Whose life is it anyway? The number of Japanese companies that confirm job offers and employment contracts for new graduates with their parents is increasing.
I find this fascinating and horrifying in equal measure. I moved out of the house right after high school to attend university in another city. These days, it's now common for westerners to live with their parents untill well into their 20s.
I can't help but feel that Japan, which in many ways does more than other cultures to encourage children to be independent (little kids taking the train by themselves) and responsible (helping to tidy and clean their school) are really undoing most of that strong foundation in young adulthood, which is a shame.
Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. Yes, Japan is a country of many contradictions. One way to look at this issue is that it's an example of how companies take advantage of the situation by putting extra pressure on the job candidate by involving their parents. I wonder how many 3rd and 4th year university students would prefer not to have their parents involved (at least in terms of signing an employment contract)..
Mark, thank you for writing on yet another aspect of Japanese culture about which I knew nothing.
There can be few things more sad than someone condemned to follow an occupation to please their parents when their heart is not in it. Joining and eventually taking over a father's business can strengthen families, communities and cultures when done with enthusiasm; but it can also lead to great personal unhappiness and business failure when done for reasons of filial piety or other perceived obligation, which is disastrous for those families and communities.
I would say it was an obligation on any loving parent to share the benefit of their knowledge and experience of the employment market with their children, but only if asked and for the purposes of support and guidance.
I think most young people know in their hearts by the time they graduate what they would like to do. They should be encouraged to follow their hearts. I think I was fortunate that, at the age of fourteen, my father did a deal with me that, provided I studied hard and went to university, I could choose any career I wanted. In the event, that is what happened and my parents played zero role in any of my career decisions. I had a fulfilling and successful career; but everyone is different and I am sure it must be tempting for many parents to think that they know best. As with all life's endeavours, some will benefit from good judgement, some will benefit from good luck, and some won't!
Thank you for reading and sharing your perspective. While I'm not sure that all 3rd and 4th year students are fully aware of the career they want to pursue, by that time they should be able to sign an employment contract with their first employer on their own.
Much of this is characteristic of a traditional society with classes and clans governing the country, like you also showed in your earlier post about political clans. My understanding is that even today, there are certain families or clans dominating entire professions, like navy officer or certain military ranks. Apparently, some big companies try to use this respect for traditions to their advantage. But for a country in general, it works as a quenching of ideas, innovation, and growth.
I find this fascinating and horrifying in equal measure. I moved out of the house right after high school to attend university in another city. These days, it's now common for westerners to live with their parents untill well into their 20s.
I can't help but feel that Japan, which in many ways does more than other cultures to encourage children to be independent (little kids taking the train by themselves) and responsible (helping to tidy and clean their school) are really undoing most of that strong foundation in young adulthood, which is a shame.
Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. Yes, Japan is a country of many contradictions. One way to look at this issue is that it's an example of how companies take advantage of the situation by putting extra pressure on the job candidate by involving their parents. I wonder how many 3rd and 4th year university students would prefer not to have their parents involved (at least in terms of signing an employment contract)..
Mark, thank you for writing on yet another aspect of Japanese culture about which I knew nothing.
There can be few things more sad than someone condemned to follow an occupation to please their parents when their heart is not in it. Joining and eventually taking over a father's business can strengthen families, communities and cultures when done with enthusiasm; but it can also lead to great personal unhappiness and business failure when done for reasons of filial piety or other perceived obligation, which is disastrous for those families and communities.
I would say it was an obligation on any loving parent to share the benefit of their knowledge and experience of the employment market with their children, but only if asked and for the purposes of support and guidance.
I think most young people know in their hearts by the time they graduate what they would like to do. They should be encouraged to follow their hearts. I think I was fortunate that, at the age of fourteen, my father did a deal with me that, provided I studied hard and went to university, I could choose any career I wanted. In the event, that is what happened and my parents played zero role in any of my career decisions. I had a fulfilling and successful career; but everyone is different and I am sure it must be tempting for many parents to think that they know best. As with all life's endeavours, some will benefit from good judgement, some will benefit from good luck, and some won't!
Thank you for reading and sharing your perspective. While I'm not sure that all 3rd and 4th year students are fully aware of the career they want to pursue, by that time they should be able to sign an employment contract with their first employer on their own.
Much of this is characteristic of a traditional society with classes and clans governing the country, like you also showed in your earlier post about political clans. My understanding is that even today, there are certain families or clans dominating entire professions, like navy officer or certain military ranks. Apparently, some big companies try to use this respect for traditions to their advantage. But for a country in general, it works as a quenching of ideas, innovation, and growth.