Real unemployment in Japan reaches 25.5%

[Apollo]

Just some comments about unemployment in Japan:

Japan, although modern and industrialised, has features in society which are quite different from what is found in other countries. Such as shuushin koyoo (life-long employment) and nenkoo joretsu (the seniority system) dominate the labour market of Japan.

The English term unemployed means, of to be without a job. However, the corresponding Japanese word shitsugyoo does actually mean "to have lost ones job or employment." This could imply a difference in the way in which people from outside Japan and the Japanese people perceive the meaning of the concept of unemployed. Basically, in Japan, to be unemployed or lost your job have different meanings.

When graduates from universities, who have never had a job to lose ,wish to enter the labour market, and they have to take part in questionnaires, they would not go under the category of shitsugyoo. A sufficient questionnaire should include the word ronin, which means master less, as by this, the unemployed graduates would be added to the unemployed.

[PaulTB]

Japan, although modern and industrialised, has features in society which are quite different from what is found in other countries. Such as shuushin koyoo (life-long employment) and nenkoo joretsu (the seniority system) dominate the labour market of Japan.

Had features in society ...
Well that's an exaggeration but life-long employment is on a one-way track down.

The English term unemployed means, of to be without a job. However, the corresponding Japanese word shitsugyoo

The corresponding Japanese word is 無職 mushoku which actually means "no employment".

[Apollo]

Had features in society ...
Well that's an exaggeration but life-long employment is on a one-way track down.

I know that...the one-way track down is mainly due to the economic crises and the bubble burst.

About shistugyoo, well, I don't want to argue with you over a word but my Japanese friend who was a graduate two years ago had to fill out a questionnaire/card with this word= shitsugyoo. I remember this word. Can you then explain when these words are used in what situations?

This computer can't write Japanese, but will find the word (shitsugyoo) if you want.

[PaulTB]

About shistugyoo, well, I don't want to argue with you over a word but my Japanese friend who was a graduate two years ago had to fill out a questionnaire/card with this word= shitsugyoo. I remember this word. Can you then explain when these words are used in what situations?

無職 mushoku is used all the time on the news when somebody unemployed is arrested for some crime. 'Such-and-such a guy, 37, mushoku (unemployed), was arrested for ...' type of thing.

Of course unemployment is a different word to unemployed.

You said unemployed in your post, 失業 is probably closer to unemployment.

[Apollo]

無職 mushoku is used all the time on the news when somebody unemployed is arrested for some crime. 'Such-and-such a guy, 37, mushoku (unemployed), was arrested for ...' type of thing..

oookay! Thanks Paul! But now I am confused...when IS shitsugyoo used then? I am sure my childhood Japanese friend's questionnaire had this word for a reason, no?

[PaulTB]

oookay! Thanks Paul! But now I am confused...when IS shitsugyoo used then? I am sure my childhood Japanese friend's questionnaire had this word for a reason, no?

Hah. I was obviously still editing when you posted that :-P

Try looking up a bit ;-)

[Apollo]

Yep, unemployment is 失業 = used also when one has lost a job, or is unemployed, fired, I think... I think it is a noun used for unemployment...

hmmm...very confusing though.
Especially, as being fired/ lost your job does not necessarily mean unemployed in Japan....
Like: "are you unemployed or have you lost your job?" ???
The difference in meaning is big in the Japanese language though, no?