Honne and Tatemae
My biggest concern about including honne and tatemae when explaining Japanese culture to non-Japanese is that it makes it sound like Japanese have a unique propensity to be liars...
Japanese culture
In Japan…Perfectionism or Standard?
The Japanese point out ugly weld seams on the machines, saying their customers are not happy with the way the machines look. The Americans point out some new innovation...
Predictability in Japan
Predictability is often what is most lacking when dealing with people from overseas or spending time in other countries...
Gifts, Favors and Obligations in Japanese Business Culture
While exchange of favors and mutual aid are common to all cultures, there are some differences in the way Japanese and Americans view these things....
Same Words, Different Meanings in Japan, Mexico and the U.S.
Learning a new language is only the beginning—then we have to figure out what people mean by the words they say in that other culture, and it isn’t always easy....
Are Americans always making excuses?
Japanese take very seriously the concept of personal responsibility. When westerners refuse to apologize and instead dwell on all the extenuating circumstances that caused the problem, Japanese view this...
Overcoming Japanese risk-adverseness
When risk-averse people like the Japanese feel that they need more information, they tend to stall…Thus, many Americans who work with Japanese firms wonder, how can we get the company...
Oseibo winter gift-giving in Japan — a fading tradition?
Oseibo is one of Japan's two traditional gift-giving seasons. Has it been supplanted by Christmas?...
Noise pollution in Tokyo
Masses of people are everywhere in Japan, and even though the Japanese tend to be quieter than Americans, when you get a lot of them together it can’t help but...
Feature-packed “koseino” products a hit with shoppers in Japan
Japanese customers prefer products that are “high-performance.” This tendency explains, for example, why Japanese consumer electronics products are often so complex. The various extra features are a delight...