Rediscovering Japan: some thoughts on change and continuity in traditional Japanese careers

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to comment on the articles presented in the Special Issue of Career Development International on “Change and continuity of traditional Japanese careers” (Vol. 11 No. 3).

Design/methodology/approach

Commentary is provided to contextualize traditional careers and a quick overview is presented on the likely forces of change at work in Japan.

Findings

Continuity is seen as being more prominent in Japan than change because the so‐called employee sovereignty model of organization still holds sway in most large Japanese firms.

Originality/value

The paper offers some observations, exhortations and prophecies that pertain to the research reported in the Special Issue and locates this work in a context slightly one‐off from the work itself.

Citation

Van Maanen, J. (2006), "Rediscovering Japan: some thoughts on change and continuity in traditional Japanese careers", Career Development International, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 280-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620430610672504