A Japanese office worker with a monthly salary of 650,000 yen collapsed after attending a class reunion: His former classmates earned three times as much and had time to spend with their families.

First published 9-24 22:29<br>Updated 9-25 05:45

A Japanese office worker thought that his monthly salary was generous. After his classmates learned about the current situation of his old classmates, his satisfaction with work and income began to waver. (Drawing by this newspaper)

[Financial Channel/Comprehensive Report] A class reunion unexpectedly became the scene of life's "reconciliation". A 44-year-old office worker in Japan works as a supervisor at a large company in Tokyo with a monthly salary of 650,000 yen (approximately NT$131,000). He believes that his career development is not bad. Unexpectedly, he attended a high school reunion and learned that his former classmates not only earned more than three times his own income, but also had time to spend with their families. He instantly collapsed and asked himself repeatedly on the train: "Why do I have to work so hard?"

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Japanese media "THE GOLD ONLINE" reported that Kenta Ito (pseudonym) works for a precision machinery manufacturer in Tokyo. He has been working overtime and striving for promotion since he was in his 20s. Now he is a principal at the age of 44, with a monthly salary of 650,000 yen and an annual salary of more than 10 million yen (approximately NT$2.02 million).

The turning point occurred at a high school reunion. Ito met an old classmate of the same age who entered the real estate industry after graduating from high school and now runs a company in his hometown. His career is developing smoothly and his annual income is three times that of Ito.

What really hit Ito was not just his income. An old classmate revealed that after the company got on track, most of the practical work was handed over to employees, and he tried his best to spend time with his family on weekdays.

On the other hand, Ito leaves home at 6 a.m. every morning, takes the crowded train to work, and is often busy until after 10 p.m. As a middle-level manager, I have performance pressure on top, and have to deal with subordinate management and resignation issues at the bottom. Even when I am on vacation, I will feel nervous whenever my mobile phone notification rings.

According to statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the average monthly salary for full-time men aged 40 to 44 is about 457,000 yen, and that of large companies is about 529,000 yen. Ito's 650,000 yen is significantly higher than the average.

However, after the class reunion, his past satisfaction with work and income began to waver. When he returned to Tokyo and squeezed into the commuter train, he couldn't help sighing again and again, and began to rethink: Even if the income is not bad, if almost all of the time is devoted to work every day, is this kind of life the life he really wants?

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