First Day Farewell: An Exploration into Japan's Quitting Agency Trend

Economy | April 10, 2026
Japan Labor Market Job Resignation Corporate Culture Quitting Agency Employee Rights

The article discusses a growing trend in Japan where new employees opt to use a "quitting agency" on their very first day of work. These agencies handle the process of resignation on behalf of the employees to avoid any confrontational or uncomfortable situations. The phenomenon reveals underlying issues in Japanese corporate culture with rigid traditions, high-pressure work environments and the societal awkwardness of quitting.

Resigning from a job in Japan is often drawn-out, emotionally taxing, and socially awkward due to deep-rooted societal norms that value loyalty and perseverance. Most employees still value the concept of "lifetime employment", making this phenomenon surprising to many within the culture.

In the EU and US, quitting a job on the first day is typically seen as a faux pas or a decision driven by an unexpected, negative event. However, companies are generally more accepting of job changes, and the process is less rigid and emotionally charged as in Japan.

Information for Your Country

To better understand this occurrence in Japan, foreign readers might find it beneficial to look at resources like Tofugu’s explanation of the concept of "giri" (obligation) and its impact on Japanese work culture, or the BBC's article on Japan’s quitting agencies and their growing popularity.