Japanese firms are already fully aware that accommodating to changes in the demographic profile while maintaining an employment and wage system of life-time employment and seniority-based wages is indeed a challenging task: the aging workforce of baby-boomers has pushed up firms' personnel expenses substantially in recent years.
With new entrants to the labor market in the face of the aging population, we need to offer a wide selection of choices in terms of working hours and locations. Furthermore, we should also transform the locus of responsibilities associated with child-rearing and nursing-care. Conclusion The Japanese have long been praised for "working hard," -- in other words, for their diligent work ethic.