In Japan, your vocation is a really big deal.

People have been known to commit suicide, when they have been let go.

It's really easy to be dismissive, and project our own society's norms onto others, with a "That's so silly! Why don't they just..." modifier, but that's just so silly.

I've been to Japan a lot (Tokyo, mostly). I used to work for a Japanese corporation, and traveled there regularly. I had/have many Japanese friends.

Personally, I could not live in that society. There's a lot of stuff that would be far too grating for me, but there's also some really awesome stuff.

The same can be said for any society.

Being without work, and without family, means being nothing, means abandoning yourself and dying.

I remember reading how many offices and what not keep -easy- jobs for the elderly if they don't want to retire.

Here in the west they will put you in an old-person house hoping you die sooner so they can inherit the house or whatever.

WTF