Why even CEOs take the train in Japan: creator explains the country’s office etiquette

In Japan, status symbols matter little during the daily commute, according to digital creator Ankit Purohit, who says he has been working in the country for the past 10 years. In a social media video on Japanese office culture, he explains that even company CEOs often travel to work by train, with little comparison over whether someone arrives by car, bike or public transport, keeping the focus on work rather than displays of hierarchy or personal wealth.

Purohit also highlights punctuality as a major workplace priority, noting that employees are expected to arrive before their official reporting time rather than exactly at it, which he says reflects the high value Japanese workplaces place on discipline and professionalism.

He points to a custom around elevators, where the person standing near the control panel holds the door open by pressing the appropriate button until everyone else has exited, stepping out only after everyone else has left.

According to Purohit, Japanese companies also generally compensate employees even for short overtime periods, paying for as little as 15 extra minutes of work, and managers generally do not call employees with additional work once they have logged out for the day.