Japanese are hard workers, but what exactly are they up to? These candid and often revealing interviews with the Japanese people talking about their working lives were conducted in a number of cities throughout Japan. They provide the reader with surprising and fascinating insights into Japanese culture and ways of thinking. While inspired by the classic book Working by Studs Terkel, Japanese at Work preserves the question and answer format, giving readers a fuller sense of the ebb and flow of the conversation. The interviews break the unfortunate stereotype of robotic Japanese workers. Interviewees share their dreams and struggles as they engage in challenging, creative, or ordinary ways to make a living. The chapters include interviews with an internationally renowned concert violinist, a Zen temple abbot, a nightclub owner, an American-born activist, a beekeeper, and many others. A special section features homeless men and social workers dedicated to relieving poverty.