress code in Japan is much stricter than in Russia. Failure to comply with its rules has serious consequences for the employee, up to instant dismissal.
In a traditional Japanese company, they always wear a black suit, regardless of the weather, even if it is +40 outside. The Japanese endure both heat and cold calmly, as they go through a very harsh school of hardening the body in childhood. Recently, a new law has been passed allowing short-sleeve shirts to be worn to work. This is due to the forced energy savings, in which even in extreme heat, air conditioners are not always used in offices.
In some companies, women are not allowed to wear fitted suits - they must be absolutely straight. The skirt must cover the knees.
Women's accessories are also prohibited. I have a big serious company, it is known internationally. But I work where mostly Japanese people work. At my workplace, I was only allowed to wear a cross - under my clothes so that it was not visible, and a wedding ring.
Makeup should be invisible. Japanese women love to make up brightly, blush their cheeks strongly, almost all of them have false eyelashes. But at work, a woman should be as less attractive to men as possible.
In some places, women are required to wear only short hair that does not cover their ears. Hair color must be black. If by nature you, for example, are blonde, you will have to dye your hair.
Men, in addition to long hair, cannot wear a beard and mustache. It's an unspoken rule that everyone knows. The stable image of the Yakuza (a traditional form of organized crime in Japan) interferes.
Subordination
When I got a job, I signed a bunch of documents, where I assured that I would not discuss anything with clients and colleagues other than work: neither the weather, nor nature. I do not have the right to share my “personal data” at work - who is my husband, how am I doing ... At home, I do not have the right to talk about my work. I do not have a secret job, but it is accepted and stipulated in my contract.
Only work at work
They take to the workplace only what is needed for work: for me, these are documents and a pen. I can’t take my bag, wallet and phone, it remains at the checkpoint.
There is a favorite proverb in Russia: "Done the deed - walk boldly." In the workplace in Russia, the main thing is that you fulfill the plan for today. In Japan, “plans for today” are of no interest to anyone. You came to work, and you have to work on it.
How the Japanese slow down the workflow
In Russia, we all know that wages depend on the results of your work. If you work hard, you get nothing. If you work hard, you get bonuses and promotions. You've done everything, you can leave early or ask for an additional task to earn more.
In Japan, they pay by the clock. Almost all Japanese take overtime. But often this results in the fact that they stretch one task that can be done in two hours - for a week. The deadlines set by the company also do not always correspond to the level of complexity of the work. The Japanese will poke around for hours, we think they work like sleepy flies, but they think they do the job "thoroughly". They incredibly slow down the workflow, so it’s hard for us to work with them.
And this, by the way, is one of the main reasons why their economy was not in the best condition. With this system of payment by the hour, they have trapped themselves. After all, in fact, the work is not designed for quality, but for the number of hours spent in the office.
Long lengthy conversations
We all know that “brevity is the sister of talent”, but in Japan, brevity is the narrow-mindedness of the mind. The Japanese cannot speak briefly and to the point. They launch into long and lengthy explanations that are aimed at making even a narrow-minded person understand what they are talking about. Meetings can last an incredible number of hours. The Japanese believe that if they talk about the same thing for a long time and in excessive detail, then they respect the interlocutor.
Society stratification
It takes a lot of work and organization to grow rice. Therefore, historically, Japan has developed a system with a very narrow specialization of labor and a rigid stratification of society. Everyone has his own duty and his own place in the life and production process.
Japanese communities have always been well organized. For example, a samurai never cooked his own food, he could easily die of hunger if the peasantry had not rescued him.
As a result of such a mentality, it is very difficult for any Japanese to make an independent decision that is not inherent in his status. They cannot take on an elementary responsibility, at least somehow beyond the scope of their ordinary habitual affairs. To put a comma or not to put it is a problem for half a day. The preparation of elementary documents is a series of endless, very slow consultations. Moreover, the necessity of such consultations is striking. If an employee nevertheless takes the liberty of making a decision not based on status, then everyone in the hierarchical chain associated with him will receive a reprimand. This is Eastern despotism in action: “I am a small person, I am a simple peasant, and I should only do what I have to do.”
Again, everything is understandable: Japan is a small country with a large overpopulation, it needs strict frameworks and rules. To survive in Japan, you need to clearly know: my border is here, and this is the border of another person, I must respect it. Nobody goes beyond their limits. If a Japanese marries them, he will literally be lost.
Russia has a huge territory, expanse, open spaces. We are not chained. We are free. A Russian person can do anything. And the Shvets, and the reaper, and the igretz on the pipe ... - this is primarily about us, Russians!
Same as everyone
Interestingly, in Japan you don't have to show your difference or superiority in mind. You can not show your uniqueness, feature. This is not welcome. All must be the same. Since childhood, uniqueness has been burned out there with a red-hot iron, so Japan will not give the world either Einstein or Mendeleev.
The famous Japanese technology is a myth. As a rule, these are ideas that are not created by the Japanese. What they are good at is deftly picking up and improving in time. And we, on the contrary, can ingeniously create and forget ...
To survive in Japanese society, you have to be like everyone else. In Russia, on the contrary, if you are the same as everyone else, you will get lost. New ideas are constantly needed to master and fill a large space.
Career
In the classic Japanese campaign, careers are built for a long time. Career growth depends on age, not merit. A young specialist, even a very talented one, will occupy an insignificant position, work hard and for low wages, because he just came. Because of this organization of the workflow, it is increasingly difficult for Japanese companies to compete in the international market. Yes, there is the concept of Japanese quality, but this no longer saves them, because business is conducted in too Japanese a way.
Salary
The official salary in Japan is high. But with the deduction of all taxes, which amount to almost 60%, they receive an average of a thousand dollars in their hands. Young people get even less. At 60, the salary is already a very decent amount.
Vacation and weekends
There are no holidays in Japan. Weekends are Saturday or Sunday. And depending on the company, you are entitled to a few extra days off a year. Let's say you have 10 days, but you can't take them right away. They need to be broken. It happens that you need to take one day off a week - and go somewhere on business. In my campaign, I have to give a month's notice so that everyone can cooperate and replace me. In some companies, these terms are even longer. It is problematic to leave work for an unexpected incident.
If you get sick on Monday and think not to go to work, then you will not be understood. Everyone goes to work with a temperature.
Holidays can become days off: the day of remembrance of the dead - Obon, in mid-August. But a young specialist does not have such an opportunity, he will work for the first two years without extra days off.
For the new year, 1-3 days are given. If they fall on Saturday-Sunday, then no one, like in Russia, will transfer them to Monday-Tuesday.
There is also a "golden week" in May, when several state and religious holidays are held in a row. My husband worked all days, I had 3 days off.
Working day
Standard working day from 9 am to 7 pm. But most importantly, you should keep in mind that if it is indicated that the working day is from nine, then you cannot come right to this time. Even if you arrive at 8.45, it is considered that you are late. You need to come to work at least half an hour in advance, some come in an hour. It is believed that a person needs time to tune in to the working mood, to prepare for work.
The end of the official working day does not mean that you can go home. It is not customary to leave before your boss. If he is late at the office for two hours, then you are late, and this will not be considered overtime. Your personal circumstances are your personal problems, which, as I already mentioned, are not discussed with colleagues under the contract I signed.
Informal communication
In Japan, there is such a thing - "nomikai" - "drink together", reminiscent of a Russian corporate party. Somewhere "nomikai" takes place every day, in my campaign - twice a week. Of course, you can refuse, but they will "look askance" at you. Why drink? - because in Japan there is a positive attitude towards alcohol. Shinto involves making offerings to certain gods in the form of alcohol. Japanese doctors believe that drinking alcohol daily is beneficial. Nobody talks about doses.
The Japanese do not know how to drink, and, as a rule, get very drunk. The booze itself will cost you nothing, either the boss or the company always pays for it.
Now, in order to further stimulate visits to bars with colleagues, employees have even begun to pay for “nomikai”. It's part of Japanese culture to work together and drink together. It turns out that almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, you spend only with your work colleagues.
In addition to nomikai, you need to drink with customers, with partners, with officials with whom the company is connected.
Yes, in Russia there is something similar, but it is completely incomparable with the Japanese alcohol scale. And then in Russia the attitude towards alcohol is much more negative.
Now you can imagine the whole picture. The Japanese leaves the house at 7 am. At work, he exists within the rigid framework of his status. After the end of the official working day, he takes extra hours because he has to feed his family. He then goes out to drink with colleagues and returns home from there at 2 am, most likely drunk. He works on Saturdays. He sees his family only on Sundays. And until the evening, the whole day off, he can either sleep or drink, because he is in terrible stress from such a cruel regime.
In Japan, there is a separate concept - "death by processing." This is a very common case when people die at their desks or, unable to withstand the load, commit suicide. For Japan, this is in the order of things, an event to which there is practically no reaction. People will even resent if someone's suicide interfered with their work. Everyone thinks: “Why didn’t you do it somewhere in a quiet, inconspicuous place, because of you I won’t come to work on time!!”.
It must be understood that Japanese society did not sit and come up with these rules for itself. Everything has evolved over the centuries due to the geographical and historical uniqueness of Japan. Probably everyone will agree that they had good reasons for such a mobilization of society, a constant readiness for something. A small territory, a lot of people, wars, earthquakes, tsunamis - everything can collapse at any moment. Therefore, the Japanese from childhood learn to work in a group, learn to survive on their piece of land. In fact, all Japanese education is not based on teaching a person something, developing him, it teaches him to be a real Japanese, to be competitive precisely in Japanese society ... Not everyone can endure such a life, because it is really hard.
