Much is made of the Japanese work ethics.  In fact during the 70s and 80s, the predominant position of Japanese companies scared the rest of the world to a point that senior managers were learning Japanese, visiting Japanese manufacturing plants, and talking about kanban and just-in-time (JIT) as they talk about digital economies and e-commerce today.  Japanese business practices of fair treatment of employees, flat organization structures, and total commitment to work were hailed as the standards to follow.  

The situation is much different today.  While no reliable alternative has emerged, it does not seem likely that Japanese business practices are likely to be re-embraced.  The bad loans in the banking sector, slow reaction to need for change in the manufacturing sector, and continued inaction by the Government of Japan – these are not likely to inspire many executives to look to Japan for guidance.  Japan is mired in recession and this is significantly impacting the socio-economic structure as well.  Japan is getting old, birthrate is declining, and the close-knit family structure is gradually disappearing.  The social values that resulted in the current mess emerged during the bubble – work was foremost during those days even if it came at the expense of family.  The tightly controlled media in Japan extolled the virtues of a housewife tirelessly raising a family while the absentee husband built an economic superpower.  No sacrifice was large enough when the success of Japan, Inc. was concerned.

Japanese men today are lost.  While the country no longer provides the opportunities of 10-20 years ago, the current generation still can not figure out what to do with their lives.  The generation that practically lived at the workplace during the bubble has no outlet for its pent-up energy now that the Japanese companies do not need them to work beyond 5 PM.  While many of these men still hang out at their offices, it is not because they are getting any real work done – they have nowhere to go.  Their wives and children developed their own networks and lifestyle during the days of ‘absentee husband’ and ‘absentee father’ – they do not need him any more, except to pay the bills.  What about golf outings, expensive dinners, and drinks at exclusive hostess bars – companies are no longer picking up the tab.

For all those men who sacrificed their youth sitting in their offices or listening to demanding customers, this is a time of great frustration.  A ten year gaijin resident of Tokyo writes, “I think that Japanese men are not heroes, but victims of an economic machine that uses its people like wood pulp to turn out paper (bills) so that everyone else can have a good time.  Sure they sacrifice themselves, but all this ends up in is mundane and absurd suffering, wasted time, and a death spent pondering the fact that they've been denied human interaction with those that they're supposed to love the most.”  When Meesh Matsumoto tried to admire the contributions of Japanese men towards making Japan such a great country, she asked some tough questions, “The Japanese men are pretty cool, but they are not the master race.  No one is.  They may have done a lot for their country but so are men (and women) all over the world.”