Yoshi promoted?

[Risvertasashi]

It was actually only a matter of time before he got promoted. Japanese companies promote based more on seniority than actual merit, so while it COULD be recognition of him doing a good job, it could also be to distinguish him from the younger developers of other projects.

Uhm.... given the way he turned FFXIV around, which reportedly kept all of Squeenix in the black at a time when it wasn't doing too well, I really doubt this is anything but merit.

Also, there's a parallel reddit thread. According to them... it seems he is on the board, with a specific responsibility for development.

Yoshi, if you happen to read this: {Congratulations!}

[kyuven]

Uhm.... given the way he turned FFXIV around, which reportedly kept all of Squeenix in the black at a time when it wasn't doing too well, I really doubt this is anything but merit.

Also, there's a parallel reddit thread. According to them... it seems he is on the board, with a specific responsibility for development.

Like I said, it COULD be, and probably is the reason for the TYPE of promotion he received (usually they'd just add some appellation and a pay raise to his current title, but since he got put on the board, that's likely merit), but he was going to get *a* promotion one way or another just based on him having seniority.
There's a strong mentality in Japanese social structures that you shouldn't have to take orders from someone younger than you, so they'll often give token promotions to more senior employees just so they don't stand on equal footing with someone younger than them.

[AlexionSkylark]

From what I've been reading, most Japanese companies are moving away from the seniority model, one of the reasons being that it means having more people in the top tiers than in the lesser ones (which cost a lot of money). It's also viewed as a "decadent system that spoils the older generations".

Also, the document talks about Corporate Restructuring. That essentially means they are revising their hierarchy and reviewing management concepts. As this happens, people can be pushed up or down in the corporate ladder, or even be fired. Seems Yoshi-P got the best end of the stick, so congrats to him. It was well deserved =)

My point is... his chances of being promoted by seniority are slim. Most probably he filled the chair of someone who WAS there for reasons of seniority but was less fitted for the position, and SE wants to do away with the seniority crap.