The salaryman, pillar of Japanese society

An emblematic figure of modern Japan, the salaryman is more than just an employee: he's a true lifestyle dedicated body and soul to his company. Let's find out who these men are, willing to devote their lives to work, sometimes to the detriment of their personal lives. We'll explore the main characteristics of salarymen, their place in Japanese society, and recent developments in this traditional model. Without further ado, let's plunge into the fascinating world of these hard workers.

In Japan, the term "salaryman" refers to male employees and executives of large companies, recognizable by their timeless dark suits and ties. Recruited straight from university, they are destined to spend their entire careers with the same company, with promotion based on seniority. In exchange for unfailing loyalty and total investment, the company traditionally guarantees them a job for life, in a quasi-paternalist system. In this way, the salaryman devotes himself entirely to his company, which is the center of his social life.

A group of Japanese office workers

Benicio Murray

A salaryman's day is punctuated by very long working hours, often more than 12 hours a day. After a crowded train journey, it generally begins with a morning meeting (chōrei) to remotivate the troops. This is followed by hours in the office, interspersed with a short lunch break, often taken in front of the computer. In the evening, it's frowned upon to leave before one's superior. As a result, salarymen return home very late, sometimes after midnight, with little time to devote to their families. And the day often ends with an obligatory evening with colleagues, nomikai, with one drink after another in a smoky izakaya.

The atmosphere in izakaya is often lively

Kurt

The other side of the coin is the chronic stress and burnout that affect many salarymen. Cases of depression and burn-out are common, caused by constant pressure and lack of rest. The phenomenon sometimes even takes a dramatic turn, with deaths from exhaustion, known as"karōshi". Every year, hundreds of salarymen die of cardiac arrest or stroke as a result of overwork. The government is trying to react by limiting overtime, but attitudes are slowly changing.

Salaryman asleep in the metro after a nomikai

Wikipedia

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