>>14692321My company sends me to Japan every year (except now with covid) and for some it's true. I've met people that work up to 80h per week, take no holidays and the 40h overwork are unpaid. They haven't seen their parents for years and their only moment of relive during the day is when they slurp their ramen in shinjuku.
But that's kinda changing. Afaik most companies nowadays adapt the western work system as they see it as more efficient. 40h week and around 20 or more paid holidays. There is a site online in Japanese that lists those "black companies" that you better avoid. Nevertheless even in the better modern companies the culture is a bit different. You are expected to join the weekly Izakaya (getting drunk with your boss after work). And often there is a vacation trip with your coworkers that is fully paid and during work time. Friend of mine is going to Hawaii every year for a week and stay in Hilton.
Also in Japan you are not expected to work from 8 to 17 or whatever with 1 hour break as we know it in Germany. No one blames you if you do a small nap on the sofa any time. Or if your lunch break takes 2h because you go to a cafe with a coworker. It's also part of their work culture. Overall when I'm there I feel that life is way more relaxed compared to here in Germany. Their service culture makes everything so easy too.
