Tips for working in a Japanese company

[Bucky]

See if you agree:

Working in a Japanese company can be vastly different from say working for an American company. Respect for elders, promotion by seniority and unconditional submission of subordinates are just some of the rules one have to comply with, if not...
Well, here are top 10 tips on how to survive working for/with the Japanese:

(1) No Opinions please: Don't ever voice out your opinion unless they are praises for the company. Remember, even when the boss asks you for suggestions on improvements, don't stupidly reveal them. This will only lead them to identify you as a potential problem.

(2) Always show that you are happy: Don't ever sulk, or come to work looking bored or tired. The Japanese expect their workers to look happy and full of energy every minute. Once, I had a female colleague who rested her elbows on the table, cupping her chin with her hands reading a report. The boss told her not to sit like that even when she was doing genuine work. Image counts.

(3) Don't be Punctual, BE EARLY: Japanese expect their staff to report to work at least 30 mins before the official start time. That means, you must be seated at your desk (remember don't rest your elbows), have drunk your morning coffee and be all ready to start work at least 15 mins before official start time. I once had a friend who came into work at 8:15 am when the official start time was 8:30am. The boss pulled her aside and told her to come in and be seated by 8am. No later. And it does'nt matter that there was'nt really much work to do until 10am because the boss himself came in at 6:30am everyday (God knows what he was doing)

(4) Don't Take Afternoon Naps, unless you are Japanese : Japanese culture has it that employees will usually take short naps at their desks after lunch. However, this is an entitlement only for the Japanese. If you are non-Japanese, you will get stares if you do the same (some of the Japanese will lie flat on their desks, looking like real gonners - to show that they have been working really hard). Oh, and if you are a woman, naps are absolute no-no.

(5) Lunch, 30 minutes at most: Even if you are entitled to 1-hour lunch break, your boss will probably tell you to come back 30 mins latest. Don't even bother telling him it is stated in your employment terms because he will then take underhand actions to make you return earlier for work reasons or something.

(6) Don't Eat/Drink at your desk: I know there are times when you just want to lunch-in. However, Japanese do not like their staff to eat at their desks because the food smell might permeate the office (this rule however will not apply to the boss who can bring in curry rice bento as often as he likes). Eat-in only if by doing so you can show that you are so hardworking that you are sacrificing your lunchbreak to do your work. If not, this a big no-no.

(7) Don't Talk Loudly: My ex-Japanese manager said he did not like to talk to Americans because they were loud, brash and intimidating. Japanese find it unacceptable when Americans come to them saying "hi, how are you" in their loud, friendly voices. So what might seem harmless and courteous on your part, actually peeves them. really.

( No Personal Calls/Emails: It doesn$B!G(Bt matter that your boss might be talking really loudly in Japanese on a very obvious personal call. You cannot do the same. Don't start laughing or chatting away even when it is with your clients. I once had a Chinese sales manager who was making work-related calls in Mandarin. The Japanese boss immediately assumed it was a personal call, just because the guy was laughing and chatting with the client. The boss obviously did not know it was the way to build relationships with Chinese clients.

(9) Do not speak in a Foreign Language with your peers: Speaking in a language besides English (maybe mother tongue languages) will cause unnecessary suspicion from your boss. A Japanese company once banned the usage of Mandarin and other dialects in a Southeast Asian office among the locals. However, the Japanese continued to speak in their own language among themselves.

(10) Don't EVER go home before your boss: This is probably the most famous rule for Japanese corporate. Even if it means just hanging around doing nothing, you must not leave before your boss. It's a sign of insubordination and disrespect.

Of course, some Japanese corporate have evolved to be more modern over time. However, traditional office culture like the ones above still exist. So before you join a Japanese corp, think twice and do ample research!

[Midwinter]

They forgot you'll be needing a Costco pallet worth of this stuff as well.



(1) No Opinions please: I've made two different Japanese bosses cry on two separate occasions, and have kept my job each time. Though clearly not something to be *too* proud of, it goes to show that voicing opinions, even strong ones, may not always be such a bad thing.

(2) Always show that you are happy: Was almost fired once for resting my head in my hands during a meeting. Eventually explained it was my bad posture that caused it, and NOT a lack of interest in company deliberations.

(3) Don't be Punctual, BE EARLY: True, they want you there early, and you can't EVER leave even a minute early either. We did eventually force the boss into paying us for coming early, which in retrospect sort of negates the whole purpose of what she wanted.

(4) Don't Take Afternoon Naps, unless you are Japanese : I've openly slept on the floor in empty rooms during lunch breaks. Even had pillows!

(5) Lunch, 30 minutes at most: Full 60 mins here each and every time.

(7) Don't Talk Loudly: Sometimes its even dont talk at all. Period.

[Doctor Stop]

(11) Don't.

[Neo-Rio]

(12) Don't ever attempt to make attempts to formally leave the company or they'll consider it as something up there with high treason. Much better to preserve your honor and jump into front of the morning train.

[IkemenTommy]

(11) Don't.

Yep. Don't work for one. They will treat you with no respect especially if you are a gaijin.

[Iraira]

I've found that mumbling "What the fuck are you, you fucking son-of-a-bitch douche-eating anal-friction-blister" in English to the computer monitor tends to make following all of the above commandments unnecessary. The locals tend to steer clear of you.

[james]

(11) Don't.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Doctor Stop again.

[Behan]

A cultural difference I suppose, but it's funny how people ask to be allowed to quit.

Something like yamesasete itadakitai

[TennoChinko]

If you do end up working for a Japanese company, hopefully you'll be in your 20's and stay no longer than 2 or 3 years. Sometimes it helps to know how the other side thinks. However, too long and you become One with the Borg.

I've met a few older Americans in their 40's who've spent a decade or two working for a Japanese firm - and with a few exceptions, most seem to have gone under a combination of cultural castration/assimilation. They seem to lack the ability to make decisions by themselves and quite a few of them started out by calling me "Mr. _______" ... as if they were Japanese themselves somewhat in awe of the foreign barbarian businessman.

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[Yokohammer]

I started typing a list but had to stop due to repetitive strain injury.

[Taro Toporific]

[tips]
(1) No Opinions please...

My favorite gai-shinjin/new-hire advice...
[INDENT]Q: [SIZE="3"]What do you call a salaryman with an opinion?[/SIZE]
A:[SIZE="3"] Unemployed.[/SIZE][/INDENT]

[IkemenTommy]

My favorite gai-shinjin/new-hire advice...
[INDENT]Q: [SIZE="3"]What do you call a salaryman with an opinion?[/SIZE]
A:[SIZE="3"] Unemployed.[/SIZE][/INDENT]

Taro should be the expert on this topic having worked with the "biggest Japanese employer in Kanagawa" for the longest time.

[waruta]

Taro should be the expert on this topic having worked with the "biggest Japanese employer in Kanagawa" for the longest time.

Nissan? Or am I confusing it with the Kanagawa Gov't?

[Samurai_Jerk]

(11) Don't.

Shouldn't that be tip number one followed by (2) Refer to tip one and (3) No seriously, don't?


TennoChinko,

I had an interview at a company last year and there was an American (or maybe Canadian) guy working there who was like that. He addressed me by last name plus san in English emails that were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fucking polite and wordy and when I met him face-to-face he was like a stereotypical overly apologetic lacky Japanese salaryman. He even had the bad teeth and greasy hair. The sad part is he was fairly young too. My guess is he had only ever worked in Japan for Japanese organizations. I think Patty Hearst would be easier to de-program than that guy.

[Taro Toporific]

Taro should be the expert on this topic having worked with the "biggest Japanese employer in Kanagawa" for the longest time.

Nissan? Or am I confusing it with the Kanagawa Gov't?

[TennoChinko]

Remember that if you are ever lucky enough to be offered a dried up sample of the founding Chairman's feces, you must eat it with great gratitude. The taste will be most wonderous -100,000 times greater than the most expensive Matsutaka mushroom - and imbibe you with immortal powers! As always, death to non-believers!

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