Mi ni tsukeru –Easier done than said in Japan
When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task; eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort…...
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Madoguchi – Your Japanese “go to” person
In Japanese firms, for any project there is always a designated person that people are asked to deal with, and that person is referred to as the madoguchi, which literally...
Overcome kishotenketsu to improve your communication with Americans
For Americans who are used to a more straightforward style, kishotenketsu can be very confusing…It can be hard to follow what Japanese have to say as they go on and...
Kikubari – the Japanese art of paying attention to others
You ascertain the needs of people by paying careful attention to them, and understand their desires before they even need to voice them…to comport yourself in such a way that...
Ho-ren-so: “managing up” Japanese style
Ho-ren-so is quite different from this typical American working style. The initial instruction given to the subordinate tends to be vaguer and more general, particularly if the subordinate is...
Employee categories at companies in Japan — seishain, shokutaku, jimushoku, sogoshoku
Human resource management practices in Japan seem to place great emphasis on putting employees into categories. From an American perspective, the strict distinction between different categories is difficult to...
Kei-haku-tan-sho – Japanese opposite of “supersizing”
The typical Japanese urban denizen takes trains nearly everywhere, and may not even own a car. This means that anything they carry around with them needs to be light...
Nommunication – The Japanese truth serum
Traditionally, the consumption of alcohol has been the Japanese cultural signal that it’s ok to be frank and open. After-work bonding over alcohol thus creates the perfect atmosphere for...
In Japan “Everyone participates”
No Japanese companies operate exactly the same and every company has its own way of saving precious resources and avoiding waste. The purpose of a Japanese cross-company initiative is...
Communication techniques for Japanese wanting to get ahead in Western companies
When considering applying for a job in a foreign firm, understanding some of the differences between Japanese and Western business cultures will benefit both yourself and your employer. Two of...