The Overtime Culture in Japan That Often Surprises Foreigners
Hi, I’m bekey, and I’ve been living in Japan for 23 years.
As a Japanese person working in Japanese companies, I have sometimes heard comments from foreign coworkers and people from other countries such as:
“Why do people stay in the office even after finishing their work?”
“Why doesn’t anyone leave first?”
“Are Japanese employees really that busy every day?”
In fact, Japan is well known for its overtime culture.
Of course, not every company or employee in Japan works long hours.
Recently, work styles in Japan have gradually been changing, especially among younger generations and global companies.
However, many foreigners are still surprised by how common overtime can be in Japanese workplaces.
Interestingly, there are also situations where people seem to work overtime even when there is no real need to stay late.
In this article, I will explain why overtime culture developed in Japan and why some people continue working overtime even when they may not truly need to.
1. In Japan, People Sometimes Feel Uncomfortable Leaving Before Others
One major reason is the atmosphere inside the workplace.
In many Japanese companies, people often pay attention to:
- When others leave work
- Whether their manager is still in the office
- The overall atmosphere of the team
Because of this, some employees feel uncomfortable leaving early if:
- Other coworkers are still working
- Their manager is still at their desk
- The office still feels busy
Personally, I have also experienced situations where I finished my work but still felt uncomfortable leaving while others remained in the office.
Of course, nobody directly said:
“Please don’t leave.”
However, I sometimes found myself unconsciously wondering:
“Is it really okay for me to leave first?”
In many countries, it is natural to leave once your work is finished.
Because of this, I feel this atmosphere may be somewhat unique to Japan.
2. In Japan, Working Long Hours Has Traditionally Been Seen as Proof of Hard Work
Japan has traditionally valued diligence and seriousness.
Because of this, long working hours were sometimes seen as signs of:
- Loyalty to the company
- Seriousness
- Responsibility
- Hard work
Especially in older workplace cultures, staying late at the office was often seen as a sign of dedication and hard work.
As a result, some workplaces focused more on:
- “appearing hardworking”
rather than: - “working efficiently”
I once heard someone overseas say:
“Isn’t producing results in a shorter amount of time more important than simply staying at the office longer?”
At that moment, I strongly felt the difference between that perspective and traditional Japanese work culture.
In Japan, some people may worry:
“Will people think I lack motivation if I leave early?”
“Will it seem like I’m not working hard enough?”
Because of this, overtime is sometimes created more by unspoken workplace pressure than by actual workload.
3. In Japan, It Can Feel Difficult to Leave Before Your Manager
In Japan, when managers are still working, employees sometimes feel uncomfortable leaving before them.
I personally have also experienced situations where I thought:
“My manager is still here, so maybe I should stay a little longer too.”
Of course, this has gradually started changing in recent years.
In fact, more managers today say things like:
“If your work is done, you can go home.”
However, at the same time, there are still workplaces where people feel pressure to:
- Avoid leaving before their manager
- Stay late together with others
Nobody clearly orders employees to stay.
However, sometimes the atmosphere itself creates pressure.
This kind of unspoken pressure can feel very strange to foreigners at first.
4. Even Japanese People Sometimes Feel Tired of Overtime Culture
At the same time, not all Japanese people feel comfortable with this culture.
In reality, many people feel:
“I want to go home earlier.”
“I want to reduce unnecessary overtime.”
Personally, I also sometimes think:
“Wouldn’t it be more efficient to go home once the work is finished?”
Recently, especially among younger generations, more people have started prioritizing:
- Work-life balance
- Efficiency
- Productivity
In Japan as well, more people are beginning to feel that:
“Working long hours does not necessarily mean someone is working hard.”
Some Japanese people themselves are also beginning to question whether staying late actually improves productivity.
Especially in:
- Global companies
- IT companies
- Startups
- Foreign companies
more workplaces are adopting cultures where employees leave once their work is completed.
Personally, I also feel that Japanese work culture has gradually been changing compared to the past.
5. What Is Important for Foreigners Working in Japan
One important thing to understand is:
“Japanese people are not always working overtime because they are being forced to.”
Sometimes, people work overtime because of social pressure created by workplace atmosphere and relationships.
In Japan, many workplaces place strong importance on:
- Harmony
- Human relationships
- Consideration for others
Because of this, some people hesitate to behave differently from the group.
At first, this culture may feel confusing.
However, understanding the cultural background behind it can make Japanese workplace culture easier to understand.
Conclusion
There are several cultural reasons why some Japanese people continue working overtime even when they may not need to, including:
- Sensitivity to workplace atmosphere
- Group-oriented thinking
- Traditional values surrounding hard work and seriousness
- The desire to maintain harmony within the team
For foreigners, this culture may sometimes seem inefficient.
However, this behavior is often influenced less by actual workload and more by workplace relationships and social expectations.
The important thing is not deciding which work style is “correct,” but understanding that different cultures have different ideas about work, teamwork, and responsibility.
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