Huddled together shoulder-to-shoulder, Gen-Z hires at a Tokyo firm roared “Hell yeah!” to cap their morning rally, displaying the kind of corporate machismo that fueled Japan’s post-war economic miracle.

Once a bastion for “corporate warriors” fiercely devoted to their jobs, Japan has spent the past decades shifting towards a better work-life balance with greater emphasis on mental health.

But one company’s Gen-Z workers are seeking to emulate that bygone zeal, disenchanted with “soft” modern workplace culture they see as hindering growth.