Japan Mystery
(
32)
Sun 2006/11/26 01:09
Taken on the way to work one day. You have three guesses as to why they look like this...
- They are meditating.
It is common to see people in public meditate and its the current 'in' thing in Japan right now. People meditate to relieve the stress of work and the Japanese ministry of health has asked that people meditate for at least 5 minutes a day. - They are dead.
Lately many people have been dropping dead like flies around Tokyo due to overworking. This happens so often that it could be a few hours before their bodies are collected. If people just happen to drop dead on a train track, the train company will sue the family of the dead person for causing X amount of monetary loss due to train delays. - They are sleeping.
Many people in Japan for some reason stay at work until very late at night and are flat out the next day. There doesn't seem to be a sense of trying to finish everything between nine to five. Indeed, many people go to work late at around ten thirty because they know that going into work early doesn't mean that they can leave early.
There is always a peer pressure to stay behind at work. If one leaves early - they are 'slacking'. If they work late then it looks like they are doing a good job - or they 'feel' that they are doing a good job. The boss doesn't leave early because they feel that they cant leave their staff behind. Subordinates dont leave early because they feel they cant knock off before their boss - evil circle.
If you dont like this style of work, make sure you land yourself a results oriented job when looking for work in japan.
Windbell in Signapore
It's a conspiracy! By the way Danny, I heard that the usage of cellphones (e.g Talking on the phone) on trains are not allowed. Like it's rude to use it on trains. Is that true?
(ID #41588) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Josh J in San Francisco
I just love this topic. Here are pics I took over a one-month period in Japan: http://www.jdesign.com/gallery/tokyo_asleep
(ID #41590) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Adun in Sydney, Australia
I remember the first day I caught a train in central Tokyo, was amazed by the amount of people sleeping whilst on their way to work. But even more so you can sleep standing up on a packed train as other people can just hold you up.
(ID #41591) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
I would do that every single day on the way to classes when I took the bus. I instinctivly knew exactly when to wake up by the amount of time the trip took, and the direction the bus turned. Workaholic "ism" is also a common plague in the United States, but I think for different and similar reasons. People like to stay later to 1) get paid more 2) look like a good employee Bosses here get to slack and leave =p
(ID #41592) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
BeLe in Cebu, Philippines
Some of my friends who went to Japan for a business trip said that most of their co-workers stay late because a given timeline for a project is really short so OT is really inevitable. Is it the same for most companies there in Japan? Esp in the IT business.
(ID #41595) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
KCA in Hanoi
So to summarize: better to own you rown business in Japan, and hire one executive manager who will take care to stress the staff^^.
(ID #41596) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
AndyH in Birmingham, UK
I'd love to get a job in the Games/ 3D industry in Japan, but the tough working hours put me off! I guess thats why everything is so efficient and clean - they work bloody hard!
(ID #41597) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
David -M- in France, Strasbourg
That's so stupid, it's not because you stay at work, that you are working. Productivity and results are more important than the working hours...
(ID #41599) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
SG in UK
Well, they are first put into meditate state, after a while they will be sleeping and in the end, some will die. Work of a Death Note user!! [jks] Well, They could be meditating or that people just wanna sleep o.O
(ID #41600) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Diego in Milano
Why do japanes think that life serve to job? I think job serve to life. maybe japanese must to demostrate to be better, leave the life imprisoned in the cage of rules. In Italy it happens when you love your work, or you are in extreme time delay.
(ID #41601) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
DarkMirage in Singapore
I bet you didn't ask those people for permission before taking their picture. (Or at least their next of kin if they are dead.) Is that legal in Japan? :P
(ID #41603) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Alafista in Singapore
That sounds so much like my office when i was serving national service ... I was always scolded for going for long breaks even though my job was already long finished ... they assumed people tat sit down at their pc all days to be hardworking and efficient workers like me to be lazy .... thats so ironic
(ID #41604) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Boris in Maryland, USA
oh, interesting, kind of remind me of metro in Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Hhehehe lots of people "sleeping" before and after work hehehe.
(ID #41606) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Leo
So how early and/or late do you have to get to work to show that you're not slacking? Was that picture taken before you joined them or after? ;-) Just kidding. There does seem to be a work/life balance trade-off that be undesirable to be if I had a child.
(ID #41608) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Arekusu in The Lost Woods
xD!!! I recon those people are meditating, it may not look like the conventional method, but i recon they are... Hmm...maybe i should take up daily meditating, but how would i go about it?
(ID #41609) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Huk in SG
One is not supposed to meditate in a slouch position, that will obstruct the Ki
(ID #41610) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Lunch in London, UK
You know, in a way, they really are dead...
(ID #41611) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Danny in Tokyo
Lunch, Huk, Nice one! Arekusu, Just copy the folks in the photo ^^; DarkMirage, I asked them but they did not respond ^o^ AndyH, I know somebody working at Gonzo - he says the hours are terrible. KCA, You dont like figures, anime or games? This place must get boring for you! BeLe, I think that depends on what kind of place you are in. At Amazon, things were never like that - priorities and resources were always planned well in advance. Josh J, Fantastic pics! Windbell, Yes its true.
(ID #41612) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
San in Copenhagen, Denmark
Naaah, I think they are just camera-shy...
(ID #41613) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Jacky in Singapore or Shingapuuru
I can understand that.. its normal of a person whom are physically tired and mentally drain. I'm sure in Japan these many areas to release onceself from being stress up. Hobbies, entertainments, gaming, clubbing or even travel to some country side withing Japan for a short relaxation like Okinawa or Hokkido. It is 100 time batter then a tiny stress up island where every once have nowhere to escape stress. Can you imagine tokyo being an island by itself...
(ID #41614) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
KCA in Hanoi
Danny, LOL !!! :O) Anyway, i am still waiting your post "how to set up a Amazon front shop" that you promised months ago ^^
(ID #41619) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
p7m13 in Singapore
What is a "results oriented job?" My dream is to work in Japan but I don't wanna be stuck in the office for 12hours or more everyday! Would working for a more westernised company help?
(ID #41623) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Danny in Tokyo
p7m13, In most cases it would help but that also depends on the group you are in. in my experience, production tend to be able to go home earlier than folks on the business side for example. KCA, Am kinda in the middle of writing it - promise to bring it to you before the end of the year.
(ID #41626) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
mio_pls in philippines
does this also go for multinat companies there? i mean the culture wherein more or less the staff dont get to leave after their boss leaves because of seniority? o_o i used to have late nights at my former job too haha! 10-12hrs work, 6hrs sleep, lesser time for fun :( btw, where is this anime av from? :D
(ID #41649) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Roberto Pereira in Brazil
Do you have any newspapper who confirm your information? Please?
(ID #41669) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
Ppl die there due to stress.....thats hectic, dont become a statistic Danny.....we rely on you and your AWESOME site!! Ps: Take more holidays, relax and keep bringing us the good sh*t....
(ID #41751) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
D_Blade in Lost in thought in the chaotic...
Hmm, that is a good question... I would say : -Either they are playing "Simon says" and well...it was very convenient that time; -Or they are just thinking about the day of restless day of work they will have the next day (ah, workaholics); -It's time to curl into a ball ? It's somehow proven that taking short naps improve productivity at work. I've even heard that in the USA (correct me if I'm wrong) it has been allowed and encouraged practice even in certain offices.
(ID #41771) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
erick in Houston, Texas
Thats just crazy, but Japan does have good technology and it is a very nice country.
(ID #41892) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
chinky
I would not want to live a country where the work is like this. Japan may look nice and have a nice appearence but living and working there is another story... If youre a workaholic, weeaboo, or a chinaman that likes to work alot then this is the place for you. But im happy where I am in America for now. I honestly dont understand why people would wamt to learn such a complicated language just so they can interact with a xenophobic populous that lives in japan. Im sorry but japan people irritate me.
(ID #54769) Posted on 2007/08/18 06:00
Japanese Student
Hi Danny, I'm blogging about this phenomenon. May I link your post? Thanks.
(ID #62497) Posted on 2007/11/07 01:23
Japan working hours are crazy... one of the reasons why I'm kinda scared to go work there. My dream is to make something profitable on my own then move to Japan... so I can live on my own schedule. Even so, I'm pretty shure I would sleep exactly like that, even if I didn't work late hours. I mean, I've been on Japan on a vacation trip, and very oftenly me and the people on my family that went with me were caught sleeping on trains. At first, we were kinda surprized. People sleeping everywhere, and in some ways you couldn't believe... we saw people half asleep in a standing position.. I mean, WTF was that? But then we suddenly realised. It was cold. Trains have heated seats. You don't have to worry too much about robbery, or problems with other people. Also, commuting. Some people take 2 hours on train to get to their work, every day. In this situation, the train almost become an extension to your bed or something. You sleep like 4 to 6 hours at home (or even less), and the rest of it while going to work. I don't think I would adapt to that.. if I don't sleep 8 hours in my orthopedical mattress, I feel like poop all day long.
(ID #64573) Posted on 2007/11/22 19:42
Windbell in Signapore
It's a conspiracy! By the way Danny, I heard that the usage of cellphones (e.g Talking on the phone) on trains are not allowed. Like it's rude to use it on trains. Is that true?
(ID #83592) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Josh J in San Francisco
I just love this topic. Here are pics I took over a one-month period in Japan: http://www.jdesign.com/gallery/tokyo_asleep
(ID #83594) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Adun in Sydney, Australia
I remember the first day I caught a train in central Tokyo, was amazed by the amount of people sleeping whilst on their way to work. But even more so you can sleep standing up on a packed train as other people can just hold you up.
(ID #83595) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
I would do that every single day on the way to classes when I took the bus. I instinctivly knew exactly when to wake up by the amount of time the trip took, and the direction the bus turned. Workaholic "ism" is also a common plague in the United States, but I think for different and similar reasons. People like to stay later to 1) get paid more 2) look like a good employee Bosses here get to slack and leave =p
(ID #83596) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
BeLe in Cebu, Philippines
Some of my friends who went to Japan for a business trip said that most of their co-workers stay late because a given timeline for a project is really short so OT is really inevitable. Is it the same for most companies there in Japan? Esp in the IT business.
(ID #83599) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
KCA in Hanoi
So to summarize: better to own you rown business in Japan, and hire one executive manager who will take care to stress the staff^^.
(ID #83600) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
AndyH in Birmingham, UK
I'd love to get a job in the Games/ 3D industry in Japan, but the tough working hours put me off! I guess thats why everything is so efficient and clean - they work bloody hard!
(ID #83601) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
David -M- in France, Strasbourg
That's so stupid, it's not because you stay at work, that you are working. Productivity and results are more important than the working hours...
(ID #83603) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
SG in UK
Well, they are first put into meditate state, after a while they will be sleeping and in the end, some will die. Work of a Death Note user!! [jks] Well, They could be meditating or that people just wanna sleep o.O
(ID #83604) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Diego in Milano
Why do japanes think that life serve to job? I think job serve to life. maybe japanese must to demostrate to be better, leave the life imprisoned in the cage of rules. In Italy it happens when you love your work, or you are in extreme time delay.
(ID #83605) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
DarkMirage in Singapore
I bet you didn't ask those people for permission before taking their picture. (Or at least their next of kin if they are dead.) Is that legal in Japan? :P
(ID #83607) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Alafista in Singapore
That sounds so much like my office when i was serving national service ... I was always scolded for going for long breaks even though my job was already long finished ... they assumed people tat sit down at their pc all days to be hardworking and efficient workers like me to be lazy .... thats so ironic
(ID #83608) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Boris in Maryland, USA
oh, interesting, kind of remind me of metro in Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Hhehehe lots of people "sleeping" before and after work hehehe.
(ID #83610) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Leo
So how early and/or late do you have to get to work to show that you're not slacking? Was that picture taken before you joined them or after? ;-) Just kidding. There does seem to be a work/life balance trade-off that be undesirable to be if I had a child.
(ID #83612) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Arekusu in The Lost Woods
xD!!! I recon those people are meditating, it may not look like the conventional method, but i recon they are... Hmm...maybe i should take up daily meditating, but how would i go about it?
(ID #83613) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Huk in SG
One is not supposed to meditate in a slouch position, that will obstruct the Ki
(ID #83614) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Lunch in London, UK
You know, in a way, they really are dead...
(ID #83615) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Danny in Tokyo
Lunch, Huk, Nice one! Arekusu, Just copy the folks in the photo ^^; DarkMirage, I asked them but they did not respond ^o^ AndyH, I know somebody working at Gonzo - he says the hours are terrible. KCA, You dont like figures, anime or games? This place must get boring for you! BeLe, I think that depends on what kind of place you are in. At Amazon, things were never like that - priorities and resources were always planned well in advance. Josh J, Fantastic pics! Windbell, Yes its true.
(ID #83616) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
San in Copenhagen, Denmark
Naaah, I think they are just camera-shy...
(ID #83617) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Jacky in Singapore or Shingapuuru
I can understand that.. its normal of a person whom are physically tired and mentally drain. I'm sure in Japan these many areas to release onceself from being stress up. Hobbies, entertainments, gaming, clubbing or even travel to some country side withing Japan for a short relaxation like Okinawa or Hokkido. It is 100 time batter then a tiny stress up island where every once have nowhere to escape stress. Can you imagine tokyo being an island by itself...
(ID #83618) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
KCA in Hanoi
Danny, LOL !!! :O) Anyway, i am still waiting your post "how to set up a Amazon front shop" that you promised months ago ^^
(ID #83623) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
p7m13 in Singapore
What is a "results oriented job?" My dream is to work in Japan but I don't wanna be stuck in the office for 12hours or more everyday! Would working for a more westernised company help?
(ID #83627) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Danny in Tokyo
p7m13, In most cases it would help but that also depends on the group you are in. in my experience, production tend to be able to go home earlier than folks on the business side for example. KCA, Am kinda in the middle of writing it - promise to bring it to you before the end of the year.
(ID #83630) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
mio_pls in philippines
does this also go for multinat companies there? i mean the culture wherein more or less the staff dont get to leave after their boss leaves because of seniority? o_o i used to have late nights at my former job too haha! 10-12hrs work, 6hrs sleep, lesser time for fun :( btw, where is this anime av from? :D
(ID #83653) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Roberto Pereira in Brazil
Do you have any newspapper who confirm your information? Please?
(ID #83673) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
Ppl die there due to stress.....thats hectic, dont become a statistic Danny.....we rely on you and your AWESOME site!! Ps: Take more holidays, relax and keep bringing us the good sh*t....
(ID #83755) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
D_Blade in Lost in thought in the chaotic...
Hmm, that is a good question... I would say : -Either they are playing "Simon says" and well...it was very convenient that time; -Or they are just thinking about the day of restless day of work they will have the next day (ah, workaholics); -It's time to curl into a ball ? It's somehow proven that taking short naps improve productivity at work. I've even heard that in the USA (correct me if I'm wrong) it has been allowed and encouraged practice even in certain offices.
(ID #83775) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
erick in Houston, Texas
Thats just crazy, but Japan does have good technology and it is a very nice country.
(ID #83896) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
I AGREE WITH CHINKY,JAPAN NICE PLACE TO VISIT.ETC
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