Who wants to be an Office Lady?

[dangermousie]

I have decided that being an Office Lady is clearly about the most awesome thing imaginable, according to Japanese dramas. While characters talk about hardships of not fitting in the norm, not being promoted and loved, my keen brain enabled me to make the following observations which all contradict the apparent complaints.

So, why is being an OL about the greatest thing in history?

1. You get to wear incredibly pretty clothes and even prettier shoes. In fact, while you/your parents/your friends/the neighborhood’s grocery store’s clerk’s second cousin’s aunt might all worry about your OL unattractiveness, my keen and beady eyes have noted the perfect skin, the gorgeous hair, and the fashionably-thin figure. You are cute enough to be an actress, in fact.

2. Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.

3. You work in adorably designed office space and with sweet, quirky, and cool coworkers. If there are any annoying cows and jerks among them, never fear, triumph shall be yours anyway.

4. Your boss is Fujiki Naohito. Fujiki Naohito moves in with you and then falls in love with you. Did I mention that he is Fujiki Naohito?

5. Whenever you have to pull that workaholic all-nighter, you look bright and fresh in the morning anyway.

6. Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.

7. You can keep Matsujun as your pet.

8. Did I mention that you can spend your days following KAT-TUN boys? Without worries about a restraining order?

9. The temp help is not only bright and useful, but is also damn hot.

10. Younger men find you irresistable.

11. You seem to ferret out the coolest restaurants around, solely for the puposes of hanging out/moping/girl-talking, with all the eating and drinking not making you gain an ounce.

12. The brilliant heir of a tea company shall be smitten with you forever.

13. You never run out of coffee. Or wardrobe space.

14. Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.

15. Kame labors all night in a vineyard to get you a bottle of wine.

16. You have your own theme music.

17. It has not escaped my notice that while you worry about eternal spinsterhood and unattractiveness to men, you inevitably end up with a bit of arm candy so sweet as to give other envious gals diabetes..

17. Since I don’t think I mentioned this before: Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.

Clearly, OL is where it’s at.

Comments

[forgottenpolish.livejournal.com]

So what we are saying is that being an OL in Japan is clearly best job ever?

You could sign me up for that if reasons 8, 9, and 15 can happen for me.

You can also add attractive younger dance instructor (coughYamapicoucgh) follows you around offers free dance lessons.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You can also add attractive younger dance instructor (coughYamapicoucgh) follows you around offers free dance lessons.

Yes please.

[ginzarhapsody.livejournal.com]

I feel like I need to make this clear because you lump them both together, but being an OL and being a working woman are two very different things.

An OL in Japan does menial tasks - like data entry and processing of paperwork(see Watanabe in Sapuri) or serving tea, cleaning meeting rooms, and making copies (see Anego). They normally do not advance in their positions and stay in the same kind of role. Comparatively, you can compare them to administrative assistants in America. However, in America you can aim to make a career as an administrative assistant, whereas in Japan, one doesn't necessarily aim to make a career of being an OL (though I'm sure things are changing).

A working woman or career woman would be more along the lines of Sapuri's Minami or Kimi wa Petto's Sumire. They are more career and knowledge driven and perform jobs that men would as well; you'd never see a man performing OL!tasks. Actually, even Hotaru of Hotaru no Hikari falls into this category.

Anyways, I like this post a lot! I do agree they make being a working woman in Japan shiny, but I think that has a lot to do with the drama!viewing audience - women. :) Not that I mind, because I love me a good office drama. :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation because I didn't realize that. I was using 'OL' in the sense of 'any woman employed in professional capacity by an office.' Interesting distinction. Does sound like a dead end career.

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

Clearly, I am in the wrong profession.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heh. Never too late! :)

[fenrir-khan.livejournal.com]

2. Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.
6. Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.
14. Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.
17. Since I don’t think I mentioned this before: Kimura Takuya falls in love with you.

Um, I wonder: is that an argument that would compel you to become an OL or rather one that would drive you to quit and take up stripping for a living if you're already one... ;)

That excepted, I think you're right, if only for the intrinsinc awesomeness of any job that only requires you to wear pretty clothes and make moony-faces at your love-interest all the while pouring tea to a bunch of emaciated JE boys. I swear, computer in Jdrama are mere props you can look dejectedly into while reminiscing about the last time something confusing happened to you. Where are the damn Excel spreadsheets?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Poor poor KimuTaku :) I would say 'more for me' but since:
a. am married
b. I'd still have to fight a million fangirls,

I suppose that does not apply :)

Where are the damn Excel spreadsheets?

People do work in Japanese offices?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

"15. Kame labors all night in a vineyard to get you a bottle of wine. "

And then gives you The Spinny Vineyard Kiss of Awesomeness. The scene isn't near and tear to me or anything...

You forgot the attractive, successful, age-appropriate guy longing for you who you will inevitably pass over for the pretty JE boy of choice.

You make me long for a Sapuri icon, or wish I had one of my Fujiki Naohito ones uploaded.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

And then gives you The Spinny Vineyard Kiss of Awesomeness.

Mmmm, love that scene.

LOVE.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

LOL. Okay let me guess. The Fujiki Naohito + Matsujun part is definitely Kimi wa Petto. The one with Kimura falling in love with you... hmm.. Love Generation? And of course Kame laboring in vineyard is Sapuri :D Did I get everything..? :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Close. Kimura: LG and Pride. FN wasn't in kwp, but was the male lead in hnh

[kitkat-cat.livejournal.com]

I know there the OLs don't have the highest position in corporate hierarchies, but I want to be a pretend OL if only I can get Kimura Takuya to fall in love with me! Fujiki Naohito is also perfectly acceptable! I wonder if it's cos both of them are attractive, or is it cos they are both actually older than me and so I feel so much less guilty about fancying their pants off!

btw, what is the heir to the tea house from? The only one I know is Soujirou but I can't think which OL he would be in love with...

Actually, i think that any position where there is clearly a hot older man in a senior position at work is excellent hunting grounds! :) (ala All about Eve and the millions of other kdramas out there!)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, JE boys are too young for me, but not KimuTaku or FN :)

Tea heir is from Brand :)

[prettierdanpink.livejournal.com]

I love this post :D Actually, when I was watching Sapuri and HnH, I was kind of wishing that I will be a career woman in Japan (in the near future :D) and attract all the hot boys in the office XD LOL~

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeee.