Punctuality over hierarchy: how Japanese offices run, according to a 10-year expat

Punctuality is one of the biggest aspects of Japanese office culture, according to digital creator Ankit Purohit, who says he has been working in Japan for the past 10 years. In a social media video, he explains that employees are expected to arrive before their official reporting time rather than exactly at it, reflecting the high value Japanese workplaces place on discipline, respect for schedules and professionalism.

Purohit also notes that status symbols matter less than discipline in Japanese offices. He says even company CEOs often travel to work by train, with little comparison over whether someone arrives by car, bike or public transport, keeping the focus on work rather than displays of hierarchy or personal wealth.

Other details in the video include the treatment of lunchtime as personal time, with most offices breaking from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and many employees buying ready-made bento meals from convenience stores rather than carrying homemade food.

Purohit also describes an elevator custom in which the person standing near the control panel holds the door open for everyone else and steps out last, and says Japanese companies generally compensate employees even for short overtime periods, paying for as little as 15 extra minutes of work.