Taishoku daikō - job leaving agencies

In Japan, a country known for its loyalty to companies and long-term employment, individuals who frequently change jobs are often seen as quitters. However, a new phenomenon called taishoku daikō (退職代行), which translates to "job-leaving agents," has emerged to assist those who want to leave their current jobs. Over the past few years, numerous services offering such assistance have emerged to cater to this growing demand.

People often stick with jobs even when they're unhappy, feeling as if they are "kamikaze" sacrificing their lives for the greater good, comparing his clients to pilots sent on suicide missions in the closing days of World War II. "It's the way things are done, the same way younger people are taught to honour older people," he said. "Quitting would be a betrayal" Founded in 2020, Guardian, a taishoku daiko service, has helped various people, mostly in their 20s and 30s, escape less painfully from jobs they want to quit. That includes people who worked in a Shinto shrine, a dentist's office and a law firm to convenience store and restaurant staff. Nearly half of Guardian's clients are women. Some work for a day or two and then discover promises of pay or work hours were false. Guardian charges 29,800 JPY (USD 208) for its service, which includes a three-month membership in a union that will represent an employee in what can quickly turn into a delicate and awkward negotiation process in Japan. Generally, Guardian's clients have worked for small and medium-sized businesses that employ most Japanese. Sometimes people working for major companies seek help. In many cases, bosses have a considerable say over how things are run and sometimes refuse to let a worker leaves, especially since many places are shorthanded, given Japan's chronic labour shortage.

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Taishoku daikō:

Three weeks into the new fiscal year, the "resignation agency" has already been inundated with requests from new hires. In many cases, employees say they decided to quit because the situation differed from what they had heard before they joined the company.

On 1 April, when many companies around the country were holding entrance ceremonies, Taishoku Daiko Momuri, a resignation agency run by Tokyo-based Albatross Co., received a phone call from a woman in her 20s who had just started working at a company in the beauty industry. [...] Before joining the company, the woman was told she could choose her hair colour, but just before the entrance ceremony, she was instructed to dye her hair black. When she refused, she was not allowed to attend the ceremony. She immediately called the agency to proceed with her resignation and is reportedly looking for a new job.

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Between 1 and 12 April this fiscal year, the resignation agency reported receiving 545 requests. Approximately 80 of these were from new graduates. In comparison, during the same period in 2023, there were 52 requests from new graduates in April and May.

The most prominent reason given by new graduates for quitting their company is, "The working environment is different from what I had heard before joining." Tanimoto points out, "Young people these days can see through social media how others work. I think the number of people uncomfortable with their work environments is increasing." About 60% of the service users are young people in their 20s and 30s, but recently, requests from veteran workers have been increasing. Last summer, a request was received from a man in his 70s, a full-time employee complaining of poor health who had not been allowed to leave his job due to company reasons.

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I can relate to the feeling.


A "resignation agency" that helps people quit their jobs by negotiating with their employers experienced a significant increase in requests for assistance on 6 January. This coincided with the return to work for many businesses and government offices following the extended New Year's break. It's suspected that the unusually long holiday period (nine days from 28 December) made it more difficult for many individuals to re-engage with their work responsibilities, leading to more people seeking help with their resignations.

Momuri, a resignation agency run by a job changing and resignation support company Albatross Co., based in Tokyo's Minato Ward, received a stream of phone calls at its Tokyo office from the morning of 6 January. Previously the agency had fielded a maximum of about 180 inquiries a day, but as of 5 p.m. on 6 January, the number of consultations had surged to a new record of over 250, representing an increase of over 40%, the agency said. Momuri informs workplaces of employees' intentions to resign and their reasons for doing so on their behalf, and also coordinates the mailing of resignation notices and the return of company equipment, among other procedures. The cost of using the service is 22,000 yen (approx. $140) for regular and contract employees, and 12,000 yen (about $76) for part-timers.

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Many people seeking help resigning cited difficulties returning to work after the extended holiday season. Some expressed feeling demotivated after a period of intense work before the break. Others cited deteriorating work conditions, including instances of power harassment and a lack of support for mental health. One individual reported having their bonus reduced for taking sick leave, while another described being unable to take leave despite experiencing work-related depression. This trend of increased resignations following extended holidays, such as Golden Week, is common.

"Miraculous 9-Day Holiday" Ends with a Surge in Resignations: Record 256 Contracts in a Day for Resignation Agency "Moumuri"
Stress from Harassment and Mental Struggles During the Holidays Prompt Decisions to Quit
The "miraculous 9-day holiday" over the New Year has ended, and daily routines are slowly resuming.

However, some people choose this moment to make a life-altering decision: quitting their jobs. According to a resignation agency, the number of requests has reached an all-time high during this period.

Why the Surge in Resignations Right After a Long Holiday?

When asked about their feelings after the 9-day holiday, many workers expressed mixed emotions:

• "Starting with a full 5-day week is really tough. It feels depressing. During the break, I could unwind, so now I feel a sense of loss."
• "I just wish I could be on holiday forever. I lost count of how many times I considered staying in my hometown instead of returning to Tokyo. Going back to the grind feels like returning to hell."
• "Getting crushed on a packed train again is really unbearable. For a moment, I thought about quitting."

Such sentiments resonate with those turning to resignation services during this period.

According to a Tokyo-based resignation agency, the busiest day for their services was January 6th—the first official workday of the year. They recorded a record-breaking 256 contracts in a single day. On January 7th, they anticipated over 100 additional contracts.

Why Are Long Breaks a Trigger for Resignations?

Shinji Tanimoto, president of the resignation agency "Moumuri," explained:

• "Resignation agency services cost money. People don't typically choose them lightly, like just because they don't feel like going back to work after a 9-day holiday. Many of our clients cite overlapping reasons, such as harassment or mental health struggles, as their primary motivations."

While each person has unique reasons, a common factor among clients is a fear of worsening harassment or a feeling of emotional paralysis during the holidays as they reflect on past hardships.

Insights into Resignation Agency Trends

Since April 2024, when awareness of resignation services increased, the agency has been handling over 1,000 cases per month. To date, they've assisted 23,000 people in resigning from their jobs.

Approximately 70% of users are in their 20s and 30s, but older generations are not exempt; clients aged 50 and older are also frequent users, with the oldest being 71 years old.

Support for Those Struggling

In response to this social trend, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare offers consultation services through phone and social media platforms, tailored to individuals' concerns and age groups.

If you're struggling, don't hesitate to reach out. Talking to someone might help you organize and understand your feelings better.

Remember, you don't have to carry the burden alone.

(Source: FNN Prime Online)

Tokyo police carried out searches at the offices of a company specialising in helping people resign from their jobs, after investigators suspected it of illegally introducing clients to a lawyer in return for referral fees. According to sources, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department raided several sites, including the headquarters of Albatross Co.—the operator of the "Momuri" resignation service—and two law firms believed to be involved.

Established in 2022, Albatross had reportedly managed over 40,000 resignation cases and promoted itself as an expert in labour disputes, offering round-the-clock consultations by phone and text. The company charged 22,000 yen for full-time employees and 12,000 yen for part-time or temporary staff. With Japan's labour market remaining tight, such resignation services have become increasingly popular, particularly among younger workers who prefer to avoid confrontations with employers hesitant to approve resignations.

However, Albatross, not a licensed law firm, is only permitted to communicate the client's intent to resign. Under Japanese law, individuals without legal qualifications are prohibited from conducting or arranging legal negotiations for compensation. This includes repeatedly referring cases to attorneys. Attorneys themselves are also barred from accepting such referrals. Momuri's website advertises connections to "experienced labor attorneys," raising concerns about potential unauthorized legal mediation. [...] Albatross has grown rapidly, reporting 330 million yen in revenue for the fiscal year ending January 2025, marking its second consecutive year of significant growth, according to a research firm.

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