This is quite different from what their parents experienced, yet many young Japanese individuals in their 20s find satisfaction in choosing a more balanced lifestyle over pursuing higher salaries and advanced careers.
In a country where dedication and unwavering commitment to one’s workplace have traditionally defined the culture, increasing numbers of Japanese individuals are opting for “quiet quitting.”
The phrase initially created in the U.S. in 2022 refers to individuals who choose not to participate actively and only fulfill the absolute basic requirements at their workplace.
“quiet quitting”
Has acquired a somewhat distinct connotation in Japan — a sense that might understandably cause throngs of hardworking “salarymen” to recoil.
An increasing number of people in Japan are opting to arrive at their workplace precisely when required and depart immediately after their shift ends.
They do not seek recognition or advancement from their superiors. The possibility of increased compensation does not interest them if it involves more responsibilities; similarly, performance-based incentives do not motivate them either.
A study involving 3,000 workers between the ages of 20 and 59, carried out by the Mynavi Career Research Lab—a job market analysis firm based in Tokyo—found that approximately 45% report putting in only the minimal effort required for their roles. Notably, individuals in their twenties were the group most prone to confessing to this phenomenon known as “quiet quitting.”
The search for additional personal time
Numerous factors explain why Japanese employees are no longer as dedicated to their organizations as they once were.
For 26-year-old Issei, the response is clear: He desires additional time to engage in activities he loves.
“I don’t despise my job, and I understand that working is necessary for me to cover my rent and expenses,” stated Issei, requesting that his last name remain confidential. “However, I’d prefer spending time with friends, exploring new places, or enjoying live music.”
He stated, ‘I realize my grandfather and his era believed they had no option except to put in extra effort and increase their earnings, yet this line of reasoning is foreign to me.’
In my opinion, it’s wiser to strike a balance between work and personal activities outside the office, and I suspect many of my friends share this view.
The research from Mynavi indicated that having additional personal time was the main reason behind the majority of individuals admitting to practicing “quiet quitting.”
Others said they believed the amount of work they were putting in was appropriate for the pay they were receiving and that they were “satisfied” with their level of input and still gained a sense of accomplishment at work.
Some mentioned they only did enough work to manage since they believed their efforts weren’t recognized within the firm, or simply showed little desire for advancement or climbing the corporate ladder.
Many younger individuals observed their parents dedicating themselves entirely to a corporation, working countless extra hours and essentially abandoning personal life,” explained Sumie Kawakami, a social sciences professor at Yamanashi Gakuin University and an accredited career counselor. “This realization has made them determined that this path is not for them.
“Previously, employers offered decent salaries along with benefits, ensuring employees remained loyal to one firm throughout their careers up to retirement,” she explained to ChinPao.
“However, those conditions have changed; businesses are now focused on reducing expenses, not all employees are employed under full-time contracts with salaries, and bonuses are not as substantial as before,” she explained.
No longer dedicating everything to the company.
She mentioned that people observe this and don’t feel compelled to dedicate themselves to the company.
Attitudes have shifted due to the limitations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, leading some individuals to reassess their priorities.
emerging cohort of younger individuals
Kawakami mentioned, “I started finding it challenging to embrace the idea of dedicating my entire career to a single corporation for life.”
Professor Izumi Tsuji from Chuo University in Tokyo, who specializes in the sociology of culture, mentioned that his interactions with youth have brought him to similar insights.
“There is a huge change in the attitudes towards work among young people and my generation of people in their 50s,” he said.
“In the past, workers were extremely loyal to their employers, worked long hours, put in unpaid overtime and did not look to switch companies,” he said.
“In return, they and their families were provided for until they retired.”
Today, young people want to “concentrate on their hobbies, to be freer and to have a better work-life balance,” he said.
Tsuji views this transition as a positive development following years of rigorous expectations imposed on employees by Japanese corporations.
Tsuji stated that it must be a positive development.
In earlier times, people were overly devoted to their employers and rarely had lives beyond the workplace. Today, with significantly increased leisure time, individuals might contribute more to economic growth through higher spending. Alternatively, this extra time could enable them to find partners and start families, which is crucial as the population continues to decline.
Death by overwork
Kawakami provides an additional rationale as to why “quiet quitting” represents a positive change for countless Japanese workers.
“I appreciate this shift since previous cohorts of employees put in 150 percent effort for their organizations, yet the cost they incurred was ‘karoshi,’” she explained, using the Japanese word for fatalities resulting from excessive labor.
In 1998, Japan recorded 32,863 suicides, often associated with extremely lengthy workdays and intense job-related stress. This number stayed over the 30,000 mark for another fourteen years but has shown a steady decrease ever since. By 2024, the suicide toll had dropped to around 20,320 individuals, marking this as the second lowest count since 1978 when records began being kept.
“Young people
no longer feel that they have no choice
However, choosing to remain in a position where one is discontented or dedicating more time to personal well-being leads to happier individuals, according to Kawakami.
Editor’s Note: If you’re experiencing severe emotional distress or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out for professional assistance immediately. Regardless of your location, details about accessing such support can be found on this website:
Edited by: Keith Walker
Author: Julian Ryall (based in Tokyo)
