Japanese companies have announced record-high winter bonuses this year with an average of 957,000 yen per person. This bump in bonus is a part of the year-end payments made to employees, marking the highest figure ever recorded in the history of Japan. Many attribute this spike to sudden economic recovery and several company's exceptional performance in the second half of the year.

In Japan, winter bonuses traditionally hold great importance as they play a significant role in workers' annual income and consumer spending. Winter and summer bonuses, both are generally given as a part of an employee's compensation and are not guaranteed by law but have become virtually standard. The size of the bonus is taken as a barometer of economic health.

Unlike in Japan, the U.S and EU markets do not have a culture of specific winter bonuses. Year-end bonuses are more common, but they depend on individual company policy and can fluctuate significantly. The size and guarantee of the bonus are not as established as they are in Japan.