In the first part of this series, we explored how Japan’s deeply entrenched systems of “lifetime employment” and “age discrimination (mandatory retirement)” might be at the root of serious issues, like the recent acquittal case we discussed.
These systems, especially in professions that primarily involve “thinking at a desk,” seem to push individuals to prioritize “career competition” and “organizational politics” over “actual merit.”
So, how exactly do these “distortions” manifest in society?
And what can each of us do to change this situation?
Concrete Examples of “Distortion” in Japanese Society
The “distortions” I observe daily in various Japanese organizations are wide-ranging.
