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This is why Japanese don’t like working with Foreigners. Let me explain, many foreigners misunderstand Japanese work culture and Japanese business culture. Even some that have experienced it firsthand, still don’t get it. There’s more to it, than just saying Japan is super strict or Japanese work long hours. There’s a lot of Japanese unwritten and hidden cultural rules that form the foundation of Japanese work culture and expectations. Many foreigners who don’t understand this, end up hating their job in Japan or just as bad, their coworkers hate working with them. So in this video, I’m gonna share with you what Japanese really think you shouldn’t be doing at work and why they think this, as they’ll probably never tell it to your face. See, all these things are common sense in Japan, taught to them as kids, basic cultural manners, etiquette and work ethic. And if they were to tell you, it would just be rude. That said, these points are based on typical Japanese work environments, not all Japanese people and companies are like this. Some are more westernized while others, believe it not, are even more strict. If you’re planning to work in Japan though, it’s a good start to not expect the same work culture as your home country. I hope this videos help people understand what they may expect if they plan on working in Japan.
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41 Comments
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I am also hate working with japanese
Summary, stick to the group like a herd of sheep. Don't try to show that you are unique. :/
I am an American videogame maker for the past 40 years and all of the things Japanese hate are things I hate. Most of these behaviors are not what all foreigners exhibit, simply the ones I would never work with if I had a choice and the ones who don't like working with/for me. The perception given by this video is that foreigners are simply reveling in rude and bad behavior.
As a Westerner, I loved learning this – I wouldn't mind adopting some of these things to my current job/work environment.
Well my dad apparently raised me better than I thought. Wow.
Was quite interesting to see a different style video. The "behind the scenes" videos are great, but this is also very interesting and maybe more informative. Looking forward to more "cultural insight" videos like this!
One thing I didn't see here but that I do hear a lot about is hierarchy. From what I hear, questioning the opinion or orders from someone with higher status is really not done, even if they are obvious mistaken or making a poor decision you're expected to fall in line. Is this indeed still a thing in Japan, or has it improved somewhat to the point where feedback from lower-ranking employees is actually accepted or even encouraged?
where's your team if you're struggling with an illness, family issues or struggling with mental illness? Oh yeah, politely encouraging you to with harder.
Just remember it's just a job, family, friends and mental wellness takes priority.
If only the western world could adopt the best bits of the Japanese work culture.
Dont worry mate we havent forgotten what evil cruel beasts the japaneses were in World War 2.
You make peer pressuring people into working overtime sound like an acceptable thing to do
Sounds horrible
Finns, Japanese and Germans seem to get along just fine in the business world. All are punctual etc.
No offenses, but based on the stuff that you assure, I don't think you worked too much in Japan, most of the stuff are hearsay or urban legends, but not very realistic on most of japanese companies (nowadays at least).
Another thing that caught my attention, what's with that giggling when you are talking? you sound like you are laughing while you talk, or even like if you are drunk while recording lol
I have worked in Japan for a few years. Japanese people are less efficient compared to western people. It's no wonder, that they dislike you, if you finish your task in 7 hours, for which they need 10 hours. It makes them look incompetent. In western countires it is totally normal to reschedule a deadline. Most japanese companies wouldn't even think about that. That's why the sucide rate is so much higher than in other modern countries. Japanese people work until the late evening to finish a task. It's proven that the average person will less efficient, if his average working time is more than 9 hours a day. You could finish the same task in the morning and still meet deadlines. Their inability to be flexible is one of the disadvantages of their upbringing.
They may not take all their paid vacation time, but they do have many more paid holidays than in the U.S. That needs to be taken into account when making the comparison.
After learning Japanese for a year i guess im not going to do a exchange over there then . Il choose a different country:/ maybe London.
My wife is Japanese who worked in offices and retail for many years. After working in Australia for a year or two, she one day turned to me and said "There's no F'King way I could ever work for a Japanese company ever again".
Yup, what she said
Not prioritizing family is wild, simply because without the family structure societies start to falter and considering the economical and social issues facing Japan (and the US), it’s very interesting that family is not becoming more of a priority in these nations. Both nations suffer due to the work culture and both nations act very slowly to change it and even get defensive and defend it when outsiders point out the issues. The irony of not inconveniencing others is that everyone ends up being inconvenienced anyway and we are seeing the results of this in the health, mental health, social structure, economy, and suicide rates of these two nations.
Cares? If I have to adapt to them, they have to adapt to me. Meet in the middle.
It's cool that you present so many videos from a Japanese perspective. However, Japanese work ethics arent necessitly the best practices to emulate. There was a time (bubble era) when Japan tried to export their work practices through global expansion of their companies. There is also the irony of Japanese not respecting fellow Japanese woi worked abroad because yhey feared they had become too "Western".
Its nice to learn about these differences but also important to keep things in perspective.
I really think this is a poor video in that it feels like it unfairly paints the Japanese in a bad light.
Reasons #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 10 literally apply to anybody working in a foreign country. Hell, its just basic decency, and to say that foreigners don't abide by these customs seems xenophobic almost.
(#4 & 9 are just weird IMO)
Based on what people are saying you made a wise decision in your choice of job, Paolo!
Basically Military Life Style…Fr
I can understand not being able to read the language would slow people down
Working in Japan sounds like a nightmare
Very unteresting video , some of the points are using commin sense , more videos like this please
Work priority over your health..
Staying at work until 8pm shows you're dedicated? No, it shows your supervisors, managers, and company as a whole don't value you and will waste your time.
Falling asleep at work or on the train shows you're a hard worker? No, it's a sign that you aren't sleeping enough and if it's work-related then that's a problem.
Expected to put your company that doesn't value your time ahead of your family? Then why would anyone want to start a family?
Japan's societal obsession with maintaining facades is what's causing so many of the problems the government is trying to fix. There's no work-life balance for many "typical salarymen" in Japan, and everyone knows it, so why would anyone want to add starting and raising a family to a life that's already skewed to put the workplace above all else?
As a hardworking, disciplined and successful salesman for many years in Canada, the Japanese would be appalled at the incoming, entitled, lazy short term employees I have seen come and go over the years! I respect the work ethics of the Japanese culture!
If someone ever had remote dreams of working in Japan, this video will ensure those dreams are put away. Japan is a notoriously difficult place to work and live, something that a casual traveler will not totally get.
I had the chance to try working at a japanese company for a month and it was one of the most stressful jobs ever. No overtime pay, can't leave until the manager leaves, if they stay overnight..guess what so are you. If they want everyone to go to work dinner, you're going too, turn too many of those down and things won't go too well for you at work. These people take their job very seriously..all the way down to their bones, you're expect to give and do everything for the company and work like a slave for close to minimum US wage salary.
Now, i'm a American, and as one, i'd used to do the bare minimum just to get by at my job and never go out the way to do(this is especially true for government workers, if you want them to get work done quicker, you either bribe them or bring them a gift) more unless i have a goal or ulterior motive, unless their work is commission based or has a large year end bonus like a market maker, car salesman ect. The second my shift is up, I'm clocking out, period, not even mother nature can stop me. I made decent money, but eventually got tired of working for my employer while they made 30x my salary, so now i'm self employed and work for myself. The more work I put in, the more money goes into my own pocket, so i work harder and smarter. It's sad, but that's just how it is.
Semper Fi? Uncalled for!
There should be a healthy balance between work and family life. Them hating foreigners and them not trying to be rude, is just them ignoring the bigger problem. All these rules and no room to breathe. Almost like, when you are poor, hide. When you are falling apart mentally, hide. When someone is rude because of ranking (boss, elder, authority, ect.), be respectful. All these social norms are mentally constricting. Japan is not nurturing advancement like they once did. They are nurturing the old and leaving behind the new. Of course, this is base off videos I saw saying Japan has a low birth rate, the lack of innovation imported from Japan, and a video of a young lady having a mental breakdown with onlookers just staring.
I love japanese women but this is too much !
I think we got this about the Japanese work culture are we are trying to change this. Keep in mind japan is the one going through a low birth rate for fucking reason. Maybe its time for them to give up their garbage mindset and accustom to western policies to better life expectancy.
I miss Japan, worked there for a few years and whem i came back to the states, work was a lot harsher here.
There is also here in the States, school children are taught everyone is a leader, so there is very little team work.
3. Is incredibly toxic. Sacrificing family for the sake of your company is tragic. Family is what matters the most. My boss/manager when I worked at Apple was from Japan. She 100% lives and breathes the Japanese work culture but in the US that did not mesh. She bullied me to the point where I almost ended my life. I had to report her and she was completely shocked. After 13 years I ended up leaving and got unemployment due to a hostile work environment. I have a couple of Japanese friends who have moved to the US and they said there is a lot of accepted bullying in Japan in school and corporate life.
Maybe why the suicide rate is so high in Japan. Seriously have their priorities messed up. Too focused on work and not enough on personal and mental and emotional well being.
These rules apply to Japanese people as well. Its not about being a foreigner