Yeah, it's true. Read the article pkaye linked. There are some odd (to US eyes) implied agreements when you take an office job in Japan. The biggest is this:

Yeah, it's true. Read the article pkaye linked. There are some odd (to US eyes) implied agreements when you take an office job in Japan. The biggest is this: the company is expected to keep you on until you retire. In return you're expected to not quit, ever. To quit is to betray the company. It's not like nobody ever gets laid off or quits. But that's the expectation.