He implies that simply disappearing in shame because you don’t like or can’t handle your job is nobler than mustering the courage and telling your boss you’d like to quit.

When a Japanese enters a company, they are expected to be a part of a team – a part of a “family.”

A family is there to nurture and protect you, not abuse and exploit you – this isn’t an American vs. Japanese culture shit, this is true world round. A Japanese company wouldn’t hesitate to kick your ass to the curb if it needed to. It’s not a matter of feelings and expectations it’s a matter of meeting or exceeding the company’s bottom line. There is no “heart” in a company that treats its employees with no holidays, while working 18-hour days, 7 days a week. And there is no “bottom line” when it comes to a family.

…it becomes a question of disgrace and dishonor to quit that company. Until the time they decided to quit – regardless of whether or not their reasons for doing so were valid – they worked hand-in-hand with their co-workers and seniors. They built trust. To quit would mean to break that trust. Their co-workers might feel betrayed. Their boss, who was undoubtedly their benefactor, would definitely feel that the young worker had been disloyal.

…but I wonder if this isn’t a more mature and adult way than the road some Americans choose when leaving their jobs and burning their bridges just as much, if not more, than the Japanese do.

Yeah…I agree…its better to disappoint and worry everyone in both of your families (work and biological) rather than just your cold, uncaring, oppressive work “family”. Loyalty is earned and not commanded or simply expected. Sacrificing your entire life, your connections with friends and family, because you let your company down - when they really couldn’t care less about you and will easily replace you, just seems foolish.

Mike you say you’ve been working more now then ever. Do you feel more secure in your company? Do you think you’re free from a mass layoff? Does your company feel like a family?

Yup, we Americans are lazy, crude, and make light of serious things like work. We sing song about how much we can’t stand working. “Take This Job And Shove It,” indeed. Perhaps one day we’ll take work seriously like the Japanese do…until then Yatta.

Too bad I’ve got problems communicating my ideas/feelings/emotions in textual formats.