The Y2007 and Day Trader New Graduates

It is almost the end of the school and fiscal year, and next week the many of the cities and towns across Japan would surely look and feel different with a fresh and a little nervous mood. Grade school graduates will be wearing a fresh new attire of school uniforms, and middle school graduates will enter the most exciting three years of (teenage) life (at least, many of the people claim that the high school years were the best). High school graduated will scatter in different directions be it school or work, and college graduates will start working dressed in that unfamiliar touch of brand new suits and leather shoes. This all starts next Monday.

There is an institution in Japan that observes the characteristics of the group of people graduating from college and going on to their respective careers every spring. The "character name" this institution has given to the college graduates for this year is the "Day Trader Type". It's not that there's a general tendency of this year's college graduates are (or hoping to be engaged) in the stock market or are becoming real day traders.

They are given this name because these people do not wish to give their sole commitment to the company for years and grow up as businessmen under the given environment for years, but instead are always keen on searching for better deals - better money, better environment - and hop from one job to another. You see, the mainstream even today is to stick pretty much all your life to the company you first get to get into , be it beneficial or just labor-dedicating or stressing. Things have changed and switching jobs have become easier just a little, but still many are reluctant to do so because of the instability.
Anyway, these fresh graduates are day traders because their tendency (they haven't started working but their tendency already shows I guess) is similar to the way how internet day traders are always checking on the best conditions to buy and sell in the stock market. Companies to these new workers are like stocks for traders.

This tendency has a lot to do with a larger framework of the Japanese society. There is this problem called the "2007-nen-mondai" which translates to "Year 2007 Problem". A good chunk of workers are retiring this year (actually in a few more days), and this good chunk played some of the most significant roles in developing and sustaining the Japanese economy the past several decades after the war. It means that the hole after they leave must be replaced both in terms of quantity and quality but this is quite a task because it is a big hole, and the population itself of the younger generation is steadily decreasing.

What is means is that for those entering the business world this year, the start itself is relatively easy because a good deal of companies are eager to employ more workers (thanks to the recovering economy), and those who have the ability and skills have more chances to switch from one job to another with better deals because the companies want power ready to fight any time. The latter can also be said with those already in the business world. It may be chances for the workers but may a little tough on the companies, as this tendency would definitely hinder them from trying to raise workers that are efficient and effective at the same time as obedient and faithful to one company.

By the way, the "name" for my year was "blog type". According to this institution, people of my year tend to appear rather quiet and submissive to the company, but have strong thoughts and opinions inside and show at times bold and daring self assertiveness online. Well....... what do you say my friends...?

http://www.jpc-sed.or.jp/eng/index.html is their website in English, though frankly I haven't taken a close look on it.

Today's update on Japan Mode: Major Events in May - some really REALLY major ones are coming up in May including a couple of the wildest, most gorgeous and crowded festivals in Tokyo, the Kanda Festival and Asakusa Sanja Festival. These two are HUGE, and because the Kanda Festival only has main festivals every other year and this year is it, it's going to be a real big event. If any of you get a chance to come to Tokyo in May, I tell you , don't miss them. Events taking place in other places are equally worth seeing. May is a good month :-)