Country Culture Spotlight
JiXiT
2B2034
2B2045
2B3201
2B3305
2B3306
Roby Syaiful Ubed
Watanabe, Kohei
Ambrose, Shienel
Ado, Kanako
Chiou, Peng-Wen
JiXiT
Purpose
- Overview of Japanese Culture
Give early information…
- Japanese manners
- How to apply jobs in Japan
- Japanese organizational culture
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
JiXiT
Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
JiXiT
Profile data
Capital
: Tokyo
Population : 127M (10th)
Area
: 377,914km² (60th)
Language : Japanese
Ethnicity : Japanese (98.5%)
Currency : Yen
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Behavior Overview
- Communication Context
- Learning Styles
- Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
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High context communication
- Implicit & Indirect communication
- Non-verbal clues
- Group is valued over individual
- Low racial diversity
(98.5 % Japanese ethnic)
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Learning Style
Concrete
Experience
Accommodating
Diverging
Active
Experimentation
Converging
Reflective
Observation
Assimilating
Abstract
Conceptualization
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Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
PDI
54
100
80
60
LTO
80
40
20
46
IDA
0
UAI 92
95 MAS
- High power distance - Collectivistic
- Masculine
- Strong avoiding uncertainty
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- Long-term oriented
Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
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Aisatsu- Greetings
- Students in elementary & secondary
schools are taught greetings
- Displaying respect
- Helps in forming new relationships
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Body Language
Bowing to express
Why is it important?
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DOs and DON’Ts
Do’s
- Bow
- Sitting on the edge of the chair
Don’ts
- Hands in Pockets- Laziness and arrogance
- Pat on the back
- Crossing legs
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Japanese Gestures
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Learning the Language
- Script- Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji
- Politeness
- Non Verbal
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
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Recruitment Schedule
1Q
UG: 3rd, G: 1st
2Q
3Q
4Q
UG: 4th, G: 2nd
1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q
Preparation
Dec
Graduation
Entry, Apply
Presentations,
Seminars
Apr Interview, Exam
Oct
Formal
Job offer
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Recruitment Schedule
1Q
UG: 3rd, G: 1st
UG: 4th, G: 2nd
2Q
3Q Same
4Q schedule
1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q
Preparation
Dec
Graduation
Entry, Apply
Stars from
a year before graduation
Presentations,
Seminars
Apr Interview, Exam
Once a year
Oct
Formal
Job offer
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Employment Interview
Give equal opportunities
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Restricted Questions
Family
HousingCondition
Political thought
Religion
Place of birth
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
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Work Placement
Regardless of educational background
Start from Bottom line
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Work Placement
Contribute to Future career
Start from Bottom line
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
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Business Etiquette In Japan
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Business Etiquette
Kamiza - Top seat within a room
- Meaning the place of honor
- Usually furthest from the door
Shimoza - Antonym of “Kamiza”
- Bottom seat
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Business Etiquette
Kamiza
Shimoza
Driver
Entrance
Shimoza
Kamiza
No one tells you about these etiquette!!
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
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- Hierarchy
- Decision Making
- Employment System
- Entertainment
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Hierarchy
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Organization Structure
Chairman (会長Kaicho)
Very high pyramid!
President (社長Shacho)
Vice President
(副社長Fuku-Shacho)
Division Head (部長Bucho)
Section Head (課長Kacho)
Chief Clark (係長Kakaricho)
Staff (係員)
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Nemawashi (根回し)
- Getting agreement or support of people
concerned in advance
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How was it formed??
In medieval period…
- Feudalism
- Isolationism
Identity was always developed
in a group
Strong group consciousness!
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What is it like?
- Company = Most important community
- Absolute relationship!
- Relationship continue outside work place
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Decision Making
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Notoriously Slow?
- Approval shown by a stamp (Hanko 判子)
- Hierarchical organization
- Never skip report line even in a hurry
→ Any other reasons?
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Why Slow? 1
You want to order construction work:
- Budget : 5M yen
- Due
: 4 weeks
Company
A
B
C
Cost (M yen)
5.0
5.5
5.0
Time (weeks)
4
4
5
Ave.
Very High
Very High
Quality
No doubt, take A??
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Why Slow? 1
- Get budget?
- Extend due?
Everything can be an option!
→ Willing to spare time for Quality Work!
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Why Slow? 2
You want to receive construction work order from your
customer:
- Due: 4 weeks
Now you are not sure you can meet the due….
Would you immediately
answer “We Can”??
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Why Slow? 2
“YES” decision is made only when it’s sure!
- High uncertainty avoidance
- Breaking promise is very rude
→ Willing to spare time for Certainty!
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Employment System
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Salary
Lifetime employment system(終身雇用制度)
Company will hire you until you retire
84.1%
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
(The data come from the 3rd year junior employee)
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Salary
Senior system (年功序列制度)
You get higher salary as you get older
40.6%
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
(The data come from the 3rd year junior employee)
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Seniority & Performance based salary
Yen
1,000,000
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
22
30
40
50
Salary you get
Salary base on your performance
60 Age
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Reasons of employment systems
Group Consciousness
‐ The company system encourage retention rather than
mobility of skilled workers
‐ Mentoring Sempai–Kohai (Senior–Junior) relationship
‐ Promotion depended on length of service. Thus a move at
another company meant their wage level went down
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Business
Entertainment
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Business Entertainment
- Nightlife is a culture
necessity in Japan
- Because people can open
& honest without breaking
harmony
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Dining Out (cont.)
- Always be punctual
- Drink responsibly
- Notice the manner of drink
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Perfection
= Internal commitment + Group pressure
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Karaoke (“empty orchestra”)
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Final meat after 2nd or 3rd party
“Ramen”
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Getting drunk etiquette
Japanese use drinking in a bar as an
excuse for engaging in socially
unacceptable behavior
(like blunt honesty or complaining)
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Japanese manners
3. Recruitment process
4. Join a Company
5. Business Etiquette
6. Organizational Culture
7. Conclusion
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Conclusion & Learning Points
1. Very important to learn other’s nation culture,
mainly the culture we are live in;
2. Each of manners & behaviors has its own
background;
3. Many non-verbal behavior should be
understood;
4. Organization has its own culture representing
the culture of society outside the organization
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Q&A
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