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Five characteristics & good and bad points of Japanese work culture! Differences from other countries are also introduced!

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Men working in Japan

Japan's work culture has attracted attention from around the world due to its unique practices and work styles.
In this article, we delve into the unique characteristics of Japan's work culture and select five good and five bad points about it. In addition, we will touch on the differences between Japan and other countries, and provide a detailed description of the Japanese work environment from an international perspective.
If you are interested in working in Japan or would like a deeper understanding of the Japanese workplace culture, this article is for you.

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Characteristics of Japanese Work Culture

The Japanese work culture is characterized by the following points.

  • Basically, you are expected to take care of your work.
  • Many companies have to work overtime.
  • Retirement benefits are available.
  • Many companies offer monthly salaries.

In Japan, many companies are praised for prioritizing work over private life. Although not all companies are like that in recent years, influenced by the diversification of work styles, it is still a deeply rooted way of thinking. As a result, overtime work is often seen.

Many people prioritize work on family birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other events if they have "can't miss" work. Many people do not want to do so, but they have no choice but to do so in order to get ahead because many companies say that if they do not do so, it will affect their evaluation.

In addition, it is rare to have a retirement allowance system. For employees who have worked for the company for more than a certain period of time, the company will send a thank-you (congratulatory) payment if they retire amicably. Generally, the longer an employee has worked for a company, the higher the severance payment will be.

Other characteristics include the fact that in Japan, monthly salaries are common, while many companies in other countries use an annual salary system.

Five good points about Japan's work culture

The following are five good aspects of the Japanese work culture.

  1. Institutions regarding workers are in place.
  2. Many people take their work seriously.
  3. Work with others to get the job done
  4. You can learn a lot while you work.
  5. polite (person)

Let's check them one by one.

1. has a system in place regarding workers

First, it is good that there is a system in place concerning workers. For example, the Labor Standards Law stipulates the hours that workers are allowed to work and prevents them from working too much or too little, and the Minimum Wage Law protects workers from being paid unfairly. In addition, there are many other guarantee programs that one can join as a member of society, such as unemployment insurance and social insurance.

Many people take their work seriously.

Another good trait is that many people take their work seriously. This can be described as the temperament of the Japanese people. Basically, many people faithfully and sincerely perform their assigned tasks. However, Japanese people are also characterized by their tendency to be easily swayed by those around them, so this may not be the case in workplaces where there are many unserious people.

2. work with others to get the job done

Because they are often required to work in cooperation with others, many Japanese have come to understand the importance of teamwork and communication through their work. By working in Japan, one can expect to learn the importance of teamwork and communication, and the magnitude of what can be accomplished by multiple people.

3. many things can be learned while working

In addition to the communication we have mentioned, Japanese work is basically "learn by seeing". If you have a highly skilled senior colleague while working, you will learn not only about work-related matters, but also about communication among Japanese people, etiquette, and many other things.

4. polite

In Japan, many companies are very strict when it comes to courtesy. You can easily see such politeness at work, such as "taking a souvenir when visiting a client" or "sending thank-you e-mails in various situations. In Japan, where the spirit of "Omotenashi" is alive and well, there is a unique culture of etiquette, rules, and manners in business.

5 Bad Points of Japanese Work Culture

The following are five bad aspects of the Japanese work culture.

  1. No sense of speed.
  2. Does not like change
  3. Often not explicitly stated.
  4. Each step of the process takes time.
  5. There is peer pressure.

Let's check them one by one.

1. lack of speed

First of all, the lack of a sense of speed is a bad point in the Japanese work culture. It is not uncommon to find companies that require permission from the boss to do anything. While this may be the case in some cases, it often has a negative impact on the creation and realization of new ideas.

2. does not like change

Another bad point is that few people like change. For example, if you want to change a single attendance system, there will always be opposition to the change. This is true even if there are many advantages to the change. Many Japanese people have a strong sense of prioritizing "familiarity" and "familiar use" over "convenience.

3. often not explicitly stated

In the "polite" section of the good points, I mentioned that there is also a unique culture regarding business courtesy, rules, and manners. This unique culture is often not explicitly stated. In other words, you need to learn it in the course of your work.

In addition to this, there are many other things that are "unspoken". This means that there are rules and manners that are not known until the event to which the rule applies occurs. If you have not had the opportunity to be exposed to this way of thinking, you may be confused.

4. each process takes time

The serious and careful approach to work is a very good point, but on the other hand, the fact that each process takes a long time is a bad point. However, one of the bad points is that each process is time-consuming.

5. there is peer pressure

When Japanese people get together, there is often a tendency to create peer pressure to "do things this way because everyone around us is doing them this way. This is also true in corporate and business situations. One example would be, "It is not required by company policy, but you should avoid wearing anything other than a suit because everyone else is wearing a suit. This may come as a surprise to those from other countries with more individualistic cultures.

Differences in working styles between Japan and other countries

Japan's workplace culture is known for its unique characteristics and brings new discoveries to many foreigners.
In this section, we will take a closer look at how Japan's unique work practices and social conventions affect daily operations.

Long working hours and service overtime

The Japanese work environment has a number of unique characteristics compared to many foreign countries, the most prominent of which is a culture of long working hours, including service overtime. In Japan, it is common for many employees to continue working after regular hours, despite the fact that working hours are regulated by law. This service overtime means that employees work without receiving any additional compensation.

Percentage of paid leave taken

The rate of paid leave utilization is also characterized by a low rate. In Japan, despite the fact that paid leave is guaranteed to workers by law, few employees actually take leave. This is due to an entrenched culture in which it is difficult to take leave due to workplace pressures and expectations from coworkers.

Membership-based employment

The Japanese employment system is primarily membership-based, with employees generally belonging to a particular company for an extended period of time. This employment structure encourages employees to be deeply rooted in the corporate culture and to put the interests of the company as a whole first. However, this can make it difficult to change jobs and limit career flexibility.

Communication style and hierarchy

In Japan, indirect, nonverbal communication is emphasized and the ability to "read the air" is required. In contrast, many Western cultures prefer direct and clear communication. In addition, Japanese workplaces strictly adhere to hierarchical relationships based on age, experience, and position, whereas many foreign countries have a flatter organizational structure.

Collectivism vs. individualism

Japan is a collectivist society, where teamwork and harmony are emphasized. On the other hand, in the West, individualism is the norm, where individual independence and achievement are emphasized. This makes a marked difference in the decision-making process and project management in the workplace.

Flexibility in work attitude and working style

In Japan, long-term loyalty to a company is expected, and employees generally work for one company for an extended period of time. In contrast, career diversity and job changes are common overseas, and working styles are increasingly flexible, including telework and flexible working hours.

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The Future of Japanese Work Culture

So far, we have described Japan's work culture and its evolution, but as society and global trends change, work styles are diversifying in Japan as well. Increased holidays, consideration of a "selective three-day workweek," and the widespread use of telework are some of the new ways of working that are being addressed.

However, changes in traditional ways of working require time. In the future, the Japanese workplace culture will need to evolve flexibly, incorporating the positive aspects of international work styles while maintaining its strengths.

The Japanese work culture of the future will evolve toward a more flexible and diverse work style, while maintaining good traditions and incorporating new ways of working from around the world.

We hope that through this article you will gain a better understanding of Japanese workplace culture and find it helpful when working in Japan.

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