The life of a Japanese salaryman

When the traffic light turns green, it gives way to a vast army of drones in black suits, ties, and black leather shoes. They walk loaded with black suitcases, while they wipe with neatly folded handkerchiefs the unstoppable sweat that drips from their emotional faces. Most of them probably drank heavily the night before until the last train home, only to wake up several hours later with their equipment on automatic for the same daily routine. My amused grin fades as I’m forced back to reality as I look down to see the same black leather shoes, black suit, and a small sweat stain on my button-up shirt. My head throbbing, wondering “How do they do this?” I get on the Tokyo subway train along with the horde of Japanese “salary men”.

Salaried is a term used for people in Japan who have salary-based administrative jobs. This title is generally reserved for men, and women in similar positions are referred to as “career women” or, if they have pink-collar jobs, “OL” – Office Lady. Salaried people can be classified into three groups: Junior, Mid-Management and Senior, but they all share the same stressful and courageous lifestyle. A salaryman’s job is not a 9 to 5 job. A salaryman’s job is a salaryman’s life, and it’s available 365 days a year. He works hard and strives tirelessly for promotions and bonuses. Although working conditions are better in modern companies, wage earners traditionally work about thirteen hours a day with a quick half-hour lunch break. In the good old days, there were no smoke breaks either, as smoking was allowed in the office. Traditionally, Japanese wage earners are committed to a company in the hope of reaching a higher level one day, but today they tend to move horizontally (or diagonally if they’re lucky) up the corporate ladder. The higher they go, the more their responsibilities grow, along with their wardrobe expenses.

But surely the salaryman can go home and relax after a long day at work? The office and the company is not just a day’s work; Like I mentioned, it’s the salaryman’s life. After work hours, his corporate life simply becomes his social life, as co-workers (including bosses) frequently go out for food and drink (mainly drinks), either on special occasions or just to relax. The party could go as far as the last train home, and even beyond. Although when morning comes, it’s a clean change of clothes and a straight face. Not surprisingly, research even shows that the majority of marriages in Japan are between office co-workers.