Recent Trends in Job Interviews in Japan (2): "Competency Interview" and "Presentation Interview"
What is a competency interview? The competency interview is a method of interviewing to determine a person's (interviewee's) qualifications, ability to perform the job, and to identify behavioral characteristics. It is often used in interviews, especially for younger, less experienced candidates. This is also important for foreigners who want to work in Japan, because this […]
About Yakuza, Japanese Mafia, Organized Crime Syndicates in Japan
Yakaza on the verge of extinction by Ryoji Shimada, staff writer There are two yakuza movies "Yakuza to Kazoku" (Yakuza and its Family) and "Subarashiki Sekai" (Splendid World) that have been shown this year. They are both highly rated and seen by many people, but they all have one thing in common that the life […]
To Become a Leader in Japan (2): Corporate Growth Equals Human Growth
Many foreigners or non-Japanese in Japan plan to work in Japan for a few years and then return to their home country. On the other hand, there are those who want to live in Japan for a long time and eventually get a permanent residence or Japanese citizenship. There are also people who want to […]
To Become a Leader in Japan (1): Problem-solving Is Your Job
Many foreigners or non-Japanese in Japan plan to work in Japan for a few years and then return to their home country. On the other hand, there are those who want to live in Japan for a long time and eventually get a permanent residence or Japanese citizenship. There are also people who want to […]
Working As an English Teacher in Japan: Inside Japan’s English Conversation Schools
The Truth About Japan’s English Conversation Schools By Erik Tielking This wasn’t supposed to happen. Nova Corporation, my employer for ten years in Japan, operated the nation’s largest chain of English conversation schools, or eikaiwa gakkō. It had been listed on the JASDAQ stock market since 2004. At its peak in 2005 it had 994 branches, […]
What is Shibaku? しばく
What is Shibaku? しばく It is a Kansai dialect and it might not be used in Tokyo or Kanto region. But this expression is commonly used in Kansai especially Osaka. "Shibakku" is often used to mean similar to "to hit" or "to beat". Tokyo people will say "Naguru" instead. It is popularly used as a […]
Recent Trends in Recruitment Interviews in Japan (1): Structured Interview
About 15 years ago, there was a book that was very popular among Japanese students. It was called "The Master of Job Interview" and it was very popular among students who would graduate the following year, i.e. students who were looking for a job. Students preparing for job interviews memorized all the answers written in […]
Japan’s Family, Shop, and Company Precepts (Rules) throughout History of Japan
Japanese Companies Missions and Visions and Precepts When you establish a business, it is important to also clearly establish the basic precepts that underlie the business and how you plan to conduct it. Indeed, many companies operating in today's world have clearly defined business precepts. Looking back through history, you find that the old Japanese […]
Communication Kaizen in Japanese Business
What is Kaizen? By P. Pringle After several challenging years of global recession, manufacturing is beginning to recover in the Midwest where I live. Recently, large US companies have been hiring Japanese productivity consultants to work with their factory teams on gemba kaizen (factory floor productivity) activities. The Japanese experts have had many years of […]
Japanese High-tech Hourglass Helps in Disaster Recovery
A consortium called the “SUWA plus-minus 5 Microns Team,” made up of Suwa Glass Village, Komatsu Seiki Kosakusho Co., Ltd., Hotel Beniya and others, announced the design, creation and marketing of an elegant new hourglass, the first product to be launched under the SUWA brand. SUWA is the name of a large lake and nearby […]