The concept of full, lifetime employment is an aging idea in Japan. Basically, a person is thought to have job security with one company or group for life, and jobs are created to fill the gap for the unemployed. Some estimate that there are up to three million people on company payrolls that could be considered redundant. This results in situations like what you see at construction sites in the winter time. Many construction workers are also farmers, but they need to tend their farms in the growing season. So in the winter, when they have no work, they take jobs in construction. But if you haven't noticed from these pics, the winter is not the best season for building things outdoors. So it seems that much labor is spent shoveling snow--you gotta love it!
Until recently, this was a very ingrained and unchangeable concept in Japan, making layoffs or career mobility very rare. That is changing in many companies, as the current economic slump is encouraging American-style cutbacks, and many young people are also choosing to work at various jobs throughout their lives. However, here we have an example of full employment in Japan: this lucky man gets to make sure that this bank of lights doesn't accidentally get unplugged. Well, I'm joking, I'm sure he is doing something very important, but you get the idea.
Next: Vandalism in Japan
Back to Snow Lantern Festival
Ed's Photos of Japan Main Page
Copyright © 1999 by Ed Kaspar
All rights reserved |
