Japanese Business Etiquette Training | Japanese Business Culture Training

Doing business in Japan can be confusing, frustrating and unsuccessful without understanding Japanese business etiquette and the basic business culture in Japan. Our consultants have extensive experience working for and doing business with Japanese companies, along with Japanese fluency at a business level.

We deliver Japanese business etiquette training programs and seminars on Japanese business culture to help bridge the cultural and communication gap with Japan for improved business outcomes. This includes support for both local staff and Japanese expatriates of Japanese companies, and support for local companies considering or conducting business with Japan.

Our Japanese business culture training programs can be run as a stand-alone courses, or in conjunction with our Managing Multicultural Teams training. For further information, Download the Japanese Business Etiquette Training Flyer or contact us with an inquiry via the form at the bottom of this page.

Japanese Business Etiquette

It is amazing how a little understanding about another’s background can help bridge communication and understanding. Those who have had difficulty dealing with Japanese in business will find that developing some insight about Japan as a country, its people, and Japanese business culture can give clarity to some of those moments that have mystified them.

Japan is a fascinating place. Learning about its people, culture and customs is an enjoyable experience and developing the skills to seamlessly enjoy a Japanese lunch or evening function with colleagues can be very useful. Traveling there is even more enjoyable! Whilst exploring this, we address the characteristics of Japanese society that cause Japanese to think and behave differently.

Japanese Business Culture Training

The Japanese business world can seem just like another world. The framework that governs relationship-building, customs, business etiquette and the entertainment scene differs greatly to Western, Middle-Eastern and Asian cultures. There are a myriad of pitfalls into which an unwitting business professional can fall that will unsettle their Japanese counterpart.

An understanding of business culture developed through Japanese business culture training is priceless whether you are observing their conduct, listening to their presentations or negotiating a deal.

Japanese Company Characteristics

Whether it is continuous improvement, production, quality or human resource management, Japanese management techniques in many areas lead the world. However, there are other areas where outside observers scratch their head. As an example, Japanese companies are notorious for their slow decision making. Those doing business with the Japanese often mutter that their Japanese counterparts are stalling or avoiding making a decision. But is it the individual, their colleagues, their corporate policy, or the Japanese business culture which is delaying an outcome?

Understanding the managerial characteristics of a Japanese company is crucial for local managers working in overseas operations. This knowledge not only aids their comprehension of the company’s operations abroad but also offers insights into the head office in Japan. Gaining an understanding of how the head office manages the business can illuminate the reasons behind certain decisions communicated from Japan and how Japanese expatriate managers handle these decisions locally.

Doing Business in Japan

There are some key points to be mindful of when conducting business with the Japanese. It is never a case of walking over broken glass to please your counterpart. We always encourage our clients to be themselves. But if your objective is to establish and continue a healthy relationship in order to maximise business outcomes, it is a advantage to understand the expectations, techniques and considerations required to successfully do business with the Japanese.

Working Within a Japanese Company

Local employees need to be aware of the expectations from their Japanese employer. Ignoring this will continually cause a sense of unease, mistrust and low performance.

What role is expected of local managers and employees in a Japanese company? In accordance with these expectations what should local managers be tackling? What should they be doing as a manager? What type of actions should they be taking towards problem solving? How should they be developing their subordinates? Do the rules of Japanese business etiquette apply to them?

Local management should take time to understand what it means to work for a Japanese employer. Understanding the true meaning behind the expectations will lead to an improved engagement of local employees.

Japanese Expatriates Working Within Overseas Companies

Japanese companies have long held a system of sending employees to manage their overseas bases. It is often the case that they may only be abroad for a few years before they move on. It is therefore critical for them to understand the local culture quickly in order to be effective with managing local employees in a local environment.

Shinka Management understand the situation of these Japanese expatriates. We understand their Japanese business culture and the foreign business cultures they have been dispatched to work within. We can tailor programs that either work exclusively with the Japanese expatriates or in parallel with the local employees. These are conducted in Japanese and English respectively. Combined sessions with presentations and discussion of learnings can take a big leap towards bridging the cultural and communication gap.

The ever-evolving relationship with Japan

Japan remains a vitally important trading partner with many countries.

Japan has entered numerous free trade agreements (more appropriately referred to as Economic Partnership Agreements by Japan), commencing with Singapore in 2000, and extending to Mexico, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Thailand, Brunei, ASEAN, Vietnam, Switzerland, India, Peru, Australia through the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement and most recently with the European Union. Japan is also recognized as a heavy investor into other regions such as USA and the Middle East.

Japan has developed a strong trading history with these countries despite greatly differing cultures and language issues. Through improved understanding of each other, there are boundless opportunities for the people of these countries to further their trade relationship with Japan.

With increasing investment into these regions, local professionals are increasingly dealing with Japanese in a business environment without necessarily ever visiting Japan. Human resources managers face the challenge of giving their employees the best platform to understand and engage with management and colleagues who have come from a very different corporate upbringing.