Happiness Is A Fishbowl Of Beer - The Salaryman Mantra
By MattinMotion • Apr 19th, 2008 • Category: Society, The Latest
Happiness is a fishbowl of beer. It almost sounds Zen. While I strongly doubt this one appears in the sacred texts and scriptures, I could imagine Salarymen chanting it religiously after work in the ritualistic event known as, ‘drink with your boss and colleagues in an izakaya until you pass out or the last train comes’. An event that is held nightly here in Japan.
The plight of the Salarymen has been a true source of fascination and disbelief for those looking from the outsde in. Most foreign observers (myself included) are frequently astounded by what is expected of and accepted by the many workers of this country. Ridiculously long hours, unnecessary meetings, strict adherence to the kohai/sempai (junior/senior) relationship, promotions based upon seniority as opposed to talent and ability and many other seemingly idiotic business practices are the norm here.
Many foreigners that have taken the leap into this world report that it is commonplace for them to be subjected to several morning meetings, usually a department level followed by a section level. In these meetings nothing is open for debate or discussion, as the meeting is solely used to make sure that everyone is ‘on the same page’ and aware of the decision that has been made prior to the meeting. Other points of noted frustration come from the ‘workers can’t leave before the boss’ ideology. This is where workers can be seen scurrying around the office well after business hours, frantically shuffling papers while in reality, they are simply putting on a song and dance trying to look busy until the boss ‘graciously’ decides to call it a night.
Once ‘time’ has been called on the office part of the working day, it is usually on to the next stage of obligated work, the ‘after hours drinking spectacular’. This peer group pressure congregation serves two major purposes and is a necessary and seemingly integral part of Japanese business. The first purpose is somewhat therapeutic as it allows workers to unwind from the pressures of the day by cleansing their souls (and weary bodies) with copious amounts of alcohol. The second provides a twisted and admittedly weak form of ‘checks and balances’ on superiors and management. Under the pretext of drunkeness, these events constitute the only real time a suboardinate can openly question or even criticise a superior. At such times, it is quite common to see some truly inspired acting. A previously paralytic individual that had been swaying from side to side and slurring his speech two seconds ago, will miraculously 
become clear eyed, poignant and direct about a specific topic of business. Once the point has been sufficiently fleshed out, they will return to their award winning performance as ‘about to park sushi lunch on my shoes’ guy. Fortunately for all involved, in the morning, behaviour from the previous night is forgiven and criticisms of management are conveniently forgotten.
This approach to work remains deeply entrenched in the culture but there are signs of change for the future. These winds of change are blowing from both abroad and within. To the chagrin of employers, the younger generations of workers are showing less ‘loyalty’ to their companies (Read: This job sucks, I’m going elsewhere) and less ‘team spirit’ (Read: I can’t stand those idiots in my office, I’m going drinking with my friends instead). Foreign businesses entering Japan also bring with them a differing corporate culture. A good example of this is Google. Their attitude toward flexible working hours and their aversion to the monkey suit (suit and tie), fly in the face of traditional corporate Japan.
Even though the revolution against the doctrine of old is in its infancy, the zealots for change are gaining momentum in their cause. This being said until the traditions of the old guard are thrown off, typical Japanese workers will have to practice Zen-like patience and chant sciptures in order to find true contentment with their lot in life. Repeat after me…,
‘Happiness is a fishbowl of beer’.
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MattinMotion is a resident of West Tokyo, living off the Keihin-Tohoku line. He's from Victoria, Australia and is currently involved in small business development.
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The Kohai/Sempai relationship bugs me so much…..because I have to also adhere to it if I am with my fiance`s so called `sempai`….I had a guy have a go at me once because I did not put `san` at the end of his name….I told him he wasn`t my sempai and that in my opinion the title `san` needs to be deserved. This did not go over well….
I used to hate the salaryman life my fiance lived but I am now actually used to it. And he actually has it easier than most….(Plus he is leaving his job end of June to come with me to Australia for a year)….If I ask him to be home by a certain time on special nights (if we have dinner plans with friends for example) then he will try his best to make it….and he usually does even if it means doing more overtime the following night.
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They should drop the strict hierarchy and keep the drinking traditions!
PLEASE Don’t occidentalize Japan! PLEASE !!!!
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I always wonder how in the hell these guys show up for work on four hours of drunken sleep for four days straight. I could handle that in my early 20s, but these hardasses are up into their 40s and 50s and going strong. Or maybe they’re just drinking oolong tea disguised as a shooter.
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Happiness Is A Fishbowl Of Beer…
私には酒を飲む以外に何も楽しみがない - Watashi niwa sake o nomu
igai ni nani mo tanoshimi ga nai. This old salaryman maxim says, ‘I have nothing to enjoy other than drinking.’ When we see them drinking it up after work at the izakay…
I have noticed a lot more Dad’s out with their families or just Dad and kid’s out together since my last time in Japan that ended in 1998. I think it’s great and I hope that it’s a sign that the revolution is well underway!
However, I sat beside a guy on his way to office job in a suit and tie yesterday (Saturday) so who knows?
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Hell yeah happiness is a fishbowl of beer! Great story and pic.
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I think that although this tradition seems odd to the western eye, Japanese companies are responsible for some of the greatest inventions in electronics and other important fields. If it’s the beer that helped them get there - well, we are us to judge that?
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Japan and many other working cultures has a long way to go. I knew that the Japanese had weird rules like staying at the office until the boss leaves, but I never knew of the ritual of going out with everyone after work, getting drunk and speaking your mind. It’s interesting to hear about the hidden rules that every country and company have. I recently came back from Iceland and one of my relatives works for a company that forbids working for more than 8 hours in a day. They want their employees to have a life outside of work. Companies that push for a work life balance encourage happiness at work.
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After a near miss that involved my long (clean) blonde hair and a drunken salaryman’s vomit one night on the last train home, I can’t say I have a lot of good feeling for them… I don’t think I’ve ever felt so disgusted - and I’m from Australia, where there is a massive drinking culture, albeit on a different scale to Japan. Here too we seem to be adopting a work hard, play hard culture. Many companies purport to uphold a work-life balance but unfortunately the reality is often quite different. Good story and nice pic
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very interesting post…almost in disbelief but I can’t imagine living such a lifestyle
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Love the title!
I really feel sorry for the salarymen stuck in that position, but wonder how ingrained it becomes and that when they’ve risen to the ranks that will enable them to make changes, if they will.
When I was single in Japan during my first stint of living here, I dated Japanese guys. I continually questioned myself if I could marry one however purely because my family would then most likely be caught in the Japanese corporate culture. My children would possibly grow up with a father they hardly knew.
I just finished reading the Blue-Eyed Salaryman and that was an interesting look into the lifestyle.
Oh, and sorry I haven’t dropped by until now…
forgive me?
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Yet they’ve still got a huge economy and stuff gets done. With a squinting hangover. How? Who really does it? That’s the real mystery.
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Nice pic. The only thing surprising about it is that it’s not a bigger fish bowl. And what happened to the fish? Oh wait, you’re in Japan…
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