There is a system of lifetime employment in Japan. This idea is based on the economy will develop forver which a parson who works longer get better treatment.

However, when the economy got dull, a new position sill not creates so the system will collapse. Because the higher position is occupied and there is no chance to create a new one. As the result, employees will work without promotion neither rises in salary and work as a lower employee forever.

Of course there are movements to replace this system by government and some companies, but it still a large problem in any Japanese organization. As the decision makers are people who lived in system of lifetime employment. There are benefits in this system, too. If something happen, the company will try to save you in general.