Number of Japanese companies that have been around for more than 100 years
Japan is home to the world's longest-living companies, with nearly 30,000 companies that have been in business for more than 100 years. Although there are some big companies like Panasonic, most of them are actually small companies with less than 9 employees. The more you expand your business, the more difficult it becomes to steer […]
The Truth About JAPANESE Consumers
By D. McCaughan Shopping is a complicated business. Balancing different elements including price, convenience, personal preferences, sources of information, trust and special offers. No more complicated than in Japan where variety, new offerings, crowded stores and endless on-line and mobile advice are overwhelming. I have written before about some of the shopping options and decision […]
Why There Is No Job Descriptions in Japan?
Job Description Is Not Stipulated in a Japanese Company By R. Kopp In many Japanese organizations operating in the U.S., American employees complain that job descriptions are non-existent, or are outdated and irrelevant. Indeed, I have encountered many Japanese companies that do not have any job descriptions, or only have a set that was created […]
Fair Trade market and movement in Japan
Low awareness about fair trade in Japan By Florian Kohlbacher and Sara Schmitz Awareness of Fair Trade Among Youths On a Sunday morning at 9 am, Sumika Mogi was already up for a while and making her way through Tokyo’s subway system, heading to the weekly meeting of her club, the Fair Trade Students Network […]
Interview with Makoto Shinkai, Animation Director
Astonish the World with the “Japan’s Landscape” Perhaps one of the distinctive characteristics of the animated movie director Makoto Shinkai is that for all the movies he has been involved in to date, including his best-known work “5 Centimeters Per Second” (2007), he has doubled up as original creator, script writer, editor, cinematographer, and director […]
Aichi Triennale, a City-type Art Festival in Japan
Inside Look at Aichi Triennale There are many different art festivals in Japan. The most famous one is probably the Triennale in Naoshima. It attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad. Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea, and its scenic beauty is one of the best things about it, but there are […]
Revitalization of Marginalized Communities in Japan through the Arts
Art Festival in Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea) On a scorching summer day, Ogijima, a small island with about 160 residents was besieged by a swarm of tourists. Local residents were surprised but nonetheless gladdened to see so many strangers. “I rarely see people outside of my island. But they are very welcome,” said one islander, […]
How Much Pocket Money Do the Japanese Receive Each Month?
Source: April, 2019 survey of 1,000 full-time male workers ages 20-59 by the Shinsei Bank, Limited The Shinsei Bank, which conducts an annual survey about discretionary spending by wage-earners, found that the average “allowance” among salarymen this year was 38,457 yen ($384) --- the lowest since 1982 (when it was 34,100 yen, or $341). While […]
What Do Japanese Eat for Breakfast?
Why do the Japanese prefer bread to rice? Source: Survey of 2,137 married women ages 20-60 conducted in April, 2018 In a survey on the breakfast habits of married women ranging from those in their 20s through their 60s, more than half responded that they prefer a meal based on bread or bread products, with […]
Confidentiality and Information Exchange in Japanese Companies
How to Use Email Properly in a Japanese Business Email is an indispensable tool for business. However, its usage may be a little different in Japan than in other countries. Do you use reply for all? In Japan, replying to everyone is the norm. Why do you think that is? By P. Pringle Recent News […]