In a nation that has long been synonymous with working hard and showing unswerving loyalty to an employer, more and more Japanese people are "quiet quitting" their jobs.

A term originally coined in the United States in 2022 for people who are disengaged and just do the bare minimum of work, "quiet quitting" has taken on a slightly different meaning in Japan — and one that would arguably make legions of toiling "salarymen" shudder.

A growing number of Japanese are choosing to clock in at work exactly on time and leave as soon as they can.

They are not looking for praise or promotion from their seniors. They are unbothered by the prospect of better pay if it means more work, while performance-related bonuses also fail to inspire them.

According to a study of 3,000 workers aged 20 to 59 conducted by the Mynavi Career Research Lab, a Tokyo-based employment research agency, some 45% say they are doing the bare minimum in their jobs. Significantly, employees in their 20s are most likely to admit to being "quiet quitters."

There are many reasons why Japanese workers are no longer giving their all for their companies.

For 26-year-old Issei, the answer is straightforward: He wants more time to pursue the things he enjoys.

"I don't hate my job and I know I have to work to pay my rent and bills, but I would much rather be meeting up with my friends, traveling or listening to live music," said Issei, who asked that his family........

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