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Based on original case studies, this article will attempt to describe what a “working space” represents for nurses in both France and in Japan. It shows how and why these professional spaces are structured differently in terms of history and socio-economics.The idea of “conventions” – seen here as a reciprocal system of expectations – provides the key for interpretation. In Japan, this space corresponds to the “domestic world”, where proximity, multitasking and care prevail, whereas in France this space is seen as belonging to the “industrial world”, thereby explaining the priority given to technical specialisation associated with longer hospital stays.Analysis of the private practice sector in both countries confirms the existence of these two very different worlds. However, studies show that in Japan, the decision to opt for a liberal profession involving visits to patients’ homes, goes hand in hand with a change of approach, more are less permanent, to the time/work equation.Thus current and recent events must be taken into account when interpreting career breaks in the nursing profession (frequent and long in Japan, rare and brief in France) In the case, of Japan, this can be partially explained by the after-effects of the Fukushima catastrophe.