In many Japanese workplaces, the morning meeting (朝礼, chōrei) is a well-established tradition.
Originally intended to share important information and align team members, it has instead become a waste of time, a disruption to actual work, and an opportunity for managers to indulge in long-winded speeches.
In this article, we will explore “Why do Japanese morning meetings persist despite being inefficient?”
We will also analyze their negative impact and discuss possible solutions to shorten or eliminate them.
目次
1. Why Are Japanese Morning Meetings So Long?
① Managers Love Giving Pointless Speeches
The biggest reason why morning meetings drag on is because managers keep talking endlessly.
✔ “Back in my day…” → A nostalgic trip down memory lane that helps no one
✔ “Let’s talk about the news…” → A completely unrelated discussion that could be skipped
✔ “Let’s stay focused and work hard!” → A vague motivational speech with zero practical value
While employees want to get started on their tasks, managers hold them hostage with unnecessary talks, causing work to be delayed right from the start of the day.
② “We’ve Always Done It This Way”
Whenever someone suggests reducing or eliminating morning meetings, the same responses always appear:
💬 “We’ve always done it, so we can’t just stop now.”
💬 “Other companies do it, so we should too.”
Instead of asking, “Is this still necessary?”, many Japanese companies prioritize maintaining tradition over improving efficiency.
③ The Importance of “Looking Busy”
In many Japanese workplaces, appearing busy is valued more than actual productivity.
✔ Working overtime? → It looks like you’re working hard.
✔ Long morning meetings? → It makes the company seem structured and professional.
This obsession with “looking busy” keeps pointless morning meetings alive, despite their clear inefficiency.
2. The Downsides of Long Morning Meetings
Unnecessarily long morning meetings cause serious problems for companies and employees alike.
① Wasted Work Hours and Decreased Productivity
When a meeting lasts 30 minutes to an hour every morning, it significantly cuts into the time available for real work.
As a result, tasks get delayed, stress increases, and overtime becomes more common.
② Empty “Motivational Talks” Demoralize Employees
Morning meetings are often justified as a way to “boost morale,” but in reality, they often achieve the opposite effect.
Employees are forced to sit through pointless lectures that drain their motivation before they even start working.
③ Inefficient, Tradition-Driven Work Culture
When morning meetings take precedence over actual work, it sends a clear message:
“Following outdated customs is more important than making real improvements.”
This kind of mindset prevents innovation and workplace efficiency.
3. How to Reduce Pointless Morning Meetings
While completely eliminating morning meetings might be difficult, there are ways to make them more efficient.
① Use Email Instead of Meetings
Many morning meetings consist of information that could be easily shared via email.
If a message can be read in 30 seconds, why force everyone to listen to it in a 30-minute speech?
② Set Time Limits for Manager Speeches
If the problem is long-winded managers, implementing a strict time limit (e.g., 3-5 minutes) can keep things under control.
Another option is to reduce speech frequency, limiting managers to one motivational talk per week instead of every day.
③ Only Discuss Essential Information
Morning meetings should focus only on critical work-related updates.
For example, if there are no urgent matters, the meeting should be skipped entirely.
4. Conclusion: Eliminating Pointless Morning Meetings is the First Step Toward a Better Workplace
Despite their clear inefficiency, morning meetings remain common in Japan due to tradition, managerial egos, and the culture of “looking busy.”
✔ Long morning meetings waste valuable work time
✔ Following outdated customs does not make a company more efficient
✔ Workplaces should rethink their communication methods to improve productivity
If Japanese companies truly want to create better working environments, they must question the necessity of their morning meetings.
By eliminating pointless rituals and focusing on real work, employees can achieve more while spending less time in unnecessary meetings.
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