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Wingfield-Hayes is also right to decry the low-productivity menial jobs that Japan has in abundance. Hiring 6 people to do the job of 2 is sadly common in Japan

Wingfield-Hayes is also right to decry the low-productivity menial jobs that Japan has in abundance. Hiring 6 people to do the job of 2 is sadly common in Japan I’ve always felt this was a strength of Japan since it ensures employment of even unskilled workers. I remember one time walking near my hotel along a sidewalk in a construction zone, in the USA there'd be a “caution” sign (probably facing the wrong way), but in japan there were live workers at each side of the zone , and they called out a warning to pedestrians to be careful and when a construction truck needed to cross the sidewalk, the workers would physically block the sidewalk to keep pedestrians clear. I’ve noticed around here that more road construction projects have replaced human flaggers with automated traffic lights… almost certainly better for efficiency and productivity, but probably not better for the people that would have done that job otherwise. And maybe this leads to lower salaries in Japan, but that doesn’t necessarily mean low quality of life, I know someone in Japan that’s working as a suit salesman (retail sales, not administrative back office) and he can afford to support a family (stay at home wife plus 3 year old child) and a 2 bedroom apartment. I think that’d be much harder for an American worker selling suits at The Men’s Wearhouse

astrange 4y ago
The excess of safety workers is partly a system to give older people something to do, but is also a cultural hangover from the 60s when Japan had an enormous rate of pedestrian deaths from cars, much worse than the US ever had. (Not sure how that happened, just that it did.)
throwuxiytayq 4y ago
> almost certainly better for efficiency and productivity, but probably not better for the people that would have done that job otherwise. I can’t help but think that giving people jobs that are entirely pointless is to the detriment of everyone (and not even just those involved). You might as well pay those people to stand on the sidewalk and endlessly recite poetry, and then at least they’re getting good at something.
- now__what 4y ago
  Impractical as it may be, the imaginary world where people are paid a living wage to stand on the sidewalk reciting poetry sounds lovely. Imagine being able to sit on a public bench with your neighbors any given day and listen to someone's creative writing! And if this also implies that more people are paid for other artistic endeavors... sign me up :)

astrange 4y ago

The excess of safety workers is partly a system to give older people something to do, but is also a cultural hangover from the 60s when Japan had an enormous rate of pedestrian deaths from cars, much worse than the US ever had. (Not sure how that happened, just that it did.)

throwuxiytayq 4y ago

> almost certainly better for efficiency and productivity, but probably not better for the people that would have done that job otherwise. I can’t help but think that giving people jobs that are entirely pointless is to the detriment of everyone (and not even just those involved). You might as well pay those people to stand on the sidewalk and endlessly recite poetry, and then at least they’re getting good at something.

now__what 4y ago
Impractical as it may be, the imaginary world where people are paid a living wage to stand on the sidewalk reciting poetry sounds lovely. Imagine being able to sit on a public bench with your neighbors any given day and listen to someone's creative writing! And if this also implies that more people are paid for other artistic endeavors... sign me up :)