Honour. Loyalty. Pride. All traits the Japanese cherish. In a land where business is conducted like warfare, codes must be upheld. For what have we, if we don’t have our dignity?
It’s therefore perfectly understandable that, upon learning that his employer had ignored his gift of jelly desserts, a Japanese worker took a truncheon to his boss’ office, destroying 22 computers and, possibly, the delicious jelly treats.
Many in Japan maintain the tradition of imparting gifts to important business contacts when the season changes, an act of respect that, apparently, should not be taken lightly. That being said, not everyone likes jelly, and perhaps chocolate swirls would have been a safer option.