Standard working hours in Japan are 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, but this has little bearing on the hours people actually work. The salaryman is expected to show his dedication to the company by putting in very long hours and working until the last train at midnight, and even doing overnight stints is not uncommon.

Japanese firms do pay overtime, but workers are likely to feel pressure not to claim every last hour. The law stipulates a minimum 10 days’ annual leave, and many firms offer 15 to 20, but employees are expected not to take their full entitlement. Foreign workers are often exempt from these expectations. Outside the office sector, long hours are also the norm – shops generally open from 10:00 to 20:00. However, a generous 14 annual public holidays somewhat makes up for this extreme work ethic.