This volume examines the three pillars of Japanese management—lifetime employment, seniority-based wages and promotions, and enterprise unions—from the viewpoint of both Japanese and non-Japanese scholars. Multiple chapters revolve around the themes of labor practices found in Japan including unveiling the concept of internal sensitivity through gemba walks. The diversification of the Japanese salaryman stereotype is addressed by authors focusing on the issues faced by women, non-Japanese employees, and migrant workers in the Japanese labor market. Additional authors examine the challenges of globalization facing Japan in the 21st century including the need to understand work and social organization in Japan as an input-driven society. Five personal reflections interspersed throughout the book encourage the reader to put theory into practice and determine if and how perceptions are changing in regards to Japanese labor practices.
This volume examines the three pillars of Japanese management—lifetime employment, seniority-based wages and promotions, and enterprise unions—from the viewpoint of both Japanese and non-Japanese scholars.
Introduction
1. Beyond the Enigma of Lifetime Employment: Clarifying
Japans Working Rules of Employment Relations and Exploring their Comparative
Implications
2. A Critical Look at Lifetime Employment in Japan
3. The
Landscape of the Japanese Labor Market Reflections: Creating a Society Where
People Embrace Their Dreams and Actualize Greater Well-Being
4. Labor Unions
in Japan
5. Young Peoples Precarious Transitions in Japan Reflections:
Embracing the Unconventional: How a Clueless Student in Iwate Finds Strength
in Enforced Optimism
6. Gender Gaps in Japan and Why They Exist at the
Workplace Reflections: Choose the One You Love
7. From Genba Walks to
Organizational Insights: Unveiling the Concept of Internal Sensitivity
8.
Migrant Workers and the Future of Japan: Why the Technical Intern Training
Program Didnt Work
9. Global Talent in an Aspiring Country of Choice:
Skilled Migration into Japan Reflections: Finding a Place Elsewhere
10.
Agents of Globalization? Foreign Employee Roles in Japanese Corporations
11.
The Input-Driven Society: Understanding Work and Social Organization in Japan
12. Strength as a Source of Weakness: Why Japan Struggles to Meet the Digital
Challenge
13. Diversity Issues in Japan: Education of Future Workers and
Leaders Reflections: Japanese Style: Working in Both Japanese and American
Organizations
14. Making Friends with Godzilla Appendix 1: ChatGPT 2023 AI
Explanation of Japans Lifetime Employment. Appendix 2: Japanese Labor Laws.
Robin Sakamoto serves as the Dean of the Graduate School of International Cooperation as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Studies both at Kyorin University, Tokyo. She received her PhD in Comparative and International Development Education from the University of Minnesota and has participated in projects in the Ukraine and Uganda. She co-edited Cross-border Partnerships in Higher Education: Strategies and Issues with Dr. David Chapman.
