XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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Do Japanese People Still Work Too Much?

Perceptions of Japanese Work Culture


You may have heard that Japanese people are known for their hard work. This belief stems from the idea that they worked tirelessly to rebuild their nation after the devastation of World War II. In just 23 years, Japan transformed into the world's second-largest economy by 1968. The rapid economic growth during the 1960s contributed to the global image of Japanese people as industrious workers.







Current Work Patterns in Japan

However, the reality today is different. Japanese people are not as hardworking as they used to be, and they actually work fewer hours. This shift may be due to increased prosperity and a desire to pursue hobbies and other personal interests. Additionally, the long working hours prevalent in the past have led to serious issues like death from overwork, prompting the government to implement measures to increase holidays and shorten work hours.


Year

2000

2005

2010

2015

2019

Working hours

1,821

1,775

1,733

1,719

1,644

According to a survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2019, the average annual working hours in Japan have been decreasing consistently. In contrast, countries like the USA, the UK, and Poland have seen an increase in working hours. Japanese workers put in 1,644 hours, while American workers work 1,779 hours, British workers work 1,538 hours, and Polish workers work 1,806 hours. Thus, Japanese workers actually work fewer hours compared to their American and Polish counterparts.


The Changing Perception
Consequently, the perception of Japanese people as hardworking primarily reflects the past (specifically the 1960s) and doesn't accurately represent the present (2020s). Japanese society has evolved, with a focus on achieving a better work-life balance and addressing the negative consequences of long working hours.


Reference

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Statistics. (2019). Average 

annual hours actually worked per worker [Data file]. Retrieved from https://stats.oecd.org/

Index.aspx?DataSetCode=ANHRS

World Bank, World Development Indicators. (2020). GDP growth (annual %) - Japan [Data file]. 

Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=JP


Location: Japan

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