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Japan Invents a 26-Hour Work Day

by Matthew Firestone (RSS feed) on Sep 19th 2007 at 1:00PM

The Japanese are an incredibly efficient people. They work harder, stronger and faster than their American and European counterparts, and seem almost allergic to the idea of taking sick days and holidays.

With that said, perhaps this is why I wasn't surprised to discover this sign outside a chic bar in Shibuya, advertising a 26:00 closing.

Now, although I've never been in the military, I'm fairly certain that after 24:00, the clock is supposed to roll back to 0:00 with the start of a new day.

I guess this brings about a simple question: if you had 26 hours in a day, what would you do with your extra time? Perhaps this is the real reason why the Japanese are so efficient.

Gallery: More funny "Engrish"

Filed under: Photos, Asia, Japan

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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)

benny dover Sep 25th 2007 4:54AM

I would sprinkle power on my balls

tony Sep 25th 2007 5:26AM

Hey Mike I'm with you, call me

tony Sep 25th 2007 5:24AM

Big smile

justme Sep 25th 2007 5:31AM

Who really cares ????? Because I know people who works just as hard and long each day , average 12 - 14 hrs a day . Any many of them are doing something else once they're at home .

Good Example ...I know someone who works 12 hrs aday , 7 days aweek , and after work , this person goes to another job for 3 hrs , everyday ( 7 days aweek ) . So that's 15 hours aday , x 7 = 105 hours a week ... Don't you think if you work that many hours a week , you should be resting and being with your family .......

Japanese aren't spending Quality time with there families either , are they ????? Are there japanese with health problems , etcccc ....

As long as you work each day , what does it really matter how long you work as long as you're doing something .........

"LET'S NOT FORGET QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILIES , THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING .....THEN YOU WONDER WHY FAMILIES ARE NEVER TOGETHER , THEY'RE ALWAYS WORKING OR DOING THERE OWN THING .....

bob Sep 25th 2007 5:53AM

doesnt a 26 hour day make the next day a 22 hour day?

chris jmes Sep 25th 2007 5:56AM

japanese are the worst workers. they don't do shit during a 12 hour work day. sorry efficient just isn't the right word, but one hand not knowing what the other is doing constantly is more like it

m Sep 25th 2007 6:08AM

Your all missing the idea of 26 hours, the writer said it was at a Chic bar so 26 hours makes sense, you can spend more time drinking with the girls not at home with the wife.

JERRJ HAIRSTON Sep 25th 2007 6:39AM

I DON'T THINK SO HIGHLY OF JAPAN. THEY ARE GOOD AT MAKING YOU THINK WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK. AND THATS ALL. WORK ON IT AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.

Tim Sep 25th 2007 7:20AM

Oh brother. Some people need to think before they blog.

As someone who has lived in Tokyo for nearly 6 years, allow me to enlighten:

If they write 02:00, some people might think that's 2pm, even if the rest of the message is written "military-style."

26:00 is meant to show that it's 2 hours after 24:00, i.e. 2 AM. The alternative is to write the Chinese characters for "late night," which the younger generation would never be able to read.

Roy Sanchez Sep 25th 2007 5:37PM

What's this MILITARY thing? I served in the Army in Korea and NEVER once heard or used (for example), "21:00 hours"; it was JUST plain 9 o'clock this evening!

john Sep 25th 2007 7:19AM

they are not more efficent just a cheaper work force. If we evened the pay and the exchange rate around the world the U.S.A workers would come out on top. we do however have some non-workers in our country. That wouldnt be tolerated in Japan we are to easy on our bums and drug addicts