This causes a situation in which everybody works overtime because everybody does it. That means, in Japan, we attach more importance to the company's unity rather than to personal independence. Some people work overtime even if they don't get paid extra for these hours. They think the company is their family and their tribe to which they belong. Especially older generations have worked for their companies a long time and feel a strong affiliation to them.
Overtime is also one reason to be selected for promotion, and people do everything to get promoted.
As we mentioned, Germans are hard workers too, but we value working time the same as leisure time and we separate both. Family life is as relevant as the welfare of the company. We do overtime , but not so much that we get exhausted or ill. If overtime becomes a permanent feature of the firm, we attempt to solve the problem when we talk with the supervisor or we change jobs if necessary. Personal interests have a greater value than companies' interests.