Japan is witnessing the phenomenon of an employee disappearing from his job suddenly and without notice. This phenomenon is known as “ghosting,” which is derived from the English word “ghost.” In Japan, they call it “bakkuri,” and this behavior is somewhat similar to a sudden disappearance from personal relationships. What may seem irresponsible to others may, in the Japanese context, be a way to avoid confrontation.
Harmony above all else
Hiroshi Ono, professor of human resources management at Hitotsubashi Business School, previously told the BBC: “Getting along with the group is a core value in Japanese culture, and those who deviate from the group’s rules or cause disruption may not be appreciated.” Ono believes that "this partly explains why some employees resort to disappearing instead of confronting the manager and submitting their resignation face to face."
This mentality is linked to the legacy of Japanese corporate culture that took root during the post-World War II period of economic growth, when loyalty to the company and lifelong employment were an important part of professional life. In such an environment, resignation was sometimes perceived as abandonment of the group or as a personal insult to the manager.
Ono points out that the idea of valuing harmony and avoiding conflict has been rooted in Japanese culture for centuries, as the Seventeen Articles Constitution, an ancient Japanese legal and moral document issued in 604 AD dating back to the seventh century, stipulates the importance of harmony and avoiding quarrels.
When "disappearing" becomes normal
The phenomenon of disappearance is not limited to workplaces. According to the Japanese company "Tesfai", which specializes in dating services and marriage-related consultations, more than 70% of Japanese women have been subjected to the phenomenon of sudden disappearance in relationships.
According to Ono's observations during interviews with a number of human resources managers, an employee who disappears from work may not have shown any obvious signs of a problem. He may deal with his colleagues normally, and then not appear the next day, before the company receives a call from an agency that will complete the procedures for his resignation.
Posts on the Japanese Girls Channel forum also reflect the extent to which some people accept this way of dealing with the work environment, especially when they feel from the beginning that the atmosphere of the place does not suit them.
Pay the money...and let someone else resign for you
As this phenomenon spread, proxy resignation turned into a stand-alone commercial market.
Yuka Hamada, CEO of the Japanese "Albatros" agency, which is one of the Japanese agencies that helps employees sever the relationship with the employer or their workplace, says that her agency helps about 450 people a month to leave their jobs without direct confrontation with the employers, in exchange for about 120 euros for a full-time employee, and the process can be completed in some cases in just 15 minutes. Hamada explains that clients' motives are not the same, as they include cases of physical violence, sexual harassment, and other forms of abuse in the workplace. She believes that some of these employees are in a fragile situation and do not have the ability to confront their employer on their own.
Even "escaping" must be done politely
The irony is that resigning through agency does not necessarily mean severing all ties harshly.
Hamada explains that some clients cannot say goodbye to their colleagues or express their gratitude to the company directly, so the agency can relay their words on their behalf. She even advises the employee, even if he wants to disappear completely, to tidy up his desk and clear out his belongings before leaving. This is what is reflected in the concept of “miyako” in Japanese culture, that is, taking care not to cause trouble to others and to maintain order and group harmony.
