TokyoStrayCat's comments

This is solely based on my personal experience working in Japan. Reasons why people at my work place work over time:

1. For more pay. We don't get paid a lot (roughly 1,000 yen an hour for full time contracted lifetime employee), so overtime (2,000 per hour) helps. 2. Peer pressure. People generally look down on others who leave early. They will mockingly say things like, "wow I'm so envious that you don't have any work." Unless you have some "legitimate" reason (children, illness).

Working in Japan right now. We recite the corporate principle every morning.