"If I told a new hire to save us a spot, I'd be accused of power harassment."
In Japanese corporations, the once-routine practice of saving prime spots for hanami (花見, cherry blossom viewing) parties is rapidly disappearing. What was formerly the duty of new employees is now being outsourced to paid services. The shift comes as awareness of "power hara" (パワハラ, power harassment) — workplace bullying through abuse of authority — spreads across corporate Japan.
A Tokyo office worker in his 40s, identified as Mr. A, said, "Every cherry blossom season, I remember my senior colleagues heading out at dawn to secure spots for company executives. Honestly, I always thought the culture of being praised for doing that well was outdated." The practice, perceived less as simple event preparation and more as a symbol of rigid workplace hierarchy, has drawn growing resistance among younger generations.
Statistics back the shift. According to Japanese restaurant platform Gurunavi, only 31.1% of respondents said they had experience saving cherry blossom viewing spots, the company said Wednesday. The rate was highest among men in their 50s and 60s, at nearly half, underscoring that the custom belongs to an earlier era.
In a recent survey, 77.9% of respondents said they do not save spots. More than half said their cherry blossom viewing lasts less than one hour, signaling the rapid decline of the prolonged spot-competition culture.
Mr. B, an office worker in his 30s living in Ehime Prefecture, said, "The whole culture of company-organized cherry blossom viewing has largely disappeared these days." He added, "After COVID, gatherings decreased, and in Japan too, more young people prioritize personal time. Many feel burdened by the expectation to drink alcohol together during hanami."
"People also feel pressure about attending events held on holidays outside work hours, while having to read their boss's mood," he added.
"Why Was It Always the New Hire?" — A Custom Killed by Harassment Concerns
At the center of this change is power harassment. The term combines "power" and "harassment" and refers to using one's workplace position to impose burdens on others. After emerging as a social issue in the 2000s, the Japanese government tightened related guidelines in 2019, prompting companies to respond more cautiously.
The practice of assigning only new employees to save hanami spots drew particular criticism, as it involved long hours of waiting and amounted to menial labor. Companies have responded by reducing such tasks or outsourcing them entirely.
At Ueno Park, one of Tokyo's most famous cherry blossom sites, some of the people spreading mats at dawn are employees of proxy service companies. These firms offer full-service packages including spot reservation, photo verification, trash cleanup, and post-event tidying. The average cost is about 30,000 yen (approximately 290,000 won, or about $200).
The custom took shape within Japan's unique social structure. Unlike Korea, Japan's academic year, fiscal year, and hiring season all begin in April. This system was established in 1886 (Meiji 19) when the fiscal year was shifted to an April start.
