Japanese culture
Last Updated: 15 Dec 2024 Keeping things tidy is everyone’s job in Japan
I find litter and wastefulness quite upsetting and often stress in my training how important the tidiness of the workplace is to Japanese customers. I think my obsession with litter...
Last Updated: 21 Jun 2020 What Spring means in Japan and Europe
A good time for companies to renew and refresh...
Last Updated: 10 Jun 2025 In Japan, it pays to carry an umbrella – and to be on time
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2020 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...
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2020 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...
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2020 Predictability in Japan
Predictability is often what is most lacking when dealing with people from overseas or spending time in other countries...
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2020 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....
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2020 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....
Last Updated: 15 Jul 2020 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...