Yes, it is the first of April, the day when life begins – or ends, depending on your viewpoint.Today we will see tens of thousands of innocent graduates entering the process of becoming a full member of Japanese society. Shedding their last visible signs of individuality, they put on the obligatory black suit, make their first commute (初通勤 / hatsutsuukin in Japanese) and spend their first day at their new company, hopefully a prestigous Japanese company.

All what was learnt can now be forgotten, as your school or university knowledge is usually irrelevant to your work and more senior people will know a lot better – because they are older and been with the company longer. The company will teach you all you need to know. At a minimum, these new starters will go through several months of company training, which will include language to address customers, dress code, bowing.

Whatever you feel about what is ahead of them, envy it is probably not.