Differences in Western and Japanese Work Cultures

Being able to adjust to a new setting at work and comprehend the culture therein can be testing. Acquainting with the people in the team, establishing meaningful correspondence, and participating actively can be decisive to progress in your career. While determining whether to remain in the same organization or migrate somewhere else is an individual option, gratification from the job at the end of the day can cause maximized productivity and, thus, benefit all related parties.

Japanese Workplace Culture

Japanese society is structured with a traditional hierarchy and ranks. This is no different when it comes to the workplace. The organizational environment could either be very domestic and traditional or, on the other hand, way more relaxed and less stringent. Despite what some Tokyo-based foreign companies may tell you, you are in Japan, and the culture is thus a mix of western and Japanese work culture; you need to understand that the inclination to the Japanese side will be more. As a foreigner in Japan, but with half of my professional life spent in Japan, I have had the chance to be exposed to a mix of traditional and western working environments.

Workplace Culture in Traditional Japanese Companies in Japan

Working in Japan can be quite daunting if you are not acquainted with the way they do things in the workplace. Generally, seniority is based on experience and age in Japanese work culture, where many people are employed after they graduate and remain at the same company for the long term without a job change or job hopping. However, lately, this situation has inclined toward smaller and medium-sized companies. The Japanese workplace is known for some characteristics such as the big emphasis on the collective rather than the individual, with each member of the organization putting the success of the whole team before his/her own goals. This derives from the same concept as the cultural treatment of societal groups in Japan, where social balance is highly valued.

• The hierarchical system follows a strict structure of seniority. Generally, corporate leadership is age-experienced and has risen through the ranks with their length of time working for the company. Workers need to keep supervisors in line with what is occurring, and many tasks require permissions and authorization.

• Working hours that are commonplace across foreign multinational companies in Japan are generally quite lengthy. Fortunately, more progressive organizations are committing to better work-life balance, leading to improvements in this area over recent years. The ability to carry out work from home has also become popular of late due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, although, for those with a more traditional outlook, taking vacation time is still viewed as a burden, besides during times of national holidays like Golden Week, when many Japanese people are typically granted leave simultaneously. Therefore, during the holiday season, it is typically extremely pricey and difficult to book into tourist destinations. Hence, workers at foreign companies tend to stay in Tokyo, taking a respite during lesser-traveled off-peak months instead.

• In a more formal work environment, it's common to address each other by their last name suffixed with 'San' while the dress code is typically quite formal, with navy and black pressed suits. In the wake of the 2011 tsunami and its effects on electric power production, the government put forth initiatives such as 'Cool Biz' to encourage employees to avoid wearing suits and ties to try and maintain optimum air-conditioning temperatures.

Foreign Multinationals and Modern Japanese Progressive Companies

At most international businesses, the work atmosphere tends to be less strict and hierarchal. Nonetheless, there are some common characteristics.

It is essential to integrate with others and to be able to think practically and present solutions. All ideas and viewpoints are welcome and often encouraged. The ability to be imaginative and convey cognition through deeds is the key to accomplishment.

• Seniority and promotions are earned through successful undertakings. Leaders entrust their teams with achieving ambitions with minimal interference regarding the means. Keeping higher-ups and folks informed is paramount, and consent is required for crucial choices, much like in Japanese companies.

• Busy schedules are rarely necessary. A vast number of Japanese companies have their employees completing long shifts. Occasionally, they might not leave until the boss calls it a night, though that isn't exactly the standard in non-Japanese and more recent Japanese organizations. For this reason, efficiency and atmosphere of the working atmosphere are talking points in numerous places around the world, even though this is a difficult situation to make reality even in the western world and Japan.

• This workplace culture is typically much more relaxed, with people typically interacting on a first-name basis. Various styles of communicating and general office behavior are accepted, and dressing for success or as business casual is preferred as long as the company's core values are upheld. The fashion ranges from ties and suits to button-up collared shirts and respectable business trousers, without one particular norm in mind.

Please also note that understanding of the customs and cultures does not only help once you are inside an organization as an employee and looking for a promotion, but it also helps during the interviews. Companies tend to analyze the soft-skill of the prospective employees, and the soft skills are not only limited to testing your interpersonal and communication skills, etc. but also to see whether you will be able to integrate with the company's work culture.

All in all, despite some of the difficulties of acclimating to the culture and customs of either a Japanese or foreign firm based in Japan, it's quite manageable when one puts in the effort to build their relationships. It may take some time to adjust to the Japanese work life, but eventually, you will find that working in Japan is incredibly fulfilling! 

Especially if you are a software developer with some nice skills, finding an IT job in Japan and working with some of the modern tech companies in Japan can be very rewarding because of Japan always struggles with the shortage of information technology professionals with an ever-increasing demand for the same.