About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
What is the focal point of your life?

What is the focal point of your life? 1. Leisure 2. Income 3. A healthy diet 4. Savings 5. Self-development 6. Living 7. Durable goods like cars 8. Nothing in particular 9. Clothes 10. Others Source: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
futon

Futon (布団 ふとん) Futons are Japanese beds. A set of futons includes a shikibuton (mattress) and kakebuton (quilt). When not used, the futons are folded up and placed inside a closet called an oshiire. Futons allow small Japanese rooms to be used more efficiently. Japanese quilted bedding placed on the floor. This bedding is usually used […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
fusuma

Fusuma (襖 ふすま) A fusuma is a set of traditional Japanese sliding doors, both sides of which are covered with thick paper or cloth. The main uses of fusuma are as room partitions and as doors for oshiire (Japanese‐style closets).

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
byobu

Byobu (屏風 びょうぶ) A byobu is a folding partition with several panels. Decorated with pictures or calligraphy, some byobu have great artistic value.

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
おまたせしました“o-ma-ta-se shi-ma-shi-ta”

おまたせしました“o-ma-ta-se shi-ma-shi-ta” This phrase is often used in Japanese conversations. In a nutshell, it means "thank you for waiting." But more precisely speaking it is used for showing your respect for others and being sorry that you are late.  This phrase is usually used after you keep someone waiting for some reason or other. If […]

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About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
Japanese-style management

The Differences Between Japanese-style Management and American-style Management By Patricia Pringle Joe Jones got a job working for a Japanese company that was well-known in his area of technical expertise. He had looked forward to getting to know his boss, Jiro Suzuki, and finding out what sort of projects Suzuki wanted him to start working […]

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About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
What kind of boss can you respect in Japan?

What kind of boss can you respect?   1. Duly appreciates my business results 2. Doesn’t shift the responsibility onto someone else 3. Decisive 4. Fair to everyone without discriminating or favoring 5. Trustworthy 6. Has personal magnetism 7. Can cover his or her subordinate’s failure completely 8. Listens carefully to what others say 9. […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
noren

Noren (暖簾 のれん) Noren, are short curtains with vertical slits hung in front of restaurants, bars, and shops during business hours. The name of the shop or a symbol indicating the products sold there may be dyed into the cloth, so the noren also functions as a shop sign. Since a shop's noren symbolizes the shop, […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
tokonoma

Tokonoma (床の間 とこのま) Tokonoma, a kind of decorative alcove in a Japanese‐style room, normally has such features as raised flooring, one to three hanging scrolls called kakejiku or kakemono on the back wall, and a flower arrangement on the floor. Rooms with tokonoma are not often seen now. Tokonoma is a magnificent room in a Japanese-style […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
tatami

Tatami (畳 たたみ) Tatami, floor mats for Japanese‐style rooms, are filled with woven rice straw and covered with finely‐woven rush. The normal size of one tatami is 180 centimeters long and 90 centimeters wide (approximately 6 feet by 3 feet); the size of Japanese‐style rooms is measured by the number of tatami. It is said […]

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