There is a Japanese proverb that say, “Three years on a stone” (石の上にも三年) This means that even a stone will get warm if a person sits on it for three years. This proverb is supported by many businessmen and managers in Japan. This episode discusses the merits and demerits of this proverb.
Today I took a walk in Kanda Jimbocho. Kanda Jimbocho is known as one of the best bookstreets in Japan. There is nothing better than buying an old book at a used bookstore and having a cup of coffee at a cafe.
Some may think that salespeople have an easy job because they can make money just by talking to customers. But salespeople can unknowingly become severely mentally exhausted. Salespeople need to slack off and take a breather.
For many salarymen in Japan, the important thing is the company they work for. When meeting a stranger at work, once business cards are exchanged, there is no need to explain yourself further. Company people don’t have to explain themselves. At first glance, this may seem like a very easy way out, but it can have many negative effects later on.
There are many cars in Japan with stickers saying “Baby on board”. For a long time I couldn’t understand the intention of this sticker. This sticker is very much in line with the mentality of many Japanese. This is because most Japanese people try to read the atmosphere.（空気を読む）
Skill supremacy creates a race for survival between the weak and the strong. In the old Japanese companies, employees were not evaluated solely on the basis of their work. Social interaction and popularity were also necessary for advancement. In the future, Japanese companies will also begin to evaluate their employees based on the supremacy of their skills. However, it is questionable whether the results of complicated office work can be fairly evaluated.
Looking back, my job search as a student was terrible. I didn’t take job hunting seriously, because I didn’t want to become a business person. In this episode, I talk about the discomfort and inconsistency I feel about job hunting in Japan.
In today’s Japan, the meaning of work is harder to find. As industries have become more sophisticated and work has become more segmented and sophisticated, it seems that office workers tend to lose their spirit through their work. In the past, people simply had to work to eat, but as society has matured, each individual must consider the meaning of work.
There is an old saying that goes “Out of sight, out of mind (去る者は日々に疎し)”. The term applies well to relationships among salaried people.
When I was a student, I worked part time as a cleaner at an office building in Kayabacho. I was forced to think about social issues or various problems that humanity faces. I talk about that.
I talk about what to watch out for after you change jobs. In particular, there are a few things to keep in mind about relationships. People around you may be kind and supportive during the initial period of your new job, but you must not let your guard down. You need to learn the names of the people around you as soon as possible and work hard to build relationships.
Work in the world can be divided into two types. One is work that requires speed, and the other is work that doesn’t require much speed. People with a laidback personality are not suited to jobs that require speed. In this article, I talk about a job that doesn’t require speed that I have experienced.
In Japan, there is a coming-of-age ceremony(成人式) . I did not attend that ceremony. I thought it was a silly ceremony. This ceremony is an important ceremony for many ordinary Japanese people, and Japanese people who can honestly participate in the coming of age ceremony without any discomfort would be contributing to Japanese society and economy.
The Japanese language has a word for working adults. There is no word in foreign languages that perfectly fits the Japanese word shakaijin. To be a member of society, one must be working in the real world, and this has become a breeding ground for discrimination in Japanese society.
It is important for salespeople to think about what they are in sales for, so that they can continue their work in sales. Making money is an obvious motive, but if that is the only motive, it will be difficult to remain a salesperson forever.
In Japan, artists who do not earn money are not recognized by society as artists. Whether art is a business or not is debatable, but this perception of art by the general public in Japan has trivialized people’s way of life and made it difficult to live in this society.
There is an expression in Japanese called “split one’s stomach”. This means to confide one’s true feelings, and doesn’t mean to commit suicide by harakiri. When working for a Japanese company, you should not hide your true feelings from the employees around you.
If a salaried worker is looking for a job, it is better not to leave the company. This is because if you quit your company, you will not receive the monthly salary you used to receive and at the same time, your talent value in the job market will decrease. There is an old saying that goes “Many kiss the hand they wish to cut off (面従腹背)”. Your boss must not know about your job search until you have received a job offer.
Different people have different views of work. In Japan, there's also freedom of thought. However, it is best to avoid expressing your views on work to those around you after you change jobs. This is because your boss may have a different view of work than you do. As with politics, differences in values can easily lead to conflicts, and you should be cautious about topics such as your views on work because you will not have your own supporters in the company immediately after you change jobs.
For many Japanese company employees, resignation can be a troublesome event. This is because those who leave a company are often viewed as traitors by the remaining employees.