This is a continuation of the previous blog post Top 5 aspects of Family Life
Work Culture and Economy
- Japan’s economy is ranked second in the world after that of the United States
- some of its main industries include motor vehicles, electronics, industrial and transportation equipment, and chemicals.
- Employees in their first years at a company often have to work long hours for little pay.
- It is very common for employees to all go out drinking together after a long day at work; the Japanese see this as a way to strengthen relationships and build work camaraderie.
- Another important part of the Japanese work economy is the custom of lifelong employment.
- This system is becoming less common due to a decrease in the number of full-time employees and an increase in the number of part-time and contractual employees.
- There is term, freeter, the Japanese have coined to refer to young people who work one or more part-time jobs as an alternative to obtaining full-time employment.
Politics
- Unlike the United States or the United Kingdom, Japanese political parties tend to change constantly with one major exception-the Liberal Democratic Party, which has held power for more than fifty years-since the end of World War II.
General Trends
- Generally speaking, the older and younger generations tend to do things differently and hold
different ideas about things. - Members of the younger generation also seem to keep more of their own interests in mind as they wait longer and longer to get married and have children.
