Companies hold in-person welcome ceremonies for new employees

Uniformity and conformity, where else anyone place where we can really emphasize that beside Japan new employee ceremony, everyone look the same regardless their background and their uniqueness.

@Larr Flint

But everyone wears masks why is that?

Uniformity and conformity, where else anyone place where we can really emphasize that beside Japan new employee ceremony, everyone look the same regardless their background and their uniqueness.

If one wear mask other will mask, because it's Japan need to be uniform.

The masks are bound to trigger the always triggered.

Big congratulations and good luck to all the recruits! That is the very future of the world's best auto-maker - Toyota - right there.

My friend is in this photo. He’s the one wearing a jacket and a mask.

Scenes like this bring a sense of normality to to the public. Japanese really do love their "ceremonies"!

After May 9, will we finally see the faces of shop and restaurant workers, and no more of this sort of photo?

Welcome to the machine!

Look at all the masks in the photo above!

Interestingly, Nippon TV (日本テレビ) had a segment yesterday about the noticeable number of new recruits not wearing masks -- focusing on Tokyo Kaijo (insurance), Itochu (trading), and JAL (airline), with lots of video support.

An article (in Japanese) on the same topic (showing lots of maskless recruits): https://www.khb-tv.co.jp/news/14877000

Photo from JAL's welcome ceremony: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6bc60a9ee3c8f25515a7c9607370435c315966c3/images/000

"telling them that their individuality was the key to bringing about innovation in the company."

Now please wear these overall uniform things eventhough your an office clerk, take off all jewlery, dye your hair black, be sure to have one of these 2 hair styles, ladies wear heels, men dress shoes, no color socks, ties have to be neutral grey or dark blue not black, smile and cheer when the president talks, if your a lady and he invites you to sit with him at the manditory drinking party then grin an bear it when he sexually harrases you, and you know have a great first week at the company!"

I used to like the new recruit idea since it offered a sense of job security right out of college but I quickly realized how much of a vapid black hole of a coroporate circle jerk it is.

Reminds me to some pictures from Soviet Union age. Live like a bird in the cage

The one in the grey mask is the free-thinker. He'll need some watching...

Don't kid yourself, corporate uniformity is ubiquitous in North America too where the uniform is a golf shirt and tan stretch pants.

Interestingly, Nippon TV (日本テレビ) had a segment yesterday about the noticeable number of new recruits not wearing masks

Here's a similar video from テレ. Not many masks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLzlXVXCVrM

You'd be surprised how corporation influence their employees. This photo is no different to Apple employees all wearing blue jeans, and black skivvy if you're in the design department.

I never understood why Japan does this "once-per-year" hiring nonsense. Why not just recruit year round when a position is available, like the rest of the world.

If a co-worker quits, or even dies, do I have to carry that persons workload for the rest of the year, because the company does not know how to recruit a replacement for their position?

I remember back at my old company, the Director gave his speech to newbies that went a little something like "Take a look around everyone, get a good look at the many different faces and remember them because these people will be your ally, team mate, friend, rival, and family for the coming years!". I wonder what that guy is saying to his new recruits now.

another brick in the wall....

This is another relic of Japanese corporate culture that needs to be phased out very soon.

They should all fit in with Toyota's age of robotics. Free thinking is the essence of innovation.

Hopefully the age of promotion being purely based on seniority will not hamper their careers.

In Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, new Toyota President Koji Sato addressed about 1,400 recruits, telling them that their individuality was the key to bringing about innovation in the company.

A man with a keen sense of irony...

Toyota President Koji Sato addressed about 1,400 recruits, telling them that their individuality was the key to bringing about innovation in the company.

I don't know why this made me laugh.

They will all be university graduates starting their working life. Good luck to all of them.

Deploy the clones.

New employees of Toyota Motor Corp attend their entrance ceremony in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday, the first weekday of the new business year.

Army of dorks.

You'd be surprised how corporation influence their employees. This photo is no different to Apple employees all wearing blue jeans, and black skivvy if you're in the design department.

Ridiculous nonsense:

https://www.wallpaper.com/design/apple-park-behind-the-scenes-design-team-interview

In Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, new Toyota President Koji Sato addressed about 1,400 recruits, telling them that their individuality was the key to bringing about innovation in the company.

Now everyone, shut it, and begin protocol.

First, line up for you pre-determined haircuts.

Next pick up your required identical uniforms.

Sit down at your standard working station.

Do your work.

Everyone takes lunch at 12 noon to 12:45 at their stations.

We are all scheduled to go home at 5 PM, which means the boss will leave at 8:45 PM, do not leave a minute before that or you will look to be an non-loyal employee.

Don't forget you are paid to work, not think.

We here at Toyota, encourage innovation.

That is all.

That picture looks frightening to me. Too robotic.

The first thing to newly learn is very difficult, that the nine and the five in ‘from nine to five’ are completely different from what they’ve thought so far. But help is near, nine means now five to eight, and the five means now nine p.m. or nine a.m. It’s just different from what the nurse in kindergarten had once told. Difficulties in career can be predicted for the few who dared to come with dark brown hair instead of black, especially the one out of those few who additionally dared to wear a different colored mask. But of course it’s not sure, maybe he has chances in the design crew.

Possibly one of the most depressing photos ever.

And how about 30% pay cut from age 60 till 65 pension terms now for gov employees and soon these recruits too as most companies will follow suit. This is a sickening way treat these people who built japan and made this country, who cares throw’m away.

https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2021060400170/

That picture looks like something straight out of a dystopian AI movie - robots galore!

And how about 30% pay cut from age 60 till 65

Everybody talks about the overpaid older generation but nobody talks about this disgusting way in which companies take advantage of older workers who no longer have the opportunity to change jobs because of widespread ageism. Their employers, knowing that they have no place to go, put them on this "demotion track" and expect to get the full value of their work and the knowledge they have built up over decades, but for a lot less money.

The majority of these young workers are male.

Indeed...no better photo to illustrate their individuality than the one above.

Indeed... Nothing wrong with a uniform. And having dark hair. Your observation is disillusioned and crass.

Looking at that photo I would say that the clone army is ready to be deployed.

Seriously talking, no one is daring to take off that mask even with their recent government guideline.

Unfortunately a strong culture in uniformity won't help to let these masks go any time soon.

I hope they enjoyed those precious 4 years in college wearing whatever they wanted because it's back to wearing uniforms the remainder of their working lives.

I’m wishing you all the best…; unfortunately, some of you will need strength and resilience for what’s coming next…; you know what I’m talking about…; some people will try to intimidate you…; don’t be afraid of those power harassers, remember, they’re not better than you…; also, make sure you can handle the zangyou…; be strong, good luck.

George Orwell comes to mind. Bring on May 8.

I'd actually praise Toyota for this, if the uniforms have saved the new employees from buying a navy blue "recruit" suit. Navy blue is usually only worn when trying to get a job and never on the job itself. Assuming of course that the job interviews were smart casual and not "recruit" suit.

The haircuts on show also look messier compared to new recruits joining a bank or insurance company. Those people have to be immaculate and almost identical.

There's a lot of 'what on earth have I done?' type looks in so many eyes.

@Alfie Noakes : no, you have just find Wally. Congrats !

M. Koki Sato will launch order 66 during the year with the intent to unmask the decent elements in each person by direct confrontation with the deceits generally accepted. As planned.

The amazing analysis you can obtain is that many find this ceremony "human", "appealing", "positive",etc. in view of the number downvotes for all common sense comments. I know Japanese vote as planned too.

Thank Fighto. It a very significant event in it their life.

New employees of Toyota Motor Corp attend their entrance ceremony in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday, the first weekday of the new business year.

The Attack of the Clones

If you bother to like close, you will fine that many different hair styles and shades of black Ann brown parted on the side and in the middle. The young girls have that fringe which is popular and they’re a young bloke with a grey mask and the young bloke in the third diagonal row fifth from the bottom is asleep. Far from being clones

One guy has a grey mask. What does that mean? Trying to stand out? The white masks were sold out?

Meek and obedient, you follow the leader.

Really a terrible picture in so many ways.

Wow they are all masked to the TEETH! Next month covid gets a good down grade. No hospital or clinic an reject you for having a fever when you need help.

, telling them that their individuality was the key to bringing about innovation in the company.

oh, but only when you are about 45 years old.

Stay in your lane. Go to the drink parties. Say yes sir, no sir. Then collect your bonus, rinse and repeat until pension or 65. Then realise you missed your kids growing up. They about to be crushed!

I never understood why Japan does this "once-per-year" hiring nonsense. Why not just recruit year round when a position is available, like the rest of the world.

They do hire year round.

Today  05:37 pm JST

, telling them that their individuality was the key to bringing about innovation in the company.

” oh, but only when you are about 45 years old. 

Stay in your lane. Go to the drink parties. Say yes sir, no sir. Then collect your bonus, rinse and repeat until pension or 65. Then realise you missed your kids growing up. They about to be crushed! “

An oversimplified view of what it means to have a job and be able to provide for your family…;

geez, what a depressing comment, buddy, cheer up…(!)

Poor kids