Japanese Work Culture: How is it Different from The West?

Maybe you’ve visited Japan before or had a blast studying abroad, so you decide you want to work in Japan as well. However, the Japanese work culture is quite distinct, especially from Western nations like the US. So, before you start rushing to find a job here, being aware of specific cultural differences may help you adjust or even rethink if working here is right for you.

So, the good news is that Japan is hiring foreigners on a large scale, allowing for vast work opportunities. People from all over the globe are swarming to work here. Last year, the number of foreign workers in Japan amounted to a whopping 2.049 million. The first time in history to exceed 2 million. However, all that glitters may not be gold.

The work culture in Japan is very different from that in Western countries like America. These include employee-employer relationships, dress codes, colleagues’ behavior, and ethics at Japanese workplaces. Essentially, aspects of traditional Japanese culture persevered into the modern working environment, resulting in distinct expectations and norms from the West. As a result, it can be difficult for a foreigner to understand many of these social norms since they are not always visually observable and can be hidden in layers of context.

Want to learn Japanese while working in Japan? You might find it difficult to find classes that fit your schedule and may struggle to fully commit to your studies.

At Coto Academy, we have many courses that allow you to improve your Japanese language ability while maintaining just the right balance between work life and study commitment. Check out our recommended courses here or contact us directly for a free consultation.

Jump to:

• Japanese Working Culture
• Common Business Etiquette in Japan
• Popular Jobs for Foreigners in Japan

Japanese Work Culture: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Work culture in Japan is almost that of legend, or rather infamy, where we hear that there is even a word for working yourself to death, known as karoshi (過労死). The general perception of the Japanese work environment is that it’s rigid, hierarchical, and unforgiving, with poor work-life balance. But how accurate is this perception, and how does that compare with Western work culture such as the U.S.?

Strong Work Commitment And Overwork

If there is a reputation that precedes the Japanese working population, it’s their strong work ethic. Punctuality and commitment to work are of utmost importance to Japanese work culture. Being on time means being at least 15 minutes early, and prioritizing work over family is an expectation. They start their day early and spend hours commuting. Working overtime is often a normal practice. In some sense, Japanese people view the workplace as their family. If a person works for long hours then it is seen as a sign of love toward his or her family.

In America, balancing work and life is given priority. About 72 percent of Americans consider work-life balance while looking for a job. Employees acknowledge that spending quality time with their loved ones is as essential as work. However, overtime and low work-life balance are pervasive issues in the U.S. Several surveys indicate that over 60% of Americans do not have a work-life balance. The surveys often cite working too many hours or working on vacation as reasons for the lack of balance. But how does Japan compare?

Karoshi (過労死)

How serious is the Karoshi issue for work culture in Japan? According to Nippon.com using data from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), the mental health issues related to work has increased from last year and the rate of self-harm and those taking their lives saw an increase as well. The number of people suffering from heart and brain health conditions related to work was 216, the highest rate in 4 years.

This is all linked to Japan having one of the highest rates of overtime in the world with very few employees actually taking their paid time off (PTO). You often hear that employees feel guilty to take time off or may even have their PTO requests rejected.

This paints a very grim picture of the current work situation in Japan. However, the nation is making efforts to improve the work culture. One initiative includes a 4 day work week policy that the Japanese government is attempting to encourage.

Workplace Formalities

In Japan, companies follow a quite strict formal dress code. Male employees wear charcoal grey, navy blue, or black suits along with a white shirt and subdued ties throughout the year. While female employees wear similar color blazers along with trousers, skirts, heels, and tied-up ponytails. Standing out or wearing bright colors is a slight no-no at the offices in Japan. 

This contrasts with most companies in the west, like America, where there tends to be more flexibility as employees are free to wear casual at work. Mostly, suits are worn whenever there is a business meeting or presentation.

Overall, the work culture in Japan is more formal than in the US. Best practice is to use formal language and show greater respect to your boss and seniors (or senpai). An essential aspect of Japanese culture is treating anyone older, more experienced, or in a higher social position with the utmost respect, as they can impart their knowledge to you.

It was once normal to refrain from leaving the workplace before your boss or seniors, but this is largely being phased out. However, the pressure to not say ‘no’ to your seniors, especially to after-work drinking called nomikai (飲み会), is still rather prevalent. Even when drinking, it is essential to maintain proper manners to your boss and senior colleagues, such as serving them drinks before yourself.

Generalists Over Specialists

The Japanese workplaces focus on the group. During the hiring process, a lot of companies give less priority to skill sets and specialization. Instead, they want to evaluate the cultural fit of the candidates. This is because Japanese companies want employees that can perform well in a group for a good amount of time. They don’t have a firing culture. Employees work at companies for a very long period. In fact, Japan is known for its lifetime employment system. 

On the other hand, American companies look for candidates who have specialization as well as the right skills for the job. They follow a system of ‘structural individualism’ wherein the main focus is on the individual’s career. That’s why switching companies for better opportunities or strategic job hopping is a common practice in the US. However, this should not be mistaken for the absence of teamwork. Individual employees do participate in group projects from time to time.

Rigid Top-down Hierarchy in Japanese companies

Employees must report to their seniors, inform the seniors about the latest developments, and consult seniors for work advice. Employees are not free to make decisions. They have to approve everything from their superiors, even the small things. This is called ho-ren-so (ほれんそう), which means “spinach” in the Japanese language but is actually an abbreviation for:

• 報告 Hokoku (to report)
• 連絡 Renraku (to inform)
• 相談 Sodan (to consult)

In contrast to this, American organizations tend to decentralize authority and decision-making. Every employee gets to make his or her decisions that could help the business to grow. Of course, employees go to their seniors for professional advice now and then. Ultimately, this comes back to how Western-style organizations tend to hire specialists who already have the skills, whereas Japanese companies hire generalists that they can train. This is what necessitates the hierarchy in Japanese companies that rely on seniors to train juniors. Since professionals who don’t need to be trained are often hired in Western organizations, they rely less on the company and are more willing to leave. As a result, western companies tend to have a more individualistic atmosphere.

Risk Adversity

People have a conservative mindset in Japanese corporations. Employees avoid taking risks unless they are 100 percent sure about the outcomes. They usually go along with safer old ideas which are already tried and tested.

On the flip side, western businesses tend to take more risks and are much more open to trying something fresh. American employees don’t hesitate as much to take risks even if they are not certain about the results. Americans are more likely to invest in disruptive startups, projects ,and technologies. However, the drawback of taking more risks means that American companies might suffer more losses. Although America is often characterized as a land of risk-takers, many companies are adverse to risk. So, conservative sentiments towards risk are not uncommon in the states either.

Close relationships with colleagues

Work culture in Japan is not just about working on and off. When employees are at work, they only work. However, once the work hours end, employees go out to socialize with one another. They usually hang out at karaoke or restaurants for nomikai, which is a Japanese word for a drinking party. With everyone seated around one big table, co-workers are expected to drink, share meals and interact with each other. Nomikai has all different kinds. It even exists outside the work circle in Japan. Joining such parties is considered socially appropriate. Still, they are completely optional and anyone can skip them if they want. 

In America, there are no social norms for socializing or bonding after work. American employees are already familiar with their co-workers due to their informal working environment. Thus, they largely don’t need to set separate times to get to know one another. This gives them more space for their personal life.

Prioritizing harmony over conflict

The Japanese way of communicating is quite indirect. Japanese people are usually accustomed to observing and absorbing knowledge thoroughly. Due to this, asking questions is sometimes considered rude by society. As a result, you will rarely see anyone raising their hands with queries in mind by the end of business meetings or presentations. Even if they didn’t understand anything, people will tend to avoid asking it because of this stigma. 

Meanwhile, in America, questions come and go anytime. There are no social barriers and clearing doubts is a normal thing. The American work culture is more straightforward in these aspects.

Common Business Etiquettes in Japanese Work Culture 

Social interactions in Japanese work culture can be confusing. Japan has unique business manners and etiquette that differ from western standards. To avoid cultural shock, it’s best if you know them firsthand. In Japan, there are quite a several do’s and don’ts that business professionals are required to keep in mind. Here’s a crisp list of the few most important etiquettes that you need to catch sight of.

1. Bowing to Clients Till The Elevator Door Closes 

Whenever you have visitor clients at the office, it is expected to accompany them to the front door. If your office is at a high-rise building then seeing off the visitors to the front door may seem too much. In that case, you should escort visitors to the elevator. Once they get on the elevator, you should bow till the gates close. 

2. Removing Coats Before Entering Office  

In winter, you will see employees taking off their coats and folding them over their arms before entering the office buildings. They don’t do so inside building hallways because it might disturb other people. 

3. Business Card Etiquette

Japanese business culture is very polite and respectful. Whenever there is an exchange of business cards during meetings, they are done gracefully like a ritual. The first person holds the card with both hands while facing the other person. Then he bows while offering the card and the other party also bows the same way and accepts the card.

4. Seat Arrangement Based On Rank 

During business conferences or meetings, members are seated as per their position in the company. Leaders or seniors with more expertise get front seats. A similar seating arrangement is used in other places such as colleges, trains, taxis and so on.

5. Customer is the God 

You may have heard multiple times how the customer is the ‘king’ in the market. However, in Japan, the customer is not just regarded as the king but as a ‘god’ as well. Employees greet customers with care whenever they come and go. Their happiness is the number one priority of every business. They are handled with proper respect and offending them is out of option.

Fact vs. Fiction of Japanese Work Culture 

Work culture in Japan is far from perfect, and there are many common notions across the globe, but how much holds true?

Work Environment and Labor Regulations In Japan

Despite the amount of overtime reported by the nation, labor law is quite strong and protects employees very well. It is for this reason that companies have a difficult time firing people in Japan. Additionally, labor law also takes precedence over any legally binding employee contract, but there are limitations. You should be careful of burakku kigyou (ブラック企業) or black companies which are infamous for trapping employees in exploitative contracts. 

If you are having any issues regarding work, Japan has a variety of support services available. One place to contact or visit is FRESC which is a government organization that can assist with employment, unemployment, legal issues, etc., for foreigners living in Japan. They have an office in Shinjuku and usually have staff who can speak English. Hellowork is more available across Japan but generally only has Japanese speaking staff. 

Times Are Changing For Work Culture In Japan

Amidst the influx of foreigners coming to work and offset the aging population, Japanese companies have already started embracing the change that comes with them. Aspects of traditional Japanese work culture that is difficult for foreigners to adjust to are shifting. Even the younger Japanese population is driving change in similar ways to foreigners since they are more likely to change companies in their careers and expect greater work-life balance. Japanese companies hiring lots of foreigners tend to be more flexible with PTO, less rigid about hierarchies and do not expect employees to stick around for life. 

Although this may be the case with certain Japanese companies, Japan is a nation that likes to preserve traditions and is adverse to change. So, you can expect many companies may still be very conservative in certain expectations. However, as a foreigner, they likely won’t expect you to know every minute detail of proper Japanese manners so I wouldn’t sweat over it.

Most Common Jobs For Foreigners In Japan

The Japanese job market is vast and more open to foreigners than ever before. While many companies do not accept foreign employees, the amount that do is increasing year by year according the MHLW. This is great news for the increasing number foreign job seekers entering the Japanes workforce every year. But most foreigners from the west tend to work in certain industries. We’ll be covering a few positions, but for the full list of popular jobs for foreigners in Japan, head to this article.

1. English Teacher 

English teaching is the most common form of employment for many foreigners, or rather many foreigners get trapped in English teaching. Most can land a job teaching at cram schools and educational institutions by having a bachelor’s or associate’s degree of any kind. Many roles do not require any teaching certificates, so the barrier to entry is not too high. Based on the graph above, most Americans by far land jobs in the education sector, usually as English Teachers. If you enjoy and have a passion for teaching, Japan is one of the best places for employment. This is because the government is making drastic efforts to improve English literacy, so they are turning to foreigners to help bridge this gap.

2. IT Professional 

If you have a background in development, design, data, or IT of any kind, Japan is fertile ground for employment. Currently, there is a huge demand for professionals with IT skills and Japanese abilities are oftentimes not necessary. On average, a tech professional or software engineer usually earns around ¥7.7 million per year.

3. Translator or Interpreter

It’s no surprise that translation or interpreter-related roles are also highly valued, but these roles are rather limited in comparison to the others mentioned. The job of a translator is pretty much versatile in Japan. Translators are required not only for English to Japanese translations but in many other languages as well. The gaming industry is one of the biggest sectors needing translators to overcome the language barrier. A good number of translators also do freelance assignments for brands, publishing houses, etc. The salary of a translator can vary depending on the skill level. Usually, the average translator makes about ¥3 million in a year.

4. Engineer 

In the utopia of advanced technology, Japan undoubtedly stands as a key player. From manufacturing world-class automobiles to electronics, there’s so much to this country. It’s thriving and full of prospects. Companies dealing in cars or electronic items regularly have openings for engineers with excellent pay. An average engineer receives a salary of ¥7 million per year. Check out some of the best IT job sites in Japan.

Brush Up on your Business in Japanese

To truly adapt to work culture in Japan, your polite business Japanese must be sharp so you can mesh with your teams. Being able to speak business Japanese and practice proper business etiquette will definitely enhance your hire-ability. The sad truth is that passing certain levels of the JLPT is never enough for this.

To heighten your Japanese abilities, taking up business Japanese courses while working in Japan is very effective. Coto Japanese Academy offers business Japanese courses covering every aspect of business Japanese. If you wish to learn Japanese in Tokyo, check out our various Japanese courses!

Send us an inquiry now!

Check out: 

• How to prepare for a Japanese Job Interview – Comprehensive Guide
• Top 10 Useful Phrases for Japanese Job Interviews
• 4 Key Questions in Japanese Job Interview

FAQs:

What are the similarities between workplaces in Japan and America?

Japan and America have a couple of similarities as well. Both countries have very long work weeks. Japanese people are extremely hardworking and working overtime is not something strange to them. Cases of Karoshi or death by overwork is a serious issue in Japan. Similarly, Americans spend most of their time at work and face similar experiences. 

In both countries, employees prefer to take shorter vacations or time off from work. Japanese employees feel guilty when they don’t work. Just like that, most American employees stay devoted to their jobs.

What is the Japanese Work Ethic Like?

The Japanese work ethic can be characterized as diligent, prompt, and serious. Employees often work overtime to fulfill their duties properly. They even prioritize work over their personal lives at times. Japanese employees usually respect hierarchy and not question anything their boss asks of them. The work ethic also tends to value employees as a group rather than individuals and often has team targets rather than personal ones.

How to overcome cultural differences while working in Japan? 

Working in Japan can be an overwhelming experience. The cultural shock is quite strong when you first arrive. But it’s only a matter of time. You need to be patient, and observant, and try your best in meeting the expectations. Make friends because having good companions will help you in your lonesome moments. Keep navigating your way, you will eventually find yourself overcoming the cultural barrier.

Do Japanese companies hesitate to offer jobs to foreigners?

Japanese companies hesitate to offer jobs to foreigners. That is primarily because there is a vast difference between Japanese work culture and American or European work culture. They know very well that fitting into the Japanese environment will take time. Thus, Japanese companies prefer to recruit either local candidates or foreigners who are already in Japan.

What are the perks of working in Japan?

There are several mandatory benefits provided to employees in Japan. These includes: 

• Pensions (for old age, disability, and survivors)
• Maternity leaves up to 14 weeks 
• Paid leaves (at least 5 days a year)
• Insurance and compensations 
• Dietary assistance

Does Japan Have A Good Work Environment

Yes and no, it largely depends on the company. It’s still true Japan has one of the highest overtime hours in the world, PTO usage is low, and pressure is high. Some cases get so severe it leads to Karoshi. However, Japanese work culture overall is improving with more companies offering greater work life balance and improved polices for ensuring employees take time off.

What Is Japanese Business Etiquette

Japanese business etiquette generally encompasses customs and rules (both unspoken/spoken) in Japanese work culture. It can include using very formal business language, bowing to clients till they leave, exchanging business cards in meetings using both hands, etc. Many of the customs exist to maintain hierarchy in the office and utmost respect to clients and customers.