By Wonsuh Song
Not long ago, I came across a recruitment poster in front of a fast-food restaurant in Tokyo. Unlike traditional job ads that demand “three or more shifts per week” or “a minimum of four hours per day,” this one read, “Even two hours per shift, twice a week, is fine.” With hourly pay exceeding 1,300 yen for night shifts, Japan’s part-time wages have quietly surpassed the 1,000-yen mark.
Although Japan’s wage growth may seem moderate compared to South Korea, the labor shortage in part-time sectors here is becoming increasingly apparent. Convenience stores, restaurants, and family diners all display urgent hiring signs. Go out to eat in the evening, and it’s not uncommon to find yourself waiting a long time for a server—or for your food.
This shift is due to several structural factors. One is that many former part-timers are now moving into more stable positions in companies, whether as regular or contract employees. With fewer people available, employers are being forced to compete for every worker. Aging demographics are also tightening the labor supply.
What’s striking is how Japanese recruitment culture is evolving toward greater flexibility. The message “just two hours is fine” opens doors to those who can’t commit to long shifts: students, parents, retirees. For them, ultra-short work periods make part-time work feasible again.
This is not unique to Japan. South Korea faces similar labor shortages, especially in physically demanding or low-status jobs. It’s clear that we can no longer rely solely on human labor. In Japan, automation is rapidly filling the gap—self-checkouts, cooking robots, and delivery bots are already operational in many areas.
In a world short on human hands, flexibility and technology will define the future of work. Moving beyond rigid schedules and integrating human-robot collaboration is not just ideal—it’s essential. The simple phrase “two hours per shift” captures a quiet revolution in how we think about labor in aging societies.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Full-time Lecturer, Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
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