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The story
Landing a factory job at Toyota Motor straight out of a technical high school has long been seen as a “winning move,” but a 5ch thread went viral by pointing out that in reality, brutal sports-team-style hierarchies and grueling shift-work labor drive plenty of people to quit. The thread saw a mix of opinions on career choices: warnings that joining just for the pay can backfire into regret, the reality that “the more elite the company, the more academic pedigree decides your job assignment,” and tips on routes like transferring to university via a kosen (technical college). Some also voiced anxiety about the future — “once your body gives out, it’s over” — sparking a debate over whether that’s actually worse than desk work at a lesser company.
What people said
People often say "going from a technical high school straight into Toyota is a bigger win than graduating from some mediocre university," but that's not necessarily true.
Sure, the pay itself is quite good for a high school grad, which is exactly why it's such a popular choice at technical high schools (especially in Aichi Prefecture).
But in reality it comes with a brutal sports-team-style hierarchy, plus it's tough physical labor on a shift schedule — so a surprising number of people end up quitting.
Sure, the pay itself is quite good for a high school grad, which is exactly why it's such a popular choice at technical high schools (especially in Aichi Prefecture).
But in reality it comes with a brutal sports-team-style hierarchy, plus it's tough physical labor on a shift schedule — so a surprising number of people end up quitting.
The reality of Toyota's high-school-hire track (factory work) is tougher than it looks — a surprising number of people quit for reasons like "I'd rather do desk work even at a second-tier (or third-tier) company" or "I want to escape the physical labor and brutal hierarchy."
If you join just because the pay looks good on the surface, you might end up regretting it… 😢
There's even a theory that in the long run, desk work at a second-tier (or third-tier) company beats this, even if it looks less impressive on paper.
If you join just because the pay looks good on the surface, you might end up regretting it… 😢
There's even a theory that in the long run, desk work at a second-tier (or third-tier) company beats this, even if it looks less impressive on paper.
Re: #2
No joke, elite companies divide job duties strictly by academic background.
Desk work and knowledge work basically only goes to four-year university grads (or at best kosen/junior college grads) — if you're a high school grad, it's almost all shop-floor work.
Granted, since it's an elite company, the pay itself isn't bad even for high school grads, but a surprising number of people quit because they can't handle the brutal physical labor and sports-team-style hierarchy… 😢
"Going from technical high school to Toyota" might look like a win short-term, but over the long haul it's not necessarily so (your stamina only goes downhill from here).
There are even companies that flat-out only hire people who were in sports clubs.
If anything, second-tier companies tend to care less about academic pedigree and will let even high school grads do knowledge work or desk jobs.
Though the pay at second-tier companies isn't great.
No joke, elite companies divide job duties strictly by academic background.
Desk work and knowledge work basically only goes to four-year university grads (or at best kosen/junior college grads) — if you're a high school grad, it's almost all shop-floor work.
Granted, since it's an elite company, the pay itself isn't bad even for high school grads, but a surprising number of people quit because they can't handle the brutal physical labor and sports-team-style hierarchy… 😢
"Going from technical high school to Toyota" might look like a win short-term, but over the long haul it's not necessarily so (your stamina only goes downhill from here).
There are even companies that flat-out only hire people who were in sports clubs.
If anything, second-tier companies tend to care less about academic pedigree and will let even high school grads do knowledge work or desk jobs.
Though the pay at second-tier companies isn't great.
Re: #7
That's exactly why, even in manufacturing-heavy Tokai (Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie), the kids who know the reality of technical high schools — or the genuinely bright ones — go to regular college-prep high schools instead.
People say "Aichi (the Nagoya metro area) is strong for technical high schools," but even among teens there, the academic-pedigree mindset runs strong, just not quite as strong as in greater Tokyo.
If anything, technical high schools are more popular in less affluent regions with lower university enrollment, like Tohoku or Kyushu — sometimes even more competitive to get into than a mediocre regular high school.
*That said, Tohoku and Kyushu don't have many big factories locally, so a lot of kids end up taking jobs in greater Tokyo or Kansai instead. And yes, you can land a job outside your home region even coming from a technical high school.
That's exactly why, even in manufacturing-heavy Tokai (Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie), the kids who know the reality of technical high schools — or the genuinely bright ones — go to regular college-prep high schools instead.
People say "Aichi (the Nagoya metro area) is strong for technical high schools," but even among teens there, the academic-pedigree mindset runs strong, just not quite as strong as in greater Tokyo.
If anything, technical high schools are more popular in less affluent regions with lower university enrollment, like Tohoku or Kyushu — sometimes even more competitive to get into than a mediocre regular high school.
*That said, Tohoku and Kyushu don't have many big factories locally, so a lot of kids end up taking jobs in greater Tokyo or Kansai instead. And yes, you can land a job outside your home region even coming from a technical high school.
Re: #8
Switching from a science track to humanities is rough, but there's also the option of getting into a kosen (technical college) and transferring to a university after year three.
Out in the countryside, kosen grads are in huge demand, and the kosen-to-former-Imperial-university route is also realistically on the table.
Well, Tokyo University and Kyoto University are obviously way too hard, but the regional "Imperial"-tier universities have local admission quotas, so you can get in if you put in the work.
Tsukuba is worth aiming for too.
Switching from a science track to humanities is rough, but there's also the option of getting into a kosen (technical college) and transferring to a university after year three.
Out in the countryside, kosen grads are in huge demand, and the kosen-to-former-Imperial-university route is also realistically on the table.
Well, Tokyo University and Kyoto University are obviously way too hard, but the regional "Imperial"-tier universities have local admission quotas, so you can get in if you put in the work.
Tsukuba is worth aiming for too.
Re: #30
What about Tohoku University?
What about Tohoku University?
Re: #30
Kosen → a University of Technology (like Nagaoka or Toyohashi) → grad school at an "Imperial"-tier national university.
Kosen → a University of Technology (like Nagaoka or Toyohashi) → grad school at an "Imperial"-tier national university.
I keep thinking Japanese manufacturing would be so much better if it would just drop the sports-team-style hierarchy culture, at the very least.
Re: #9
Yeah, seriously. I get that it's physical work so you need stamina, and I get why some places only hire ex-athletes, but that brutal-hierarchy culture really needs to go.
They should start by reforming school club activities first.
Western countries run on merit too, but at least the hierarchy itself is way more relaxed.
Yeah, seriously. I get that it's physical work so you need stamina, and I get why some places only hire ex-athletes, but that brutal-hierarchy culture really needs to go.
They should start by reforming school club activities first.
Western countries run on merit too, but at least the hierarchy itself is way more relaxed.
Re: #9
Exactly this!! This is precisely why STEM quotas for women never fill up.
Exactly this!! This is precisely why STEM quotas for women never fill up.
What happens to factory workers once they get older?
Re: #11
Once your body stops cooperating, it's over — that's when you're locked into losing.
By the way, second-tier companies aren't as obsessed with academic pedigree, so even high school grads might get a shot at desk work — but here's the trap: the more elite the company, the MORE academic pedigree matters, so desk work basically never comes your way unless you're a university grad or above.
Once your body stops cooperating, it's over — that's when you're locked into losing.
By the way, second-tier companies aren't as obsessed with academic pedigree, so even high school grads might get a shot at desk work — but here's the trap: the more elite the company, the MORE academic pedigree matters, so desk work basically never comes your way unless you're a university grad or above.
Re: #11
I'm 35 years into factory work.
There's… nothing left.
I'm 35 years into factory work.
There's… nothing left.
I know a kid who quit a Toyota factory job to join us instead (the Self-Defense Forces), and they said this is actually easier.
Re: #17
The SDF has its own reputation as one of the more brutal public-sector jobs, but even so, it beats staying stuck at the bottom rung of some tiny company forever.
The SDF has its own reputation as one of the more brutal public-sector jobs, but even so, it beats staying stuck at the bottom rung of some tiny company forever.
But there's barely any workplace better than that for a high school grad. Every shop-floor job is full of delinquent types (yankii), and the alternative is exploitative sales jobs.
Re: #18
The pay itself is definitely top-tier for a high school grad, but yeah, the physical labor is brutal… 😢
Some people also quit because they hate the sports-team-style hierarchy culture.
Some people flee Toyota for reasons like "I'd rather do desk work or sales, even at a second-tier company."
By the way, promotions actually come easier at second-tier companies (even without a degree).
Ironically, it's harder to climb the ladder at elite companies like Toyota.
The pay itself is definitely top-tier for a high school grad, but yeah, the physical labor is brutal… 😢
Some people also quit because they hate the sports-team-style hierarchy culture.
Some people flee Toyota for reasons like "I'd rather do desk work or sales, even at a second-tier company."
By the way, promotions actually come easier at second-tier companies (even without a degree).
Ironically, it's harder to climb the ladder at elite companies like Toyota.
Re: #18
Physical labor is out of the question, but sales probably beats physical labor (probably).
Physical labor is out of the question, but sales probably beats physical labor (probably).
Re: #18
Short-term, a Toyota job as a high school grad is a win, but apparently that's not always true long-term.
If anything, promotions come easier at second-tier companies, and sometimes it's better to take desk work or sales even for somewhat worse pay.
Short-term, a Toyota job as a high school grad is a win, but apparently that's not always true long-term.
If anything, promotions come easier at second-tier companies, and sometimes it's better to take desk work or sales even for somewhat worse pay.
There's actually a long-shot route: go to Toyota Technological Institute and get treated as a university grad. You keep your company seat while becoming a student — the company covers your admission fee and tuition, and you still get paid. Though side jobs/starting a business are banned, you can't go on to grad school, and the entrance exam is brutal given typical technical-high-school academic levels.
Re: #19
Toyota Technological Institute is actually harder to get into than the engineering department of some mediocre regional "ekiben" university (slang for the one national university in each prefecture, like the boxed lunches sold at every train station).
Toyota Technological Institute is actually harder to get into than the engineering department of some mediocre regional "ekiben" university (slang for the one national university in each prefecture, like the boxed lunches sold at every train station).
Assembly line work doesn't really teach you any skills. But the pay's good, so maybe that's fine?
Re: #25
Apparently in the long run, it's sometimes better to land desk work or sales even at a second-tier company.
Apparently in the long run, it's sometimes better to land desk work or sales even at a second-tier company.
Re: #25
Well, it's still better than blue-collar work at a second-tier (or third-tier) company, right? Even blue-collar pay there isn't bad.
But the sports-team-style hierarchy and brutal physical labor that come with blue-collar work aren't unique to Toyota either — so for some people, even desk work at a second-tier (or third-tier) company is the better deal.
Well, it's still better than blue-collar work at a second-tier (or third-tier) company, right? Even blue-collar pay there isn't bad.
But the sports-team-style hierarchy and brutal physical labor that come with blue-collar work aren't unique to Toyota either — so for some people, even desk work at a second-tier (or third-tier) company is the better deal.
Shift work like that just isn't something humans should have to do.
Re: #34
People always say "desk work will get replaced by AI," but honestly I'd rather see blue-collar work automated by AI.
That way there'd be fewer human "slaves," and we wouldn't need to bring in foreign workers (immigrants) either.
People always say "desk work will get replaced by AI," but honestly I'd rather see blue-collar work automated by AI.
That way there'd be fewer human "slaves," and we wouldn't need to bring in foreign workers (immigrants) either.
So where does OP even work?
Re: #47
Let's just say it's Honda-related. Also, I live in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, and I love the Tohoku Shinkansen and the LRT!
Let's just say it's Honda-related. Also, I live in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, and I love the Tohoku Shinkansen and the LRT!
Re: #51
By the way, I'm a graduate of Utsunomiya Business Electronics Vocational School (UBDC). I also hold the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer (FE) certification — a tough national exam!
By the way, I'm a graduate of Utsunomiya Business Electronics Vocational School (UBDC). I also hold the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer (FE) certification — a tough national exam!
You can just tell from technical high schools' entrance-exam difficulty — they're where lower-achieving students go. Kids who love science and actually have good grades go to SSH-certified schools (Super Science High Schools) or kosen instead.
Re: #69
To begin with, an average technical high school ranks below even a bottom-tier "self-proclaimed college-prep" regular high school.
Even the prestigious technical high schools lose out to self-proclaimed college-prep schools or kosen.
Also, since technical-high-school job placements are mostly physical labor (especially at elite companies, where it's ALL physical labor), you're way better off putting effort into sports clubs than chasing certifications.
To begin with, an average technical high school ranks below even a bottom-tier "self-proclaimed college-prep" regular high school.
Even the prestigious technical high schools lose out to self-proclaimed college-prep schools or kosen.
Also, since technical-high-school job placements are mostly physical labor (especially at elite companies, where it's ALL physical labor), you're way better off putting effort into sports clubs than chasing certifications.
Re: #69
STEM covers a wide range, but middle-school teachers out in the countryside tend to steer any kid who shows interest in machinery toward technical high schools. Not many middle-school teachers even know about the kosen route.
STEM covers a wide range, but middle-school teachers out in the countryside tend to steer any kid who shows interest in machinery toward technical high schools. Not many middle-school teachers even know about the kosen route.
At Toyota, even a high school grad can probably hit around ¥7.5 million a year by 30.
Re: #74
But it's brutal, grinding work.
But it's brutal, grinding work.
Re: #74
Sure, while you're young (up until around 30), you out-earn plenty of mediocre university grads, so it looks great at first glance — but once you get older, it gets seriously rough… 😢
The moment your body can't keep up, you've basically already lost.
In the long run, there's even an argument that desk work at a second-tier company beats this.
Sure, while you're young (up until around 30), you out-earn plenty of mediocre university grads, so it looks great at first glance — but once you get older, it gets seriously rough… 😢
The moment your body can't keep up, you've basically already lost.
In the long run, there's even an argument that desk work at a second-tier company beats this.
Background and key points of this discussion
Manufacturing jobs straight out of technical high school remain deeply popular, especially in the Tokai region around Aichi Prefecture, and it’s not unusual for starting pay and benefits to outstrip those of university graduates. That said, at many companies job placement and promotion are clearly divided along academic-pedigree lines, and the path from shop-floor work to desk work is said to be limited. The thread’s disagreement centered on how to weigh good pay against the physical and interpersonal toll it demands — some argued “it’s a win short-term, but desk work at a second-tier company is better long-term,” while others countered “even so, it’s an exceptional deal for someone with only a high school diploma.” Worth noting: these posts aren’t a systematic investigation into any specific company’s internals — they’re personal anecdotes and hearsay from an anonymous message board, and shouldn’t be read as reflecting official statistics on turnover rates or compensation.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Nanndemo Jikkyo G board) thread “[Sad News] Toyota Motor’s high-school-hire (technical high school) track looked like a winning ticket — turned out to be a regular hellscape…”
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