Working Hard & Playing Hard

During my few trips to the Gaidai University library, I have noticed students fast asleep on the tables, chairs, and sofas. While these sleeping sessions are universal pastime of all students, I have come to realize that taking naps is a common activity in Japan, as you can easily find many people fast asleep on trains, in Starbucks, and even by store-fronts. Hence, I want to explore and question the effects of Japan as a "gambaru-culture."

If you look past the railings, you can see a man sleeping; probably passed out from a night of drinking.
Taken in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

 The deep-rooted gambaru ideals motivate Japanese people. From young ages, Japanese people are placed under great societal pressures to do well and succeed with long days at school followed by cram school sessions and topped off with part-time jobs. After partial or full completion of their education, they are placed into various jobs within society, and the idea of "gambaru" is expected to be applied to everything that they attempt. Of course, like any society, some jobs are more advantageous than others, but in Japan, everyone is constantly rushing to their destinations, trying to be on time, and doing their best, ganbatte-ing. While my friend Kaylee's father, a Keihan bus driver, wakes up around 4am in the morning to start the first bus rounds, my host father, a high positioned businessman in his company, may not be out as early, but is always working so late that he has to catch the last train. These overtiring daily lives not only explain to me the reasons behind the many people fast asleep on trains but also the large amount of entertainment outlets available in Japan.

Busy streets of Namba, Osaka.

You don't need to walk into Umeda or Namba to find a Pachinkos or any other places to spend time leisurely. Entertainment outlets are very popular in Japan, and perhaps it a result of the stressful daily routines. On weekends and holidays, the trains and streets of popular areas are always packed with young people and families out enjoying their day-off together or shopping. It seems that the constant gambaru attitude creates a need to find ways to indulge, whether it is through shopping or other ways to appreciate or enjoy their jobs. Shopping may offer temporary comfort through material pleasures, almost as a way to reward themselves. Also, places such as Pachinkos, karaoke bars, and even host and hostess clubs, are places of rest from their daily obligations; hostess clubs seemingly make jobs more bearable as company meetings would be held in such places.

Take your pick of entertainment.
Taken in Namba, Osaka.

The existence and popularity of these and many other forms of entertainment in Japan seem to suggest that there is great deal of pressure in upholding the gambaru ideals of Japanese society. Furthermore, it seems to me that working hard and playing hard have become so deeply entwined and cyclical in Japan that it is hard to determine which enables the other...