Japanese business keywords

“Ogata heya” or cubicles? thoughts on sharing space

Articles, Japanese business keywords, Working with Japanese by Rochelle Kopp

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Japanese managers prefer staff to work in one large open room, Americans prefer cubicles, and some companies find a perfect hybrid...

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Senpai & kohai: in Japan, experience is the best teacher

Articles, Japanese business keywords, Working with Japanese by Rochelle Kopp

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More than just mentor/mentee or senior/junior, the senpai/kohai relationship is the basic organizing feature in a Japanese company...

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Genba shugi: see it with your own eyes

Articles, Japanese business keywords by Rochelle Kopp

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Japanese managers value investigating problems firsthand, going to the manufacturing floor if necessary...

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When the going gets tough, the tough gaman

Articles, HR management, Japanese business keywords by Rochelle Kopp

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Putting up with difficulties versus speaking out about them -- contrasting approaches in Japanese and American businesses...

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Junansei: the power of flexibility in Japan

Articles, Careers, HR management, Japanese business keywords by Rochelle Kopp

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A flexible attitude toward job responsibilities is essential to working successfully in Japan...

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Makaseru: carte blanche decision-making may be hazardous to your company

Articles, Global management, Japanese business keywords by Rochelle Kopp

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Japanese companies allow latitude to subsidiary branches, which can make the corporation seem inconsistent...

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How do the Japanese put in their two cents? ringi!

Articles, Japanese business, Japanese business keywords by Rochelle Kopp

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Ringi: The mechanism Japanese companies use to create consensus and approve decisions...

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Monotsukuri: valuing hand-craftsmanship in business

Articles, Japanese business, Japanese business keywords by Rochelle Kopp

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Monotsukuri is the philosophical opposite of outsourcing and a source of pride in Japanese business...

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Japanese training 101: keep your eyes open with minarai

Articles, Japanese business keywords, Working with Japanese by Rochelle Kopp

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Training in Japan often involves learning by watching -- "minarai" -- rather than by classroom instruction...

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After five in Japan… happy hour or the crux of the matter? The art of nomunication

Articles, Japanese business keywords, Working with Japanese by Rochelle Kopp

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After-hours drinking provides an important outlet when Japanese businessmen allow themselves to speak their minds...

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