This article is reproduced from the discontinued, but much loved Mainichi Waiwai column by Ryann Connell (article below by Cheryl Chow). Read more about this at the bottom of this article.

Wanted, graduate of a prestigious university for full-time, unfulfilling grunt work at a major corporation. Hours from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., 100 hours or more overtime per month, work on weekends as needed. Annual salary: 3 million yen.

It’s not likely that employers will put out a want ad like this, but these are, in fact, the working conditions for most salaried workers on the lower rungs of the Japanese corporate ladder, according to Spa.

Continue reading WaiWai: Salarymen slaves stiffed by ‘merit’ pay system →