I have been screwed so hard by my job, I'm numb. Just got the word that they're giving me a pay cut based on the results of a performance review that came out only a month ago. No opportunity to defend myself, no warning or communication from the Japanese bosses, no second chances. Just a big pay cut and an ultimatum: take it or leave the company.
And I don't work for an English school either. This is a global, highly regarded company that supposedly has a reputation for treating its employees well. It's just that the Tokyo office is in its own world and the partners are not beholden to the rules of fairness and good management that you would see in the West. I would love to smear the company name, but I don't want to risk being identified--yet.
I suspect that many people who work for a large multinational in Tokyo find that their office is the black sheep in the global structure. The Japanese always have to be different, and things always have to be more difficult in Japan than anywhere else. Well, that applies to labor practices as well.
Contracts are not necessarily honored here and gaijin are not always protected, especially if Japanese managers have the power over personnel decisions in your company. As an expatriate, you can quickly find yourself fucked and far from home.
Lessons to remember:
1) Don't start your career in Japan. You may not get the training you need.
2) Even if you are an experienced professional and moving to Japan to "further your career", you can find that you remain stagnant while your colleagues in your home country are moving forward.
3) If you are offered a position in Japan, clarify exactly what role you will play in the company/firm and how they expect you to contribute.
4) Negotiate aggressively to get the most favorable contract you can. Remember, you are at a disadvantage once you go overseas. While you're at it, make sure the terms of your contract are clear and unambiguous.
5) ABSOLUTELY make sure that they don't tie you down to a long contract period. It should be short--two or three years at the most, before getting the option to return to your home country. This is important in case you suddenly realize that your situation sucks.