The size of traditional summer bonuses rose for the first time in four years, according to preliminary data released by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Monday. Granted the average rise was 1.1% from the previous year to 367,178 yen, but heck, a bigger bonus is a bigger deal.
Workers in the mining and quarrying industries enjoyed the largest percent increase, rising 28% to 427,822 yen for businesses with at least five employees, according to the data. Other industries taking part in the mini-bonanza were the financial and insurance trade, up a cool 6.9% to 616,900 yen, and the wholesale and retail industry, with a 6.8% boost to 291,096.
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/11/02/kanpai-summer-bonuses-up/