Japanese Gov’t to ban sexism, slavery, alcoholism & crap housing!
Gov’t to prioritize work-life balance to stem low birthrate
Japan Today – Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 06:45 EDT
TOKYO—A governmental strategic panel on Japan’s falling birthrate will place top priority on parental support steps to realize a favorable work-life balance among citizens in its mid-term basic policy report to be compiled next month…more…
“Work-life balance”? Sheesh, work is life: “Arbeit macht frei!” The Japanese government might just as well as try promoting not being Japanese.
Japanese industry is based on “service” (unpaid) overtime and 16 hour day. Multiple shifts and seperate groups of workers for weekend shifts is rare.
Actually, most male workers don’t want to go home. If they hang around the office long enough, their bosses will take them out drinking to “reward” them for their hard work. Besides, Japanese homes are so tight and miserly that salarymen are not welcome at a home—They just get in the way—Wives hate hang-around-the-house husbands.
My friend Masamania has a cool photo-essay on the work-life balance of Japanese salarymen: I want to tell you how much Japanese businessman is tired….Our priority is not to live, but to work…
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May 30th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
The Masamania link doesn’t seem to work?
May 30th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Sorry about the Masamania link, but he changed his policy and requires registration to access his site.
Masa-san has gathered so many links and hits he no longer can afford to pay his server bill so now only “determined”
Masamaniacs who sign up can see his content. He doesn’t post much anymore online, but I met him last weekend and all seemed ok with his life.
May 30th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
“Work-life balance”?!
You mean “normalize” Japanland!?!?! What then will we do with all of the empty snack bars and late-night RAMEN shops?!?!
May 30th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
“Sleazy snack bars and late-night RAMEN shops”….
That’s all part of the famed Japanese work ethic.
May 30th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Ah, thanks for the clarification. You rarely hear of anyone getting too many visitors – maybe he needs to put up some ads! :)
May 30th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
His website was just a hobby that got out of hand. Over the years, making all the engrish replies to thousands of visitors really has burnt him out, and in his dayjob he doesn’t need English.