3) Attitudes Towards Traditional Cultural Values

Adding to some of the things mentioned in previous paragraphs, though Japan’s practices have been drastically changing over recent decades, attitudes seem to be lagging behind. For instance, even though many women are now extremely career oriented, Japan’s workforce is still heavily male dominated and male controlled.

“Listen Godzilla, I’m the boss and I need you to come in Saturday to redo your TPS reports!”-The Man keeping everyone down.

Unlike in America, though it is now normal for women have long careers in Japan, it is not normal or condoned for them to have both a fruitful career and children. Adding to this, there is still the notion that in a family environment it is the man’s job to earn and income and the woman’s job to stay home and have children.

“That’s it sweety eat up! Just like you ate up all of mommy’s hopes and dreams!”

This notion in Japan has been much more resistant to change in Japan than it has in America where stay-at-home dads are becoming almost common. Furthermore, compounding all of these problems and notions about family and women is the fact that Japan has an extremely tough and outdated corporate culture in addition to having a crazy high cost of living.

Didn’t believe it when we said Japan had an outdated corporate culture? Just look at how that samurai is  smoking a cigar in the common area and we dare you to tell us it is up to date!

Most corporations in Japan expect workers, both men and women alike, to work long hours 6 days per week effectively leaving very little time to think about relationships and family. Furthermore, with the cost of living in Japan, unless a man makes a very high income, a woman will need to work if the couple wants to have kids thereby creating a conflict between cultural notions and practical needs.

” I work too hard to have to come in on a Saturday!”