Part 2

Policy Manual:

The Lapel Brooch

1. The company’s lapel brooch must be worn at all times. It bespeaks solidarity and devotion. All times. Including transit to and from schools. The brooch must be level (approximately) with one’s collarbone, positioned straight, not diagonal, not obscured. It is conventional—though not compulsory—to pin the brooch to the left lapel. Personal effects must be in-keeping with the brooch’s (and company’s) aesthetic. For men, an understated silver-watch. For women, demure ear-rings. Loss of the brooch will incur a series of reprimands, punitive measures, and gestures toward redemption (on the teacher’s part) meted out on a weekly basis:

(a) A verbal warning from the school’s manager, coupled with a three-month embargo on the teacher’s participation in bi-monthly prefectural sales targets, thus precluding the teacher from monthly sales reward potentials such as restaurant vouchers, study-meeting intensives, and, in the case of exemplary sales performance (exceeding student participation by 85%) the opportunity to be interviewed for the company’s monthly newsletter;

(b) A personal visit from the teacher’s prefectural honbucho, which, although unscripted, is likely to be characterised by deep sadness, disappointment, and even personal grief;

(c) A hand-written (and colourfully decorated) response to honbucho’s visit, attending but not limited to the following criteria:

(i) the teacher’s remorse as experienced at a personal and career level;

(ii) a binding covenant ensuring at least 75% student participation in future sales initiatives (after the three-month embargo has been lifted);

(iii) an earnest apology addressed directly to the prefectural honbucho (and, if applicable, addressing any other parties affected by the brooch’s loss);

(d) A ¥4,000 replacement fee.