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Valentine's Day is a big deal in Japan, it's even spawned something called "White Day" a month later so the loving fun can go on and on! Breaking up, on the other hand, can leave one depressed, miserable and in no mood to be productive at work. What's a caring company to do?   



Miki Hiradate, CEO of Tokyo-based Hime & Company, obviously has been through the relationship wars and can sympathize with her employees. Explains Hiradate, "Not everyone needs to take maternity leave but with heartbreak, everyone needs time off, just like when you get sick." Now before we get ahead of ourselves, it should be noted that Hime & Company is a cosmetics marketing company with an all-female staff of 6. Even the company name reflects its feminine focus: "Hime" (pronounced "hee-may") is Japanese for "princess".



Hime & Company offers staffers aged under 24 one break-up recovery day each year. Once they hit 25 they're entitled to two days off annually and 30-plussers get a full three days off. CEO Hiradate says that "Women in their 20s can find their next love quickly, but it's tougher for women in their 30s, and their break-ups tend to be more serious." Who knew?



The much-publicized break-up days are not the only unique benefit Hime & Company offers, by the way. Company staff can take two fully paid mornings off twice a year to go bargain hunting in Tokyo's trendy shops, department stores and fashion boutiques. Afterwards, staffers bring their shopping bags back to the office and "we can enjoy the best part about sales shopping -- talking about our purchases afterwards." It's enough to make anyone forget about that messy break-up... at least during working hours! (via Gimundo and Reuters)     

Steve Levenstein     
Japanese Innovations Writer
InventorSpot.com