Why Do Japanese Apologise So Often?

Japanese participants in JCO seminars very often give following complaint: “Staff in Europe/the US seldom apologize but are always looking for excuses instead.” Let’s take a closer look at the cultural background of this rather unflattering perception of Western staff and colleagues. As Japan is very densely populated it is a necessity to defuse potential…

How to Get Feedback from a Japanese Boss

Sometimes when Westerners work with Japanese they can be frustrated by the lack of feedback from their Japanese managers. Why is it sometimes difficult to get feedback from Japanese managers? There can be many reasons why there is no feedback. A Japanese boss may be simply not conscious of the need to give feedback. The…

Reporting: Is it Top-Down or Bottom-Up?

When you work with Japanese, whether colleagues or clients, there is an important cultural aspect that many Westerners overlook in their enthusiasm to “get the job done”. Specifically, this is the importance that the Japanese place on reporting. Because Japan is very hierarchical, Westerners naturally expect decisions to be taken at the top of the…