Japanese workplace

Character files | Work Culture in Japan

I Stopped Greeting an Otsubone in Japan— and That’s When She Snapped
ByMitty 2025-12-272026-01-09

In Japan, an “otsubone” is a powerful senior employee known for entitlement and control.
This is a personal story about what happened when I stopped accommodating her behavior—and why distance was never an option.

Read More I Stopped Greeting an Otsubone in Japan— and That’s When She Snapped
Character files

The Elegant Manager Episode 3: The Elegant Manager Who Can’t Be Honest
ByMitty 2025-11-242026-01-09

An Elegant Manager who never reacts honestly—compliments fall flat, conversations feel one-sided, and even lunch becomes exhausting. A look into emotional calculation, social energy theft, and the strange pressure to appear “refined” at all costs in Japanese workplaces.

Read More The Elegant Manager Episode 3: The Elegant Manager Who Can’t Be Honest