in my humble opinion...

[pm215]

This Japan Times article about keigo (politeness language) includes the following fantastic suggestion:

Takeshi Okamoto, CEO of marketing company Afia Corporation, writes on his Web site that keigo may not be compatible with the post-war Constitution, which stipulates in Article 14 that all citizens are equal under the law. In particular, he questions the social hierarchy implied by keigo expressions and asks, "Isn't it a form of prejudice that keigo is used (or not used) toward people based on their age, their job record, and date of entry into the company?"

I'm no fan of keigo, but I have to say that he's out on a limb with that one...

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Isn't it a form of prejudice

Only if the politeness is intended for individuals possessing qualities other than the types of seniority listed.

I'm more inclined to assume that this particular social tool is discriminating exactly as intended.

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

Yes. The the extent that pay is allowed to depend on age, job record, and years service, it's hard to argue that employers are constitutionally forbidden to expect acknowledgement those things in the workplace.