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[Not_A-Cop_Maybe]

Do take note, all Japanese companies tend to have good retention rates. Because quitting your job and finding another one isn't seen as a good thing in Japan. Many companies simply won't hire you because you quit to look for something different or something better.

Yeah, if you thought in North America going into job interviews and being asked about "gaps" in your resume or career was pointless and unwarranted, its worse in countries in the Asian hemisphere.

 

[Danjin44]

I'd be more interesting to see how that compares to other big Japanese publishers.
Aren't Japanese companies known for not really firing people unless absolutely necessary? You even read stories about some people being put in boring empty rooms with nothing for them to do in the hopes they eventually just quit.

 

[Moriarty1889]

It appears Nintendo actually values their employees…..what a novel concept and breathe of fresh air compared to MS.

 

[Zacfoldor]

Never change Ninty!

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

Japan values culture and good products.

America values quick profits. Which is 1000X worse.

More like:

Traditional Japanese companies value their employees, understand they are the engine of the company's success and treats them with respect and clear concern for their wellbeing and livelihoods.

Meanwhile, modern Western companies see their employees (even skilled employees like engineers) as a low value commodity resource that they can hire and fire at will, under the delusion that doing so will not have any impact on their bottom line or long-term prospects. MS is an archetypical example of this.

 

[Vaquilla]

Do take note, all Japanese companies tend to have good retention rates. Because quitting your job and finding another one isn't seen as a good thing in Japan. Many companies simply won't hire you because you quit to look for something different or something better.

Nintendo of America's retention rate was also very high at 95%, so its not just a Japan thing.

 

[MayauMiao]

I hope the 2% are all of the DEI staffers.

 

[Knightime_X]

To be fair, don't devs in japan do actually everything?
Code games, janitor work, a little this and that?

Meanwhile, american jobs will open temp positions for minor tasks and layoffs will happen guaranteed because the position is not permanent.

 

[Robb]

Though in principle this is a very good thing, you also need a bit of change and staff rotation to let in new ideas. It's not easy to strike that balance. This extreme is preferably to the madness of Western studios, no doubt.

They've been able to keep it up despite growing a lot over the years (8,205 as of 2025).

So there's definitely a lot of new talent coming in and, I assume, getting trained by the old guard.

I'd be more interesting to see how that compares to other big Japanese publishers.
Aren't Japanese companies known for not really firing people unless absolutely necessary? You even read stories about some people being put in boring empty rooms with nothing for them to do in the hopes they eventually just quit.

The retention rate in Japan is very high on average, around 70%.

But yeah, other game publisher specific stats would be fun to see.

 

[semiconscious]

I'd be more interesting to see how that compares to other big Japanese publishers.
Aren't Japanese companies known for not really firing people unless absolutely necessary? You even read stories about some people being put in boring empty rooms with nothing for them to do in the hopes they eventually just quit.

 

[Xion_Stellar]

Yes OP if I had a business in Japan I too would have a high retention retention rate not because I'm some sort of saint or the messiah of the video game industry that some people tend to view Nintendo as but because Japanese labor laws prevent me from laying off people at the drop of a hat.

In fact if you were to view the retention rate of any Japanese business that isn't based on a dying industry then you might see a similar result...... almost as if everyone in the country is forced to comply with Article 16 of the The Labor Contract Act witch prevent the Abuse of Right to Dismissal in the country.

 

[Ar¢tos]

Yes OP if I had a business in Japan I too would a high retention retention rate not because I'm some sort of saint or the messiah of the video game industry that some people tend to view Nintendo as but because Japanese labor laws prevent me from laying off people at the drop of a hat.

In fact if you were to view the retention rate of any Japanese business that isn't based on a dying industry then you might see a similar result...... almost as if everyone in the country is forced to comply with Article 16 of the The Labor Contract Act witch prevent the Abuse of Right to Dismissal in the country.

Shhhhhh they prefer to believe that Nintendo is a magic land made of candy and dreams and cheap LCD screens.

Sony Japan Studio staff where going to work to sit down and scratch each others balls for nearly a decade before Sony could get rid them for a reason...

 

[Vaquilla]

Yes OP if I had a business in Japan I too would have a high retention retention rate not because I'm some sort of saint or the messiah of the video game industry that some people tend to view Nintendo as but because Japanese labor laws prevent me from laying off people at the drop of a hat.

In fact if you were to view the retention rate of any Japanese business that isn't based on a dying industry then you might see a similar result...... almost as if everyone in the country is forced to comply with Article 16 of the The Labor Contract Act witch prevent the Abuse of Right to Dismissal in the country.

The average retention rate for Japanese companies is 70%; well below Nintendo's.

任天堂、驚異の新入社員定着率「ほぼ100％」…なぜ社員が辞めないのか

世界累計販売台数が1億台を超えた「Nintendo Switch」と共に、さまざまな大ヒットソフトを送り出し続け、ゲーム業界をリードし続ける任天堂。日本でも屈指の人気を誇る大企業だが、その新入社員定着率が“ほぼ100％”であることが注目を集めている。ゲーム業界の待遇が良く人気が高いのは確かだが、任天堂の定着率は驚異的だ。なぜ任天堂は社員が辞めないのだろうか。

biz-journal.jp

Nintendo of America's retention rate is also 95%.

 

[Xion_Stellar]

The average retention rate for Japanese companies is 70%; well below Nintendo's.

And that's why I specifically specified ignoring business based on dying industry because Japan has alot of those and thus comply with the guidelines of the law that allows them to layoff people more easily.

The Video Game industry isn't in this category so they can't fire people that easily.

 

[Vaquilla]

And that's why I specifically specified ignoring business not based on dying industry because Japan has alot of those and thus comply with the guidelines of the law that allows them to layoff people more easily.

Can you provide any actual data to support the notion that a large portion of Japanese companies are in dying industries as you say, or are you writing yourself a loophole specifically so you can engage in childish console warring?

 

[Xion_Stellar]

Can you provide any actual data to support the notion that a large portion of Japanese companies are in dying industries as you say, or are you writing yourself a loophole specifically so you can engage in childish console warring?

What I'm your local data analyst for Japan Times? Go ask Grok or something like that I don't have the time or willingness to look this up for you.

 

[Vaquilla]

What I'm your local data analyst for Japan Times? Go ask Grok or something like that I don't have the time or willingness to look this up for you.

So you have no data to support your claims, you're just trolling, good to know.

 

[Xion_Stellar]

So you have no data, you're just trolling, good to know.

Neither do you.

But the point here is that Nintendo isn't a special snowflake in the Japanese Game Industry and it all comes down to everyone being forced to comply with Japanese Labor Laws

If you want a meaningful data filled discussion as to the schematics of this then your in the wrong place for that.

 

[Vaquilla]

Neither do you.

But the point here is that Nintendo isn't a special snowflake in the Japanese Game Industry and it all comes down to everyone being forced to comply with Japanese Labor Laws

If you want a meaningful data filled discussion as to the schematics of this then your in the wrong place for that.

Data's right here:

任天堂、驚異の新入社員定着率「ほぼ100％」…なぜ社員が辞めないのか

世界累計販売台数が1億台を超えた「Nintendo Switch」と共に、さまざまな大ヒットソフトを送り出し続け、ゲーム業界をリードし続ける任天堂。日本でも屈指の人気を誇る大企業だが、その新入社員定着率が“ほぼ100％”であることが注目を集めている。ゲーム業界の待遇が良く人気が高いのは確かだが、任天堂の定着率は驚異的だ。なぜ任天堂は社員が辞めないのだろうか。

biz-journal.jp

Japanese average is 70%, Nintendo is 98%.
Nintendo of America, which is not covered by Japan's labour laws, is 95%.

 

[Xion_Stellar]

任天堂、驚異の新入社員定着率「ほぼ100％」…なぜ社員が辞めないのか

世界累計販売台数が1億台を超えた「Nintendo Switch」と共に、さまざまな大ヒットソフトを送り出し続け、ゲーム業界をリードし続ける任天堂。日本でも屈指の人気を誇る大企業だが、その新入社員定着率が“ほぼ100％”であることが注目を集めている。ゲーム業界の待遇が良く人気が高いのは確かだが、任天堂の定着率は驚異的だ。なぜ任天堂は社員が辞めないのだろうか。

biz-journal.jp

I'll give this a read once I get off work