Honestly I'm more than happy about the new career, finally a normal job, and I need it now. :D
Maybe some believe it's sterotype for Japan, but it fits to my home country too. Poorly paid with long and stressful hours too. Well we don't celebrate a company dance, but you are more or less obliged to dedicate your life for your job, so called motivation. This attitudes has changed in the recent years since the companies have quit their social responsibilities to their employees for more profit for themselves or shareholders. Now we are saying, if you pay just peanuts as salary, you only get the products of monkeys (don't expect high quality products).
According to school uniform, they are not common in my country too. But they do exist to cover up the wealth gap in some schools. They are more cozy leisure clothes than the stiff uniforms. But as far as I've heard, the race is then on the other stuff items. On the other hand I had once to wear a company outfit, I looked great in it and it was relaxing not to care about the daily outfit. It saved time in the morning.
