100 Years of Work in Japan

Nearly a century has passed since the concept of the "salaryman" first emerged in Japan during the 1920s, fundamentally shaping the nation's professional landscape. As modern society approaches a critical turning point in its relationship with labor, SmartHR produced this brand film to thoughtfully examine how working styles have evolved over the past hundred years. The original animated short serves as both a historical reflection and a forward-looking exploration of employment culture in Japan. By tracing the transformation of office work from its early twentieth-century origins to the present day, the project highlights the profound shifts in how people engage with their professions. Rather than simply chronicling the past, the film uses this century-long perspective to encourage viewers to reconsider their own professional aspirations. Ultimately, it invites audiences to reflect on history as a means of envisioning and defining how they wish to work in the future.