[hkmurakami]

I think we're lucky that many companies have this attitude.

I've experienced the polar opposite in a Japanese bigco where we were given extensive material to learn (generally about the industry, or certifications), and it was very clearly understood that we were to learn the material off company time. As an American naturally I had an allergic reaction to this culture.

[ddek]

Friend of mine is a senior exec for the Fujitsu Europe. I met him doing the Haute Route, a two-week ski tour in the Alps.

He says the amount of persuading he had to do to the global execs that being off-grid for two weeks might have it's benefits almost made it futile.

I can't help but wonder if this attitude has inhibited japanese progress.