Criticism Grows Over Japan's Paperwork Culture
The Japan Reporter
[{'start': '0.160', 'end': '1.700', 'text': 'Many people in Japan struggle with'}, {'start': '41.119', 'end': '42.815', 'text': 'Based on my experience in Japan,'}, {'start': '42.815', 'end': '46.897', 'text': "these are some of the most prominent\naspects in Japan's paperwork culture"}, {'start': '46.897', 'end': '48.315', 'text': 'and you might wish you could change it.'}, {'start': '98.053', 'end': '101.878', 'text': 'I used to work at a city hall and totally\nunderstand why it can take too much'}, {'start': '101.878', 'end': '103.809', 'text': "from a worker's perspective."}, {'start': '103.809', 'end': '108.804', 'text': 'Any small decision-making needs\nmultiple permissions from multiple authorities'}, {'start': '108.804', 'end': '112.002', 'text': 'while going through a lot of\ngroup consensus or reviews.'}, {'start': '112.002', 'end': '116.632', 'text': "Secondly, there's such a strong emphasis on following established rules or procedures"}, {'start': '116.632', 'end': '119.539', 'text': 'which makes the staff unflexible for any exceptions.'}, {'start': '287.491', 'end': '289.848', 'text': 'To improve the marriage rate, especially for women,'}, {'start': '289.848', 'end': '292.732', 'text': 'maybe we really need to change the paperwork culture.'}, {'start': '292.732', 'end': '296.058', 'text': "But some of the Japanese I talked to say\nchanging that isn't easy."}, {'start': '296.058', 'end': '298.716', 'text': "Because it's closely connected to our education"}, {'start': '298.716', 'end': '303.307', 'text': 'where we put a strong emphasis on\nfollowing a rule, formality and procedures'}, {'start': '303.307', 'end': '307.409', 'text': 'rather than coming up with new ideas,\narguing or claiming your rights.'}, {'start': '452.702', 'end': '456.378', 'text': "But they claim that what's important for Japan\nis find a balance."}, {'start': '456.378', 'end': '460.172', 'text': 'While we need some change or\nadjustment to make the paperwork easier,'}, {'start': '460.172', 'end': '464.069', 'text': 'the cultural tendency surely benefits us in some way,\nas some people say'}]