Its sense of order is reflected in the phenomenon of the lifetime employer. Many Japanese men define themselves by the company they work for rather than the job they do. An employer's influence stretches to commanding employees' social time, and even to encouraging and approving marriages. Women mostly play a traditional role, running the home and supervising the all-important education of their children. They tend to work until the age of 26, when many will marry and continue to work part-time.
Some Japanese women are, however, beginning to follow independent, long-term careers.
More are entering the medical and legal professions. There is little tradition of teenage rebellion in Japan. While the young still tend to follow their parents' lifestyles, some are questioning established attitudes. They are less likely to want to work for the same company for life, and less willing to give up evenings and weekends to entertaining company clients. Social form remains extremely important in Japanese society.