20 Years in a Japanese Company

Kai majored in Japanese studies, and in his fourth year, he earned a scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbusho) to come to Japan as an exchange student. It was his first time abroad, so everything was incredibly new. The skyscrapers were fascinating, when it rained there was no mud (?!), he quickly learned that the edible white block was not cheese but tofu, and that there was no “chicken” in “sea chicken.” Japan was truly a different world. 

Kai didn’t come to Japan with the intention of staying, but the right mix of genuine fondness for the country and life circumstances allowed him to return after he graduated. Initially, his Japanese level wasn’t high enough to work in a Japanese company, so he started as an ALT (assistant language teacher) and worked part-time in a hotel. Two years later, he felt confident enough in his language skills to apply for a position in the overseas department of his current company. That was 21 years ago. 

Tell us about your experience as a foreigner working in a Japanese company.

Kai: This was my first office job, so I didn’t have much to compare it to, but nothing could have prepared me for the morning routine that involved rajio-taiso (radio calisthenics), cleaning the office, and chanting the company oath and slogans. I honestly only thought those practices only existed in communist countries, yet here I was experiencing them in early 2000s Japan. I think my lack of experience and context helped me endure and work on fitting in. However, many foreigners I knew had difficulty adjusting and staying long-term. But a lot has changed since then. 

The most difficult adjustments were being expected to stay late and working on Saturdays (even if it wasn’t a regular occurrence), which I could never get on board with. There was also a communication mishap when I was scheduled to take PTO. In retrospect, it was probably because the company just wasn’t very used to working around PTO, but it was a different time then.

Finally, figuring out nemawashi (the notion that certain ideas had to be pre-approved by key people before being discussed in meetings) came with its own set of challenges. Again, Japanese society has come a long way in recent years, though there is still a significant gap compared to standard practices globally. 

While I did find some rules unnecessarily strict, like you can’t be even one minute late and repeat offenders were punished, my language skills helped me manage misunderstandings and navigate cultural differences, so while there was confusion here and there, I didn’t really struggle per se. 

The one thing I quickly learned was to avoid arguing with my superiors, even when I presented facts. At that time, I wasn't mature enough to grasp the significance of avoiding a loss of face.  Looking back, instances like these are just part of office life and personal growth.

Did your company make exceptions for you because you were not Japanese?

Kai: I was a local hire, so in that sense, I was treated more like a Japanese employee. That said, I was no doubt given special treatment occasionally because they understood that, as foreigners, we were not raised with the same cultural values. I played the foreigner card when applying for one week off to see my family. None of my Japanese colleagues did that. Also, my boss was very gracious to allow me to take a 1-month paternal leave when our child was born. I did work from home, so I wasn’t completely detached from the office, but it made a huge difference for my family and me.  I believe that at the time, less than 1% of Japanese men took parental leave, and many didn’t even know it was a possibility. 

You have been at your company for more than 20 years. What were the reasons you chose to stay in this company?

Kai: Since I was a linguistics major, I started this job from scratch. Throughout the years, I received numerous opportunities for growth and the necessary support, so I never felt the urge to explore other options. I frequently visited our factories in Asia, along with our suppliers and customers in Europe and North America. On several occasions, I faced new challenges and had to learn on the job. Once again, the company consistently provided access to resources I could rely on, which kept me motivated and optimistic about the future.

Kai: The first thing that comes to mind is, I am now fine with Japan not necessarily being at the cutting edge of technology.  The occasional fax or personal stamp (“hanko”) use is no longer a subject of ridicule; it makes me chuckle at most.  If it works and has its place in office life, then so be it. I probably have some nostalgia here too, because I know these things are on their way out. But they also serve as an example of appreciation I’ve built over the years for the Japanese tendency to not be too quick in replacing everything with the latest and shiniest gadgets, it’s okay that not everyone is ready or able to make the switch.  

Take Toyota cars – nothing exciting about them, but they reliably take you from point A to point B without issues.  Or retaining physical buttons and knobs in the center console of the car instead of using an iPad stuck on the dash as an afterthought just for the sake of it. While I still have some frustrations about things tending to move slowly or involving too many people, as I have come to understand Japanese mentality and way of approaching things, I am now a lot less agitated about aspects I don’t fully agree with.

What do you think are the benefits of working in Japan/in a Japanese company?

Kai: Job stability is definitely high on my list. There is a sense of security that employees are not easily disposable. For example, companies here tend not to let people go as readily as their foreign counterparts at any downward swing of the economy. Healthcare is affordable and of top quality. I didn’t think much of it in the past, but having recently interacted closely with the US medical system (or lack thereof), being in Japan just lifted a huge burden off my chest.

Japanese people tend to be very friendly, accommodating, and respectful toward foreigners, especially those who make an effort to adjust to the Japanese way of doing things. The people I work with here are generally very punctual, attentive to detail, and take pride in their work.  And they’re good fun too!

When speaking to people abroad, such as at trade shows, I often notice a sense of admiration when I mention that I work for a Japanese company. There is a strong perception of excellence and quality associated with Japan, and 'Made in Japan' continues to command respect to this day. Having dealt with quality-related matters both in Japan and internationally, I can confidently say that there is a distinct difference in quality standards.

Kai: In recent years, Japanese companies have become less competitive in terms of salary and benefits, even compared to other Asian countries. This is in part compensated by the relatively low cost of living, but would not appeal much to someone looking to save, or send money back home. Especially with the weak yen.

There is still a general desire among management to make the foreigners fit into the company culture and follow established ways of doing things, which to an extent defeats the purpose of hiring a foreigner in the first place.

Micromanagement in its various forms is still present, compared to Western companies where people are generally given more freedom and expected to take responsibility.  The frequent reporting and long meetings, especially the report-type ones, which could be an email (as Covid showed us), may also not be to the liking of someone accustomed to a more pragmatic work environment.  I should also add that tobacco smoking is still fairly common, and completely escaping the smoke or smell is not always possible.

How do you think the work culture has changed in Japan since you started working here?

Kai: I worked outside of Japan for 12 out of the past 21 years, which, on one hand, helped me recognize the numerous positive changes upon re-entering the Japanese office.  On the other hand, returning from overseas, I still notice that many things are still done the old-fashioned way. I do not say that negatively, but from a global perspective, many aspects of work here still appear to lag behind.  That said, in recent years, especially post-Covid, change is happening faster than I ever imagined, particularly in the so-called hatarakikata area (ways of working).  The introduction of flexible work hours has been a godsend. Hybrid and remote work was also something I did not think I would see become normalized as swiftly as it did.  Recently introduced legislation-driven shifts from paper to digital record keeping, utilization of cloud-based work management tools, top management-backed overtime reduction initiatives, etc., are all contributing to a much more enjoyable and modern work environment.  I sometimes wish the radio taiso had survived the cut though, I miss that (ha ha).

Kai: I know it’s a cliché, but having an open mind is essential. Instead of focusing on differences and challenges or trying to resist them, seek to understand cultural and workplace differences and be willing to adapt. A healthy dose of patience is also key to thriving and persevering."

Making an effort to learn and speak the language and understand the culture (it doesn’t have to make sense; it's more about accepting how things are) is always highly appreciated and will always be to your advantage.

Ultimately, working in Japan is a unique experience that can be extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally.  I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to immerse myself so deeply in Japanese life.  I encourage everyone to do their research, set realistic expectations, and have the confidence to apply for the jobs they are interested in, even if they don’t think they meet all the criteria on the job post.  Good luck!

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