Corporate culture in Japan has created the most overworked city, Tokyo whilst also rendering its workers the most vacation deprived leading at times to the phenomenon of karoshi, death by overworking. One can trace this phenomenon back to Post World War II, where Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida focused on the economic revival of Japan and enlisted major corporations to offer employees a stable and secure lifelong job. Employees were asked to dedicate their lives to their jobs, their loyalty to the company and devotion as a personal honour. In an effort to change the current working style, the Japanese government implemented a “Work Style Reform Bill” in 2018, but to no avail as Japan differs from other countries whereby it would be effective to give more leaves to workers.

The “salary-man often thinks he too must work hard or else he will feel guilty and to deviate is disloyal”. This ingrained psychological trait of the Japanese originates from the Code of Bushido, shame and guilt culture in the Japanese stemming back to Edo Period Japan. The concept of Bushido, the way of the warrior, traces from the samurais that are fiercely loyal to their master. They are immune from the fear of death and would perform ritual suicide, seppuku, to regain their lost honor. Shame is pervasive partly because Japan, unlike culturally and ethnically diverse societies such as United States, has its cultural norms well defined so that their violations are readily recognized. The Japanese sense of guilt ties in with them being allocentric. However there are few companies working to make a change in Japan’s society such as Work Life Balance Co, YUI Associates, Black Corp Awards and 910Ryu Tea Ceremony. Individually, they have already started to make a difference.

This thesis speculates the formation of Sanya Alliance with the collaboration of the four companies to take a step further in this change of society’s thought. It is also speculated that the government acknowledges Sanya Alliance’s effort to change societal norms and works together with them, issuing a new “Work Style Reform Holiday”. The Work Style Reform Holiday is a holiday where the Japanese white collared workers escape to without the feeling of guilt or shame. It takes inspiration from the successes of the four companies and the widespread acknowledgement of the failure of the work style reform bill, to question if this uniquely Japanese holiday that is rooted in edo concepts might be a possible solution to an essentially edo rooted problem.

The holiday takes place in Sanya, the currently obliterated district of Tokyo which is occupied majoritively by former day-labourers whom are outcasted by society. The Jouhatsu (evaporated people) escape their lives to live in the shadows of Sanya. Sanya’s identity is expunged from official records due to its association with negativity, it was home to the “lower caste” workers and an execution ground during Edo Period. As corporate overworking culture of Bushido begun in Edo, this set of practices and rituals are inspired by Edo Period, informing several programs to take the salaryman away from work yet not making them feel guilt or shame. A holiday here would only be logical to rid shame and guilt while having enjoyment.

The project was developed at the National University of Singapore.

KOOZ What prompted the project?

TC According to a 2019 study by KISI, Tokyo is the most overworked city with Japan being the most vacation deprived country where on average only half of the leaves are taken by the workers. This culture of overworking has given rise to a phenomenon called karoshi, meaning death by overworking, where workers die from brain or heart failure from stress and in some cases, suicide. Current governmental solutions, which are based on global corporate contemporary conventions of time off and vacations, clearly do not work due to the ingrained psychological trait of Bushido, shame, and guilt culture in the Japanese stemming back to Edo Period Japan. As someone who works within a profession where overworking is extremely common, I am concerned about the consequences and would like to question and shed light on this situation.

KOOZ What questions does the project raise and which does it address?

TC The project looks to challenge existing governmental solutions, raise awareness on the overworking culture of Japan as well as focus on the specific district of Sanya. The project looks deep into the ingrained psychology of the Japanese which stems back to the Edo Period, where samurais feared their lost honour greater than death, as well as how shame and guilt are still predominant in present-day Japan.

By drawing parallels between the Edo Period Japan and modern Japan, I explored the various cultures and practices. Seen as an impossible solution, the project aims to raise awareness and create an alternative scenario whereby a holiday imbued with the Japanese psyche will bring about a change of societal thoughts.

KOOZ How does the project approach the role and power of architecture within our contemporary society?

TC The project sees architecture as a means of communication and story-telling. It critiques the current “Work Style Reform Bill” through the speculation of the collaboration of a few existing companies that are making a change in Japan’s society and that the government recognizes their efforts, working together with them due to their successes.

In our contemporary society, the project serves as a social commentary on Japan, seeking to propose an alternative solution to the existing corporate and social issues, through an alternative set of rules inspired by Chado, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, which varies from contemporary society.

KOOZ What is for you the power of the Architectural Imaginary?

TC The Architectural Imaginary empowers us with the ability to bring our innovative ideas to life. These ideas and architectural models may seem fairy-tale like, however, it is important to ensure that they are grounded and based on the relevant research and precedence. With reference to the project, it highlights the power of the Architectural Imaginary by taking the metaphor of the Japanese Tea Ceremony as a concept driver for the architecture and programs.

KOOZ What role does academia play as a role for the development of thought provoking ideas and architectural models?

TC Academia plays an important role by cultivating our critical thinking skills, leading to the thought provoking ideas. It also provides a safe and conducive environment for our minds to run free. Academia offers us ample opportunities to learn from a broad base platform such as student exchange programs to experience diverse styles of teaching and to be able to bounce ideas off different students widen my perspective.

KOOZ What are for you the greatest concerns that the contemporary architect faces?

TC Technology evolves rapidly in the present-day, the contemporary architect may face difficulty in adapting to the various changes in lifestyles that technology has brought to us. In the modern world where technology is the greatest medium, the contemporary architect might sometimes rely too much on it resulting in the loss of touch with the creativity of hands. Another concern would be the visual representation of architecture. It would be great to see things from another perspective, where renders can be both illustrative and realistic to convey a message or mood.

KOOZ What is for you the architect's most important tool?

TC It is our imagination. As many architecture graduates enter the working world, our perception of architecture might change due to restrictions from authorities. It is important that we do not lose our sense of imagination and creativity which allows us to push boundaries in a world where architecture can become a voice of change.

Bio

Terence Chek is currently completing his Master Thesis Part 2 at the National University of Singapore, where he will be graduating in 2021. He is an aspiring Architect that is passionate in visuals and details. He aims to inspire people with a new perception of society through architecture design.