“8 hours” — what comes to mind when you see this number?
For the Japanese, the term ‘eight hours’ often carries two distinct meanings.
The first refers to standard working hours; many companies set their core working period from around 8 or 9 o’clock in the morning until approximately 5 o’clock in the afternoon.
The second denotes sleep duration, representing the generally recommended amount of sleep in Japan.
Whether you, living abroad, perceive these Japanese notions of time as long or short is unclear, but for Japanese people, these durations are considered reasonable timescales for navigating social life.
However, when it comes to actual work and daily life, are these times adhered to? In most cases, they are not.
Particularly regarding sleep duration, it is said to be among the lowest levels globally.
Statistical surveys yield varying data, but one report indicates that while many European countries average around 8.3 hours, and the United States and China around 8 hours, the average sleep duration for Japanese people is approximately 7.2 hours.
Though the appropriate amount of sleep varies from person to person, making generalisations difficult, an average of 7.2 hours does indeed seem rather short.
On the other hand, one peculiar behaviour observed in Japan is the practice of ‘brief naps’. Commuters nodding off on trains, lunchtime sleepers on park benches, weary workers dozing in the corners of station buildings after work…
The prevalence of such unguarded acts of napping in public spaces is, admittedly, a testament to Japan’s excellent public safety. Yet it is equally clear that these incidents stem from sleep deprivation and represent a phenomenon that ought to be addressed.
Both ordinary citizens and members of parliament doze off indiscriminately. (^_^;)
I too often took a 10- to 20-minute nap after lunch during my midday break at work.
Sleeping during breaks allows for a short, concentrated rest for both body and mind, leaving one feeling refreshed upon waking and better able to focus on afternoon work. Still, one should probably prioritise proper night-time sleep.
When considering why Japanese sleep patterns have reached this state, it may stem from the values held within Japanese society.
The Japanese have long held diligence in high regard. They have considered it a virtue to study or work diligently for long hours without complaint. Consequently, personal free time outside of work becomes squeezed, and sleep time is cut back.
While dozing off in public places is not generally viewed favourably overseas, in Japan it is often interpreted sympathetically as “Ah, they must be tired from work or study…” This sympathetic interpretation is one factor that socially tolerates napping.
A heavy blow to the back of the head, the countdown begins…
Moreover, the ‘other eight hours’ – that is, working hours – seldom conclude within the stipulated time. Whilst government offices and large corporations manage working hours under established regulations, the tendency for overtime to be longer increases the smaller the company, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises.
As the times have progressed, labour laws have been refined, and this tendency has diminished. Nevertheless, in the small companies where the majority of the population are employed, resolving the issue remains elusive.
Amidst a declining birth rate and ageing population, raising concerns about a shrinking workforce, these issues are likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
In essence, a national character that reveres diligence has fostered a society prioritising academic achievement and labour, ultimately leading to a decline in the quality of family life.
However, such societal norms cannot be condemned outright.
It is precisely because people studied and worked with single-minded focus that we progressed from the devastation of defeat eighty years ago, when we lost everything, to the affluent society we enjoy today.
That said, both the state of society and people’s attitudes have changed considerably since the time I was born and raised.
Alongside the government-led rationalisation of social structures, each of us must consider better habits for ourselves and society.
It has long been said that “Japanese people make poor use of their time”.
For the Japanese, who have traditionally prioritised social over individual values, adopting concepts and habits from other countries wholesale is difficult. Yet we should draw on what is useful and skilfully incorporate it.
We ought to look beyond immediate results and consider the future 30 or 50 years hence…
