Denshi-money (electric money or smart cards) makes our lives more convenient. With Edy, a rechargeable smart card, I can buy a lunch box and a snack bar at a convenience store. With Suica, a rechargeable smart card for trains and subways, I can take the subway without using a ticket machine. I can buy things and travel around even if I do not have enough cash in my wallet!
Growing Popularity of Denshi-Money
Denshi-money has become increasingly popular, year after year. I see people using Suica or Pasmo everywhere, especially young business men. In actual fact, a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) shows that approximately 25% of men in their 20s and 30s use denshi-money, and they are the most likely to use it compared to other generations (Source: Consumer’s ICT Network Usage Survey in 2006, MIC).
Denshi-Money is Everywhere
The popularity of denshi-money is pushed further by technology and active promotion. For example, JR East launched View Suica which is automatic chargeable by credit card, Suica Moble and JAL Card Suica. JAL Card Suica can be used as a JAL boarding pass, as well as for taking JR East. They offer services which encourage customers to use denshi-money.
Cash is still the King
Even though denshi-money is being used often, especially by young Japanese men, I believe it can not replace the use of cash. Some people, especially elder generations, still feel more comfortable paying in cash, even though denshi-money has become very convenient to use. Furthermore, cash reminds us of the value of money. I feel more nervous paying 10,000 yen in cash than paying 1,000 yen in cash. I do not feel any different, no matter how much I pay with a plastic card.
July 04 2008 | Technology and Weekly Articles | No Comments »
Advertisements for tenshoku (career change) are found everywhere in Japan. On the packed commuter train there are wall banners advertising career change fairs and recruitment companies. On websites there are sections entitled “job vacancies” and “changing jobs”. On Japanese search engines such as Yahoo! Japan there are online recruitment sites for full-time, part-time and temporary workers. It seems from these advertisements that Japanese have no trouble in finding career opportunities.
Changing Jobs Has Become More Socially Acceptable
Career change is not considered a bad thing anymore in Japanese society following the collapse of life-time employment. Japanese companies are now open to hiring mid-career employees as their immediate workforce. In fact, a 2006 survey on mid-career employment by MHLW showed that about 72% of corporations have employees in the middle of their careers working at their organization. Japanese employees also consider changing of the workplace as a career options. According to a 2006 White Paper on National Lifestyles, the career change rate has seen an upward trend since 1990; although the job change rate in 2006 was 5.2% for men and 7.8% for women, which is still quite a small ratio.
Job Security and a Better Workplace as the Motives for Career Change
Interestingly, the main motive for career change is not career progress, but rather more job security and a better workplace. The 2006 MHLW survey shows that 36% of males asked changed their job due to worries about the future of their company. Females answered that they change job mainly because they were not satisfied with their working conditions (28.7%). Respondents who answered “finding better career opportunities” numbered only 11.4% for males and 13% for females.
Finding a secure job and a better workplace may be quite a challenge for job seekers under the current economic environment, and this journey could be endless if the economic crisis continues and companies maintain their current employment turnaround.
June 28 2008 | Culture and Economy and Weekly Articles | Comments Off
Did you watch ‘Around 40’ last Friday?” “Yeah, it was very good. I felt as if it was my story…”
“Around 40” is a television drama series, which TBS has broadcasted on Friday nights since April. The drama series consists of stories about Japanese women who are around forty years old, dealing with issues such as marriage, work and childbirth. Along with the popularity of the drama, Japanese women aged around forty, so called “ara-fo” (an abbreviation of around 40), have attracted the media’s attention. Many articles about “ara-fo” are published in fashion magazines and on websites. In addition, major Japanese websites such as Nikkei BP, and Yahoo! Japan have “ara-fo” in their Japanese lexicons.
Media’s Attention is Nothing New
The media’s attention to the “ara-fo” generation has some history. “Ara-fo” first received the media’s attention in 1986 when the Law for Equal Employment Opportunity of Men and Women was implemented. Female university graduates of the time, who are now “ara-fo”, were hired by companies and held as equal under the law to men. Since then they have caught the media’s attention with regards to their careers, marriage and families.
“Ara-Fo” are Diverse but Face the Same Issues
Although Japanese women aged around 40 are all defined as “ara-fo”, such women have different lifestyles. Some “ara-fo” women are single and just focus on their careers, while others are housewives who take care of their children and husbands, but hold a desire to work in the future.
Despite their differences, all “ara-fo” women face the same issue: aging. They start worrying about loosing their figure and beauty. Late childbearing is another worry related to physical youth. “Your time being ‘a lady’ will be running out shortly. What should we do??” The drama asks women in the “ara-fo” generation to consider what they should do next to maintain their youth and happiness. The “ara-fo” women, who are trying to stay young and happy, look much better than men.
June 20 2008 | Culture and Weekly Articles | No Comments »
“Yesterday, you said that I had to do that. Now, you ask me to do this. What do you want me to do?? Why do you change your instructions so frequently? I am so confused!” A female worker in her 20s yelled this at a male manager sitting at his desk. The manager in his early 40s wiped sweat from his forehead without a word. A couple of hours later, the male manager was yelled at again by a general manager. “Why cannot you do this? Isn’t it your responsibility to manage your people? We have to do this by tomorrow morning!”
These are typical scenes in the office of a Japanese company. Middle managers in Japan are often in a position of “inside the sandwich”, somewhere between the top and the bottom. This sandwich press is pushing middle management harder than ever before.
Continue reading…
June 13 2008 | Communication and Culture and Research and Weekly Articles | No Comments »
We have just redesigned our blog site to share more insights on the Japanese consumers, the market trends, and current business customs in Japan. We will keep you posted more frequently. I hope you will enjoy our blog more. Thanks!
Noriko
June 09 2008 | Others | No Comments »
Women love shopping. No matter how busy they are and what little money they have, women try to buy what they want. Shopping makes them happy and feel rewarded, especially when they buy luxury goods, which is what Japanese women want nowadays.
Who Buys Luxury Goods?
Continue reading…
June 06 2008 | Clothing, Food and Housing and Weekly Articles | No Comments »
“Metabo Taisaku” (Anti-Metabolic syndrome measures) and “Metabo Yobou” (preventions of Metabolic Syndrome) are new buzzwords in diet, exercise, and marketing in Japan.
Anti-Metabolic Syndrome Boom Sparked by MHLW
Continue reading…
May 31 2008 | Health Care and Weekly Articles | No Comments »
Next »
