Noodle restaurant chain Marugame Seimen has announced that it is boosting the maximum annual salaries of its store managers to 20 million yen. This move, unprecedented in the industry, underscores the company's commitment to promoting better working conditions in the food service sector. The raise, effective immediately, aims to motivate and retain store managers as competition grows amidst current employment challenges in Japan.

In Japan, salaries in the service industry often lag behind other sectors. Marugame's move is viewed by many as a positive step toward improving compensation and quality of life for Japanese workers in this industry. The increase could spark a trend resembling wage wars among other employers, fueling national conversations on fair wages and labor rights.

While wage hikes are common in the US and EU, they often happen in response to legislation or union negotiation. However, Marugame’s move seems influenced mainly by market conditions and company policy, offering an interesting contrast.