Work ethic in Japan is a double-edged sword. On one hand the dedication and pride many workers take in Japan is something to be admired, however it can be taken to the extreme. In fact many people work so hard, that the Japanese have the word‘karoshi’ which translates to death from overwork.
In terms of working yourself to death, that’s definitely not an encouraging prospect, however what you can draw from spending some in the Japanese workforce is a sense pride and commitment to your job, which in turn gives many workers a true sense of purpose or ‘ikigai’. In Japan the term ‘ikigai’ means (in a very vague description) your life’s purpose, or reason for living. There is a little more to the ikigaiphilosophy and it’s worth investigating but essentially many have attributed this sense of pride and purpose to the long a fulfilling lifespan of the Japanese population.
For westerners learning Japanese can be an incredibly daunting task. Lack of English speakers and lack of personal Japanese skill may make living in Japan seems like a near impossibility, however in a number of cases it can be a personal benefit.
Teaching, writing and jobs that require English skills are increasing in demand as the country becomes more globalised meaning that if you can write and speak English really well there’s high probability of employment. Also what better excuse to drown yourself in fascinating anime and catchy J-Pop jams than under the guide of ‘studying’ Japanese.
