Different ideas and attitudes between different cultures is not exactly a groundbreaking idea, but perhaps one of the most challenging differences in Japanese culture to comprehend for Westerners is the apparent lack of concern for gender equality in the country.

YouTube user ThatJapaneseManYuta interviewed several working Japanese women on their feelings about gender inequality in Japan, and how they were affected in their daily life by it. According to the video, Japan was ranked 104th out of 142 countries in terms of gender equality in 2014.

Those interviewed provide instances where they believe the ranking reflects the reality of the situation in Japan, but also give insight into an attitude regarding the inequality as a symptom of working culture that sometimes strikes non-Japanese people as a bit difficult to understand. The video is only seven and a half minutes long, but provides some fascinating insight. Here it is, with some highlights below.

Some women gave a pretty straight-forward assessment.

They then gave examples of inequality faced in their daily lives.

Often times, tough expectations come from both home and work.

Promotions for married women in Japan can be scarce, with companies thinking they have a husband who can support them.

Some others didn't find inequality to be so demonstrably present in their companies.

Japan's low ranking on the gender equality poll, however, was not so off-putting to some.

"If you ask me if I want to work like them...sometimes barely able to go home..."

"I'm not that sure if it would be a good thing if Japan was ranked higher."

"They simply can't work that hard without the support of their wives."

The interview concludes with asking what these working women hope for in the future.

A small sample, for sure. In short, though, we can get a glimpse of definite gender inequality in Japan, but in some ways it is seen as a product of all around pressure from the working culture. This is likely what leads to some of the interviewees being comfortable with having defined roles as a function of Japanese society. Still, it wouldn't hurt to see that ranking go up.