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As an American living in Japan for an American firm, it's always a culture shock when I talk to other dad's at my kids school events. If I find the person I'm

As an American living in Japan for an American firm, it's always a culture shock when I talk to other dad's at my kids school events. If I find the person I'm talking to is working for a "Militant" + "Work == Life" company, I need to shut up, lest I shatter the illusion of the security of lifetime employment. It's also a bit strange when I run into people that have worked for the same firm I'm in right now and left because it was too "Liberal". Japan is just not changing fast enough and is going to be left behind by the more aggressive, mobile, and "liberal" workforce and companies. Traditional Japanese companies are like the dinosaurs, not able to adapt to change. Darwinism at work.

jbm 16y ago
Here here. I also previously worked at Fujitsu's mobile division and can attest to that. They still have an entire floor dedicated to developing for Symbian. Their main translator is hamstrung by rules that indicate they must re-use old (incorrect) translations so that there is no loss in "language continuity" between phones. It isn't the fault of my immediate superiors there; both were open, intelligent and hard-working. It is middle and upper middle management. They are relics from the bubble era ( subject to less stringent entry conditions) and were promoted 3 or 4 levels above their competence. The fact is, their underlings are of significantly higher quality. (My superior was one person picked out of 500; as opposed to her superior, who was chosen out of a group of 5 or 6) Fujitsu's previous president was thrown out of the company on trumped-up charges about being aligned with the Yakuza (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8606515.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8606515.stm). Why? Because he tried to spin off parts of the company that had been losing money for years. I loved my coworkers there and part of me wishes I could be working with them today. Unfortunately, they won't adapt until an entire generation is in their grave.
- Groxx 16y ago
  "Hear, hear" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear (semi-apologies, incorrect cultural idioms are a pet peeve of mine)
  - jbm 16y ago
    Sorry about that, I'm a bit embarassed because I feel the exact same way (particularly about misuses of "I couldn't care less")
    - ekanes 16y ago
      Honest question, how is "I couldn't care less" usually mis-used? Using a made-up example, it's often said like this, "I couldn't care less how much you like XYZ, I don't want blah blah blah." The person is saying that they don't care at all. As in, they couldn't care less... seems right to me! Just curious how it's typically mis-used.
      - mistermann 16y ago
        A lot of people say "I could care less"
        ekanes 16y ago
        Ah, of course. I misunderstood the grandparent. Thanks.

jbm 16y ago

Here here. I also previously worked at Fujitsu's mobile division and can attest to that. They still have an entire floor dedicated to developing for Symbian. Their main translator is hamstrung by rules that indicate they must re-use old (incorrect) translations so that there is no loss in "language continuity" between phones. It isn't the fault of my immediate superiors there; both were open, intelligent and hard-working. It is middle and upper middle management. They are relics from the bubble era ( subject to less stringent entry conditions) and were promoted 3 or 4 levels above their competence. The fact is, their underlings are of significantly higher quality. (My superior was one person picked out of 500; as opposed to her superior, who was chosen out of a group of 5 or 6) Fujitsu's previous president was thrown out of the company on trumped-up charges about being aligned with the Yakuza (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8606515.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8606515.stm). Why? Because he tried to spin off parts of the company that had been losing money for years. I loved my coworkers there and part of me wishes I could be working with them today. Unfortunately, they won't adapt until an entire generation is in their grave.

Groxx 16y ago
"Hear, hear" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear (semi-apologies, incorrect cultural idioms are a pet peeve of mine)
- jbm 16y ago
  Sorry about that, I'm a bit embarassed because I feel the exact same way (particularly about misuses of "I couldn't care less")
  - ekanes 16y ago
    Honest question, how is "I couldn't care less" usually mis-used? Using a made-up example, it's often said like this, "I couldn't care less how much you like XYZ, I don't want blah blah blah." The person is saying that they don't care at all. As in, they couldn't care less... seems right to me! Just curious how it's typically mis-used.
    - mistermann 16y ago
      A lot of people say "I could care less"
      - ekanes 16y ago
        Ah, of course. I misunderstood the grandparent. Thanks.