If you’ve ever been in the awkward position of wanting to leave your job but not feeling brave enough to do so, there’s a solution—at least in Japan.
The past few years have seen the rise of a new trend in the East Asian nation: resignation companies, also known as proxy quitters. For a fee, these increasingly popular businesses are helping employees inform their boss or HR department that they are quitting, without the uncomfortable need to confront them face-to-face.
One prominent company, Momuri (a Japanese term that translates to “I can’t take it anymore”), charges its clients up to $350 to step in and handle the messy parts of leaving their employment. In addition to those who simply want to avoid the awkward “I’m quitting” conversation, some clients have received pushback from their superiors or are worried about workplace bullying and harassment.
Japan is uniquely suited for this new industry to thrive. For many Japanese office workers, the aspiration has long been to become a “salaryman” and stay with the same company throughout their career, ideally working their way up the ranks to a higher position. Yet that work culture is beginning to change, especially in the wake of the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Employees, especially those in their 20s and 30s, are becoming more willing to switch jobs in search of a more fulfilling position or a better work-life balance.
Japanese workers are increasingly moving away from the model of lifelong loyalty to a company and are becoming less willing to put up with excessively long hours and strict managerial hierarchies. One of the reasons for the increase in job mobility is the shift in workforce demographics. The Japanese population is notably shrinking and aging, giving workers more leverage in seeking a job they want.
Packing it in:
- The use of proxy quitters is undoubtedly growing, with Momuri’s monthly clients increasing from around 200 in 2022 to 2,500 in 2025.
- In a 2024 survey, around 10% of Japanese companies reported that they had been contacted by proxy quitters. The companies usually don’t get involved in the legal aspects of helping the employee to organize their exit from work but rather focus on navigating that initial conversation with HR.
- Though the idea of a resignation company can seem humorous, the growing role of proxy quitters could mark a serious shift in Japanese employment trends, with employees feeling more empowered to change jobs, even mid-career, and employers feeling increased pressure to retain their workers.
