Your Japan Bonus vs. The 'Other' Japan Bonus

Just when you feel good about your ¥450k summer bonus, you learn the average for 'major companies' is nearly a million yen.

The Feel-Good Moment (That Lasted 5 Seconds)

Picture this: the summer bonus hits your account. It's a solid ¥450,000. Not bad at all. You start daydreaming about a trip to Okinawa, a new laptop, or just being able to afford avocados for a month straight. Life is good. 😌

Then your friend casually drops this bomb: "Oh, cool. I heard the average for big companies is around ¥990,000 this year." Suddenly your ¥450k feels... cute. The avocado dream dies.

So, Is Everyone Else Really a Millionaire?

I had to look this up, and unfortunately, your friend isn't wrong. A survey by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) of 244 major companies found the average 2025 summer bonus was a staggering ¥990,848.

Some industries are doing even better. People in shipbuilding are apparently averaging ¥1.18 million. The chemical industry saw a huge jump, with their average hitting ¥1.05 million. Meanwhile, you're trying to figure out if you can stretch your bonus to cover that cracked phone screen.

Okay, But What About the Rest of Us?

Here’s the part that makes you feel a little less crazy. A different survey from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which looks at all private companies (not just the giants), found the average summer bonus was ¥426,337.

Suddenly, your ¥450k looks pretty good again. It’s right on the mark for the national average. The Keidanren survey is basically tracking a completely different economy—one that exists for people at massive, publicly traded corporations. It's like comparing the menu at your local ramen shop to a Michelin-starred restaurant.

So yeah, comparing your bonus to the 'major company' average is a recipe for sadness. It's probably better to just compare it to your own bonus from last year. Or don't compare it at all and just go buy that avocado. You earned it.