REVIEW - Japanese Show Mixed Feelings About Rare 10-Days Off

TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th April, 2019) Japanese people will have one-of-a-kind 10 days of national holidays in a row from late April to early May, which may be a surprise for the nation known for its hardworking culture.

The unexpected vacation, which might not happen ever again, should have been widely welcomed by the population. However, many are not too enthusiastic about these 10 days. A Sputnik correspondent attempted to find out whether the Japanese indeed did not like long vacations.

The national holidays in the Land of the Rising Sun are commonly dubbed 'Golden Week.' It traditionally includes April 29 and May 3-5 as days off. However this year, due to Crown Prince Naruhito ascending the throne May 1, Japan will have holidays between April 27 and May 6.

LACK OF MONEY, TRAFFIC JAMS, FATIGUE

According to statistics provided by online research Cross Marketing Group, only 40 percent of the Japanese are looking forward to the upcoming extra-long holidays. They explain that such an attitude is dictated by traffic jams, which will be inevitable when 127 million Japanese decide to travel around the country in the same period of time; by the lack of money, as expenses increase during holidays; and also by fatigue.

"We do not know how to enjoy vacations. The whole world knows that we, the Japanese, do not know how to enjoy vacations. But I personally will have these days off, all ten days, because I worked without days off during New Year holidays. Although not everyone in my company will take these days off: work is work," the president of a subsidiary of one of the Japanese tv channels told Sputnik.

According to a study by Expedia Japan traveling company, only half of the Japanese dare to take paid vacations. The main reason is that they think it is embarrassing to take a vacation and shift their work to their colleagues.

However, if you look deeper into the issue, it becomes clear that those who are not enthusiastic about the upcoming holidays simply will not have a chance to have these very days off.

According to a recent survey by Japanese Jiji news agency, only 36.5 percent of respondents are looking forward to the holidays, while 41 percent are not happy with the upcoming vacation. But it turns out that most of those who are not happy with the days off are those who do not work at all (28 percent). The majority of them are retired, and the holidays have nothing to do with them.

Another 19.3 percent of those who did not appreciate the government's initiative said that they would have to work during these holidays, while 9.6 percent of respondents feared that a long weekend would affect their work.

Sputnik's research showed the same results.

"My job does not depend on official holidays, so I do not care. These days off do not concern me at all," Naomi, who works in show business, said.

The head of the company, which organizes the largest rock festival in Japan, said that these holidays would come at a bad time for his company.

"We have a big musical event scheduled for the beginning of May, so we will work these days, but it may be difficult to get in touch with partners and rapidly address emerging challenges," the businessman said.

The head doctor and the owner of a private clinic said that his hospital would be working according to regular schedule.

"My wife is also a doctor and she is also going to work [during these days off], so we will have to decide with whom our daughter will stay for these days. This is a problem," the doctor complained.

SOME STILL EXCITED ABOUT DAYS OFF

But those 32 percent of respondents who probably for the first time in their lives will not have to wake up with the alarm do not hide their joy.

"I am excited about these holidays. Our family is going to Ehime prefecture [on the Japanese island of Shikoku] to see our friends. Our children are waiting to see their friends, and I and my wife will go to hot springs and on a trip to Matsuyama Castle. So they [holidays] do not trigger any negative emotions. We are really looking forward to these holidays," an employee of an IT company in the city of Osaka said.

A head of a software company said that he will also enjoy the holidays, though he is not planning to travel anywhere with his family.

"There will be traffic jams everywhere, prices will jump. We will spend these days at home with children ... On the other hand, the Golden Week happens in May annually, so there is nothing unusual here," he concluded.

Economists are also expecting a beneficial effect from these 10 days off. Hideo Kumano, chief economist from Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, said that domestic consumption during these 10 days will bring additional 332.3 billion Yen ($2.96 billion) to the national economy compared with the same period in previous years.