Dear Japan Reddit’s unsung heroes!
I have a list of things my company could improve on (don’t we all?) and I’m looking for advice and insights from the larger Japan experience.
Before I speak up and potentially become either a hero, a scapegoat, or risk my smooth career, does anyone have any success stories about navigating the “Japanese system” at work or in life? Have you inspired change or at least had meaningful conversations? Were you able to abolish exploitation rules, get someone fired / hired, talk back to your Japanese teacher/suerior, or regretted not speaking up when you should have?
I have many ideas on how to improve the company: organizational changes, addressing power harassment, fair pay, setting clear rules, and increasing transparency, among other things. This is for an international Tokyo-based company, but the ideas extend to life in Japan in general. Having been to the labor offices in the past, I realize these changes may be wishful thinking. However, I’m motivated to speak up and inspire change. With 2 years left in my 20s, I still have hope and plenty of anger. Enough of suffering in silence and following the perfect, beautiful order of things just to be respected and accepted in the culture. Right?
Recently, some coworkers have confided in me with workplace horror stories. While I’m not one to start petitions or company meetings, I believe in raising my voice and speaking publicly in the next biannual manager meeting.
10 years of working in Japan and experiencing subpar standards of professionalism, something needs to be done in this little life.
Isn’t it more important to be a good person rather than follow a herd of poorly thought-out decisions? Maybe it will help someone? Maybe just one whole person.
by LusciousMomo