Young Japanese workers are feeling lonely at work

Making friends as an adult isn't always easy, and I'd say that for us as foreigners in Japan, starting a new job in another country can make things even more complicated. A recent Japanese workplace survey has highlighted another issue affecting younger employees, with around one-third of workers in their twenties saying they sometimes feel lonely at work.

The survey was conducted by office furniture and workplace solutions company Itoki, and they collected responses from 4,650 office workers aged 20 to 59 across Japan. It explored how employees feel about their working environments and the relationships they have with colleagues.

One finding was that 31.3% of respondents in their twenties reported sometimes experiencing loneliness in the workplace. The research also highlighted differences in how employees viewed their workplaces, with positive workplace experiences linked to a greater willingness to stay with an employer.

It's an interesting topic for anyone working in Japan, particularly for us as foreign employees who might find it takes time to build friendships outside their existing social circles.

Do you have friends at work, or do you spend a lot of the work day feeling lonely?