What is "shukko"

Shukko (出向, from 出るmeaning to leave and 向う meaning to go towards) is a form of job transfer occurring in Japanese companies. A “Shukko” most often stands for a transfer of an employee from a main branch of a company to a branch office of the same company or an associated company. Rarely, it might be towards a non-affiliated company.

The main characteristic of the so-called “Japanese style of business administration” is lifetime employment (or 終身雇用). Shukko has a key role in the support and sustainment of this Japanese style of long term employment.

In Japan, Shukko has a negative reputation, because it is often used as a way to reduce personnel expenses. However Shukko has positive aspects – cases in which is used as a way to give employees the chance to gather corporate experience and broaden their careers.