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As I understand it, the "herbivore" man is rejecting the "carnivore" existence of the Japanese male executive. So he is not working every hour of the day, he is just getting by. But you are right, they are not focusing on "self improvement", rather just withdrawing from society.

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Except, the irony, is Japanese men work harder than they ever have, yet most consider themselves/are considered by others herbivore.

Japan still thinks it is honorable to literally die at your desk and be discovered by your coworkers. That aspect of culture is very foreign to me, and I do not understand it.

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