CORPORATE CULTURE OF JAPAN
What is corporate culture?
Corporate culture is the total sum of the
values, customs, traditions, and
meanings that make a company unique.
Corporate culture is often called "the
character of an organization", since it
embodies the vision of the company’s
founders.
The values of a corporate culture influence
the ethical standards within a
corporation, as well as managerial
behaviour.
JAPAN
• Capital: Tokyo
• Population: 127,078,679 (July 2009 est.)
• Industries: Consumer electronics, motor vehicles, machine
tools, steel, and nonferrous metals
• Exports: Motor vehicles, semiconductors, and office
machinery
• Agriculture: Rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pork, fish
• Currency: Yen
• Life Expectancy: Average: 82, Male: 78.8, Female:
85.6
• Literacy Rate: 99%
• Unemployment Rate: 4%
• It’s known as Nippon (the land of rising sun)
• Japan is made up of main island and over 4,000 little
islands -Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Hokkaido.
• The Japan flag has a red circle in the middle which
symbolizes the red sun on a white background.
FOOD
• Japanese food is well known for its simplicity and
tastiness.
• Sushi is the most known food.
• Soybean is the key ingredient
DINING
• Remove your shoes before entering and put on the
slippers left at the doorway.
• . To signify that you do not want more rice, finish
every grain in your bowl.
• Arrive on time or no more than 5 minutes late if
invited for dinner.
• Unless you have been told the event is casual, dress
as if you were going into the office.
Table Manners
• The honoured guest or the eldest person will be
seated in the centre of the table the furthest from
the door
• Never point your chopsticks.
• Do not pierce your food with chopsticks.
• Try a little bit of everything.
• Don't be surprised if your Japanese colleagues slurp
their noodles and soup.
• Mixing other food with rice is usually not done.
• An empty glass is an invitation for someone to serve
you more.
• To signify that you do not want more rice, finish
every grain in your bowl.
LANGUAGE
• Japanese is the 6th most spoken language
• 99% of people speak Japanese. Rest speaks English.
• Japanese is written in characters like Chinese.
CLOTHING
• Kimono is the traditional form of clothing.
• And this is worn both by men and women
• Nowadays all western type of dresses are worn.
WEDDING
• Spring and autumn are the favorite seasons for
Japanese weddings
• On certain days,, there may
be as many as forty couples
united in Japanese weddings
at a Shinto shrine
FESTIVALS
• Hanami ,the ancient and known tradition is the
"cherry blossom viewing party“
• Hina Matsuri -Dolls
dedicated from all over
the country are
paraded to the docks
and sent out to sea.
This festival is held
every year with the
wish to drive the evil
spirits out of girls!
•
Meetings
• Punctuality is important.
• Start the meeting with non-business
conversation.
• Wait to be introduced.
• Give respect according to the person’s status.
Meetings
• Japanese bow when greeting, but
expect the foreigners to shake
hands
• Japanese decisions are based on
meetings
• Keep the company of an interpreter
(or bilingual assistant), if you are
serious about the business
Business cards
• Business cards are exchanged to formalize
the introduction.
• Bilingual cards are used
• Cards must be with information in Japanese
on the back
• Give your business card with the Japanese
side facing the recipient.
Business cards
• Card must contain your title
• Cards are given and received
with two hands and a slight
bow
• Cards are placed on the table
during a meeting
• After the meeting, put the
cards in a case or a portfolio
Gift giving
• Gift giving is expected on many business
occasions in Japan.
• Quality is more important
than the cost
• The packaging of the gift
is as important as the gift itself and should
be done professionally
• Select the gift based on the person’s culture
Gift giving
• Lilies, camellias, lotus and white flowers of
any kind are not given as they’re associated
with funerals
• Except bonsai all potted plants must be
avoided
• Sets of four are considered unlucky, so not
give gifts in four
• Gifts are not opened when received
Communication styles
• Japanese and Western communication styles
greatly differs
• Japanese do not prefer to speak out openly,
silence is considered a value
• Often a socially acceptable opinion is stated
(tatemae), instead of what a person really
thinks (honne), to keep harmony
Communication styles
• Japan is a High-Context Culture, where a
message does not need to be communicated
explicitly. People will still understand one
another
• Feeling and atmospheres can be understood
with very few words, because people tend to
share common values
Conclusion
Japan, victorious of all the nations is not only
because of their hard work but also due to
their love of country and culture.
Despite the tragedies happened to them,
they achieved this status by building up brick
to brick their economy as well as culture.
