The Seasons of the Chosen Workers: Marx's Theory of Capital and Japanese Employment and Capability (1970s-2020s)

The Seasons of the Chosen Workers: Marx's Theory of Capital and Japanese Employment and Capability (1970s-2020s)

Japan's job hunting and employment practices have been strongly influenced by the system, such as the lump-sum hiring of new graduates and the seniority system, and have emphasized adaptation to the system rather than individual ability. Job seekers are required to conform to the homogeneous image demanded by companies rather than to their skills, and their independence is restricted. This situation overlaps with Marx's theory of labor alienation and appears today as "alienation of ability. Companies select a large number of applicants through a formal selection process, while claiming to have the ability to immediately start work, creating a structure in which "being selected" is given priority. This rigidity of Japanese employment also affects career development, job change, and gender disparity, showing that the Marxian perspective is still valid.