Some of this feels a bit like hyperbole to me. I’ve only ever worked in Japanese companies and while there’s certainly some truth here, it’s not as bad as you make it out to be.

For example, yes salaries are low but there’s a good reason that ryoshusho exist. Everyone is exploiting the hell out of that and many companies don’t care since it’s not a taxable salary.

Paying for nomikai? Never once have I or anyone else I have worked with across multiple companies ever paid. If it’s a work thing, the bucho or someone is going to get the bill and expense it.

At the end of the day, succeeding on a Japanese company comes down to either playing the game or being a beloved black sheep. I could always rock up to the shacho and ask anything I needed because he knew of my ability.

At the end of the day, people who think that following the rules at a Japanese company is the pathway to success, especially if non-Japanese, just don’t get the system.

Every hyper effective person I’ve met in the domestic world is always a rule skater. And, the higher ups LOVE them for it.