The Japanese is(was?) stratified into two distinct layers. The top layer is the large corporations that we all know about: Hitachi, Mitsubishi, etc. These are

The Japanese is(was?) stratified into two distinct layers. The top layer is the large corporations that we all know about: Hitachi, Mitsubishi, etc. These are the companies that hired for life. They dont hire old people, except for those "descending from heaven". They hire young people that stay for life. The old people are the lifers that aren't fired, but clog the promotion ladder. Most people work for the second tier of subcontractors where pay is less and employment is less assured. Often family owned companies. Disclaimer: I havent paid much attention to Japan for a decade, since my Brazilian-Japanese ex became ex. However, her family members spent a lot of years working for the second tier companies as "guest workers".