Odakyu Lines
On my way home this morning I saw something which made me look twice at the station supermarket, Odakyu OX. When I looked in the first set of doors I could see that the shop wasn't yet open for business - it was about 9 a.m. But when I walked along and looked through the windows near the tills I saw lots of staff standing in lines. Perfect lines. At the front a man who I guess was the manager was talking to them. What I want to know is:
1. Is this a ritual before business every day?
2. If so does this happen at most shops/companies in Japan?
3. Was the manager just giving some kind of New Year's speech?
Yeah, this is called Chou-Rei (朝礼) and most Japanese companies do it still. Sometimes different people take turns to "lead" and at some companies people make it quite funny but basically its all the same kind of pep talk from the manager. I worked in a sales office once for a short time and every morning everyone had to do the cho-rei which sometimes took 90minutes..
Posted by: Roy | Friday, December 31, 2004 at 06:35 AM
You lined up in perfect lines for 90 minutes?? I wonder if it's just announcements that they say. Does the staff participate? Even with 15 minutes, I'd imagine it's gotta be more than just the daily "ganbatte"
Posted by: Rick | Friday, December 31, 2004 at 04:17 PM
Just maybe it's one of those Japanese customs, I thought... but even for a supermarket?
Like Rick says... 90 minutes?! What could you possibly say for so long? Mind you, our school principle can waffle on a bit when he wants to.
Wouldn't more work get done even if at a slower pace if employees started an hour and a half earlier...? Even 15 minutes ealier?
Posted by: Darren | Saturday, January 01, 2005 at 03:45 AM