Shanai shoshin – Promotion from within
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...
Free Resources
Shushoku Katsudo – Job Hunting in Japan
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...
Working with Japan – Let’s have lunch
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...
Nemawashi from a distance
Our tips on how to nemawashi (build consensus) with Japan headquarters when you can't be there....
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....
Power harassment
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...
Public criticism from Japanese managers
Non-Japanese employees of Japanese firms frequently mention the penchant that many Japanese managers have for public criticism. Whereas Americans would prefer to receive negative feedback in private, Japanese seem...
Engineering culture gap for Japanese firms
Methods used to manage engineers in Japan often do not meet the expectations of non-Japanese engineers. This results in disruptive high turnover rates, and difficulty transferring technology....
“Cross-cultural fitness” for Japanese companies
For Japanese companies operating outside Japan, this means that the Japanese expatriates assigned to overseas locations are knowledgeable about different cultures and take those cultures into account in their business...
The decision making process in Japan
Japanese companies have mixed feelings about their decision-making processes. Employees will admit that the process is quite frustrating at times, and it seems that some Japanese businesspeople regard how...