The Japanese Art of Making Boring Tasks Better

Even if your work feels mundane, there’s a way to find meaning in it

In Japan, phenomenal customer service is not limited to just high-end luxury shops and hotels. If you walk into any regular store, you will likely be greeted by an employee who will politely welcome you in, bow to you, and rush to help you as soon as they realize you need assistance. Their uniforms are crisp, clean, and appearance clearly cared for. The shelves are put together, the products aligned and organized. Floors are mopped, windows are clean, and when you exit the store, the employees will say thank you, smile, and bow to you until you are a considerable distance from the exit.

This is not to say that Japanese people always love their jobs. In any job, there are moments that are tiring, boring, and tedious. But the idea of putting your best foot forward in your work — ganbaru — is one that is widely valued, no matter your profession. Whether you’re a CEO or convenience store worker, if you can exemplify the principles of ganbaru, your work will be respected. Even this Japanese daikon radish gained nationwide applause and attention for its perseverance in less-than-ideal circumstances. “To see a daikon ganbaru in a place like this, it even gave me encouragement,” Osaka resident Ms. Shima told the Japanese publication…