[qalmakka]

> How did Germany get the efficiency stereotype and Japan didn’t?

Everything in Japan still mostly relies on widespread use of fax machines due to their stubborn continued usage of personal wooden seals ("Hanko stamps"). Everyone at every level of management and burocracy has his/her own personal seal which has to be stamped on paper documents, which are then either scanned or sent via fax.

This and a general stubborness on giving up certain deeply rooted but antiquated habits is one of the main reasons Japan is not famous for efficiency.

[benrbray]

Actually, the pandemic has pushed many Japanese businesses (and the government) to finally deprecate the use of hanko/faxes for everything.

Also, it's not just Japan. Fax machines are still integral to the American medical system [1], for instance.

[1] https://www.vox.com/health-care/2017/10/30/16228054/american...

[77pt77]

You forgot to mention the most recent innovation in Japanese work culture:

Excel.

It's used for everything.