For western countries, meetings are for resolving conflicts, reaching group decisions, and problem solving…In contrast, the Japanese view meetings as a place to confirm things that have already been decided,...
It is hard to overestimate this aspect of Japanese culture, particularly since it differs so completely from the experience of most Westerners. For a great many generations, the Japanese have...
La dynamique sempai/kohai (senior/junior) affecte profondément le fonctionnement des entreprises japonaises...
Many of the Japanese expatriates at my clients’ subsidiaries in the U.S. don’t have a clear idea of what their role is. Given vague titles like “Coordinator” or “Liaison”,...
The old practice of lifetime employment has started to fray at the edges…Yet, even while making greater use of flexible staffing, Japanese companies tend to maintain a “core” staff who...
In the U.S., professors typically do not have contact with companies in the recruiting process. In Japan your professor determines not only your grades but also holds the key...
In Japan, the lunch break is Noon to 1:00pm. All work stops and everyone goes to lunch at the same time…Americans work at their desks through lunch or get their...
Our tips on how to nemawashi (build consensus) with Japan headquarters when you can't be there....
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....
Being harsh towards one’s subordinates is often encouraged in Japanese culture, and a blind eye is turned toward yelling and other harsh treatment. For many Japanese, a tough boss...