Japanese Archives - Fluency Corp

Can an Expat Ever Truly Feel at Home in Japan?

Have you ever thought of accepting that job in Asia? Taking all of your family to another country, with a new language, and foreign customs? Something that often holds people back from making life-changing moves is a feeling of security and acceptance. It’s a scary situation to be an expat, living in Japan for the first time. People must make a new life in a place away from all that is comfortable. Often your employees will question their motives and choices. Can they, as foreigners, make a living and be welcomed by the native population in a new country? Even more, can they ever truly feel at home? nn

How do I Feel at Home in a New Country?

So, what is the process like? The doubt tends to come in waves, starting with little things like missing a Starbucks. And it can transform into your employees wondering whether moving or accepting this job or promotion was a good choice. In the midst of all this doubt, more often than not, there comes a point where a light bulb goes off – where one can reach a state of acceptance. nn nnWell, let’s start off by qualifying your thoughts: the acceptance sought is not what they will gain. Expats will always look different, pronouncing words will be hard. Every look will most likely be accompanied by a second glance. Interactions will be hard and the learning curve is usually steep and unforgiving. They’ll forget how to address their superiors, or which hand to shake with before realizing that it is customary to bow in greeting. There will be mounting frustration with each day that something goes wrong. Everything will seem as though it is pushing them to get on the next flight back to their home country and never look back. These “mishaps” and slight embarrassments are a part of the journey to assimilation, especially in the workplace. nn

At First, It’s Hard Living in Japan

Life in Japan, or any foreign country, can be uncomfortable and unaccepting, far from a walk in the park. In Japanese culture, the idea of a gaikokujin, in its literal translation, is a “foreign-country person.” It holds no prejudice or malicious intent. But for an expat, it puts a large arrow over their head saying “look at me”. Chances are they stand out in the racially homogenous Japanese society. Even as a Japanese-American, living in Japan, while their attempts at assimilation could be much easier, they may still feel as if they exist in the periphery because even though they may look the same, they have little cultural similarity with the majority of the Japanese society. nn

Can I ever Find Acceptance in Japan?

Expats in Japan won’t ever really find the acceptance they’ve come to enjoy in their home countries. A weekend barbeque with Japanese friends or a Sunday family dinner won’t feel the same. The cursory glances and prodding questions won’t stop. In some positive way, there comes a point in their expat journey where they make peace with and accept the fact that assimilation is beyond their grasp. Yes, they now live in a new country. And, they are away from your family and friends. Also, they have to gain a whole new understanding of Japanese culture, their world and the people. It’s true, even with their most sincere efforts, assimilation might just not be possible. Here are some suggestions you can give your employees to alleviate the feeling of alienation. nn

Embrace the fact that expats stand out.
There will be mistakes. Some will have trouble understanding every cultural difference and expectation placed upon them. Misunderstanding and mistakes are the norm, and the fact is that many times people aren’t paying as close attention as you think they are.
No one is expected to do everything perfectly on the first attempt – all that’s needed is some effort and a willingness to try.
Step out of the comfort zone, explore and find things that they enjoy and stick with them.
Do not neglect creature comforts. If they usually do yoga to keep their peace, find a yoga studio and give themself that time.

How Can I Help My Employees Feel at Home Abroad?

As an employer, there are things that you can do to ensure that your employees feel at home in Japan.nn

Encourage interaction between your employees. Plan biweekly or monthly company outings immersed in the culture of the country. You can foster community while creating space for them to be more acquainted with their new surroundings.
Check in. Whether that’s assigning someone to report back to you on the progress of your employees’ assimilation or personally making visits to show that you do care about more than their productivity.
Create an assimilation plan. Think of it as a 90-day assimilation review and meet with your employees to ensure that they are moving in a positive direction and feeling more comfortable with their new surroundings.
Honor their contributions. They’ve moved across the world to be a contributing member of this team, acknowledging that can help make the move feel worth it.
No time for checking in or biweekly BBQs? Hire a language coach, as they will have 2 meetings each week for approximately one year. This will give the expat the much-needed support they need to help get used to everyday life, and they’ll also learn key phrases in Japanese language to help them feel comfortable and confident around their neighborhood and with their neighbors.

What if Employees Have a Hard Time Working Abroad?

Your employees (expats) could refuse to embrace the new experiences and attempt to do everything the same way they did it back home, instead of stepping far outside of their comfort zone and giving their new lives a chance. Many expats simply exist in an Expat Bubble. Deliberate steps to try is what makes the ultimate difference in their experience. Eventually, the stares become less frequent and obvious, the words cause less pause, and things get easier. So to answer, yes they can feel at home, but home isn’t Japan or wherever they choose – home is the experience, the friends, the memories and culture gained. So, allow them time and space to harvest those experiences and feelings and being truly at home won’t ever be a question. nn nnHave questions about moving employees to Japan and increasing your retention rate? Email micah@fluencycorp.com.

Most Difficult Cultural Differences Americans Experience in Japan

If you’re American and your company has asked you to relocate to Japan for your job, you’ll likely want to try to prepare yourself for the culture shock. If you already work with Japanese in your current office in the US, then maybe living in Japan won’t be as much as a shock. But if most of your exposure to the Japanese has been mainly on conference calls, then you’ll want to learn a bit about the culture before going to live there.

In this article we will be discussing some of the more startling, and challenging, differences between the 2 cultures. We hope to prepare you for your new life in Japan by discussing some of the more difficult aspects of the culture (for an American).

Finding it Hard to Connect with Japanese

One woman we learned about went to Japan to serve on a religious mission. According to her, the most difficult thing was making connections with the other members of the church. As Americans, we are generally quite expressive, and it can be offputting not to see emotion from people. She knew that it was a form of respect, and that the culture was more private, but she wasn’t quite prepared for how dramatic the difference would be. Although it took her some time to make deeper connections, when she looks back on her time there, she says that the people were her favorite part. She also admits that not knowing the language made it incredibly hard to connect to others, as no one there knew English in the town where she was living.

As I always say, just because people express themselves differently than you do, does not mean they do not feel it. Take the time to get to know the different nuances in expression. Americans’ range might be from -2 up to 12 on a scale of 0 to 10. The French might be from -2 up to 6. The Japanese might be from 3 up to 4; they are not expressing extreme happiness or extreme displeasure to you (in the way that you express it! For example, jumping up and down, screaming, etc). It doesn’t mean the French do not feel great excitement since they do not go up to a 12, but they might not show it the exact same way you do, if you are from the USA. And of course, there are many variations of people and personalities in the USA as well. We can never completely generalize.

Being Illiterate in Japan

This doesn’t have to do with culture, but everyone I spoke to felt completely illiterate in Japan. No one anticipates just how little English is used in Japan, especially for getting around, street signs, maps, stores, and menus. To go from being able to read everything, to being in a sea of confusion, can really get you down. And it’s not as if you can quickly learn the 2000 most common kanji very quickly.

What we can suggest, if you’re going to be there for a month or more, is learning at least 50 vital ones, like restroom, man, woman, various stores (bread, meat, pharmacy, bank, etc), map words, the train system, and important places for you. If you know that you’ll want a massage once a week, make sure to learn that kanji. If you’re a serial expat, and you move to a new country every few years, then you’re likely used to figuring out words in a language you don’t know, but typically they’re using the alphabet, and so it’s much easier to figure out, or at least look up in the dictionary, words that you do not know. But how do you look up a kanji? It’s not impossible, but harder.

Eating in Japan

It’s not that eating in Japan is a challenge. Absolutely not. No one is going to be upset with the foreigner for NOT knowing all the rules about chopsticks, but not know what you’re eating, now THAT’S a problem for me. Chopsticks, noisy eaters, and questionable foods is why we found it challenging there.

My mother always told me to close my mouth when I eat, and do not ever make noise. It’s considered gross, disrespectful, and rude to others eating around you. But to each his own when you have relocated to Japan.

When eating noodles, you are welcome to slurp away. It’s no big deal at all. And if this bothers you, well, then get used to it, because you will most definitely hear it at restaurants. If most definitely bothered me, and well, I just had to get used to it, or steer clear of noodle restaurants.

Having trouble with those chopsticks? Eat sushi at a sushi bar and you can use your hands! If you’re tired of the roll falling apart in the soy sauce, just lay the sticks down and go at it with your fingers. This is okay to do.

While eating with Japanese clients (English learners) from Hitachi, they told me to never set my chopsticks straight up in the rice. This is how a bowl of rice is offered to the spirit of a dead person, so you might not want to do this at dinner. Also, don’t leave chopsticks crossed on plate, bowl or table.

Do not use one chopstick at a time, like a weird fork. And do not pass food to your buddy with your chopstick. nnAnd the list of rules goes on and on…. But remember, you are a foreigner, so they do not expect you to know all of these rules. nnAnd the most challenging thing for me personally was not knowing what you were ordering. By the end of my 1-month stay, I was going to the same restaurants each weekend; the ones with menus with pictures! Before that, I was getting a lot of slimy food that my stomach just couldn’t handle. It’s not that the food was gross, but it’s just so different from the textures that I’m used to, that I just couldn’t eat it. nnSo ordering at restaurants can be very challenging. And the food can, sometimes, be very slimy. Or simply something that this Oklahoma/Boston girl simply isn’t used to. Natto, for one, is a slimy bean food that I cannot stomach. You may like it, but it’s definitely not for me.

How to Behave During Business Meetings in Japan

In the USA, we have formal business meetings… but not really super formal. Most times we come in, plop ourselves in any chair we see, grab some food from the buffet bar, eat, laugh with others about the weekend or a sports game, and then it’s a pretty free place to say your opinions and speak freely. Compared to most of the world’s cultures, ours is pretty, well, relaxed. We’re chill, yo!

Yet, if you’re doing business in Japan…

Watch, then do. This is how we always suggest to do things if you’re in a new country. And when you’re doing business with a new country, and you have money on the line, watch even more.

If you’re going to have a conference in person in Japan, make sure not to sit down right when you walk in the room. Allow the Japanese businessmen/women to show you were to sit and when to sit. There is a hierarchy in Japan when it comes to senior directors, junior directors, and employees, and you’ll want to make sure you do not sit down before the big boss. We recommend just watch, and then sit where you’re told.

Also, make sure to take great care of business cards. Whereas business cards might be declining with the youth of America, they are still important in doing business, and especially in Japan. It’s like holding someone’s name in your hands, not just paper. Make sure to use two hands when you exchange it, and don’t just stuff it in your back pocket. Take a look at it, read it, keep it flat on the table or put it in a carrying case specific for business cards.

We suggest taking notes during the meeting. Not only will it help you focus, but it will show how interested you are in doing business with them. Even in the US, if someone takes notes, I know that this meeting is important to them, and they do not want to miss a word.

Even though the Japanese company you’re meeting with may speak English well, there are nuances that will likely be lost. This is alright if you’re simply making friends with a Japanese person you met in the park, but you need to understand every ounce of meaning and syllable when it comes to a big business deal. Make sure you’ve hired an interpreter well in advance, no matter how fluent either side says they are. And please do not allow an employee to interpret. You need a third party and a professional. Just because you speak 2 languages, does not make you a professional interpreter.

Overall, I would say that the image of the Japanese in mainstream media is a bit more formal than they actually are. And every person and personality is completely different. I had one Japanese friend that I would not dare be touchy with. She just gave off that vibe. While another Japanese friend was touching me all the time while she spoke to me.

One thing we know is important, not to generalize a country or its people. On average, Japanese meetings are much more formal than American meetings. Correct. On average, Japanese people have a way of doing business that is more formal than in the USA. And it’s important to learn the above ideas and customs before going. But the main thing is to watch, listen, try to mimic what you see, and soak it all in. And remember, even your 1 trip is just a tiny glimpse into a country. I personally lived in Mexico for a year and a half, and I wouldn’t say that I know the Mexican people, still. I know a tiny aspect of them, but who am I to say I know more with so little time there?

If you would like language training (Japanese, Spanish, English, etc) in your office, or with a live instructor on Skype or Zoom, then reach out to us! Also, if you’re interested in a communication and culture consultation to bring together two groups at your company, we love to bring people together.

Surprising Cultural Differences Between Japan and USA

When Japanese Relocate to the USA, here are some things that surprise them!

If you’re a salaryman in Japan, there could be a possible international relocation in your future, especially if you work for a global company like OSG USA, 7-11, Toyota, or Nissan. Toyota, for example, has a 1-year international relocation program to the USA. But many companies transfer their employees for 2 – 5 years at a time. They do this so that employees can learn, broaden their horizons, improve their English-language skills, and collaborate with their peers in the USA.

Most employees are very excited when they first hear about such an opportunity. They will get to travel, meet a new culture, improve their English, and hopefully, get a raise in salary and possible higher positions when they come back from living abroad. What many companies do not consider is the fact that a change in culture can have a dramatic impact on an employee and his or her family.

In this article, we want to bring up some basic cultural differences between Japan and the USA. We hope that these will lessen the shock when you finally move to the US.

10 Surprising Cultural Differences Between Japan & the US

This one might seem silly, but it won’t be when you have angry Americans honking at you when you don’t turn right on red. Of course, to be able to drive here, you’ll have to take a driving test and pass it, but it’s also really hard to remember that you can take a right on red when you’ve never been allowed to do it before. So don’t forget, right on red is okay!
Yards. Big ones! We’ve got ‘em. Yards so big you can play a game of baseball in them. Size and space in general is going to be a huge shock. In Japan, due to the lack of space, people do not have yards. Actually, they barely have dining rooms and kitchens either. Let’s put home size on another tab.
You’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot when it comes to space. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism says that a single person living alone in the city should have a minimum of 25 square meters (roughly 250 square feet – or, as we say, a box) and a maximum of 40 square meters (roughly 400 square feet – a slightly bigger box). Yikes! When the Japanese move to Texas (or anywhere in the midwest) they are going to feel like they can make 10 snow angels in their huge yards and have 10 picnics on the ground in their huge Texas living rooms. Welcome! They say everything is bigger here… probably because there’s so much room.
Getting sucked in to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Watch out! We have great shows in the US, and you will eventually be under their spell and not realize that you’ve watched 2 seasons of some show in just 2 days… where did my weekend go? We hear this from almost every country, actually. The US, for some reason, produces/creates great TV.
We have a lot of libraries. These are a huge center of communities. You can bring your children for story time, you can rent books, CDs, movies, magazines and more. IF you’re going to be in the US for even just a year, make sure to get a library card to enjoy all that your local library has to offer.
Huge grocery stories and food. Once again, everything is larger here. And you’ll be seeing more shelves, higher shelves, and huge boxes with food in it. You probably don’t have as many options in Japan for the following: cereal, ice cream, cheeses, different types of milk (oat, skim, 2%, almond, etc). Also, food and serving sizes are larger. A large drink at McDonald’s is 32 ounces in the US, yet in Japan, it is about 20 ounces.
You’ll be shocked by everyone inviting you into their home, and making sure you keep your shoes on.
Be warned, the Japanese Americans, or someone, has made up things like a ‘California Roll’ and various other ‘rolls’ that do not actually exist in Japan. You’ll have to go to the Japanese part of town in a big city to find actual Japanese food. If you eat the Americanized version (just like the Japanized versions of American food in Japan), it will NOT taste like Japanese food. I’ve heard Japanese say that it has more salt and sugar than the real deal. Not surprising.
Guns. Americans have them. Roughly 30% of Americans own guns according to a Gallup Poll. 40-45% are Republicans or Conservatives and just 14-16% are Democrats or Liberals. Compare that with Japan’s 377,000 total registered firearms in the entire country in 2017. I will say, that I did not come from a home with a gun, and I have still never seen one in real life, except when it was in the holster of a policeman, and I am from the Bible belt, where supposedly that’s all we do is own guns and shoot guns. Not me though.
I have heard the Japanese say, and I would agree, that Americans are too sensitive, and since they are always trying to be politically correct, that it’s hard to have a conversation about anything interesting: differences in races, politics, learn about each other’s religion, etc. This has led some Japanese to refrain from talking in depth with Americans, as the Americans seem to get offended quickly and often. I have also heard Europeans say the same about Americans.

If you, your employer, or your employees would like to either learn Japanese with live instructors in your office, home or online, Fluency Corp would love to get you fluent. Or maybe you need a cultural and communication consultation because there are two cultures (American/Japanese) in the office and everyone is having some challenges working together. Or maybe you just want to engage everyone more and create an open dialogue. If yes to any of the above, get in touch!

Relocating to Japan; bet you didn’t expect these 5 things!

Relocating to Another Country – Phew – It’s Hard!

I remember the time before I moved to Mexico – I didn’t really prepare myself culturally at all, and I wish I had. I also wish I had spoken to other Americans who had previously moved to Mexico. But, for the good and the bad, my style is to take action first, ask questions later, and that’s exactly what happened when I moved to Mexico.

How to Prepare for a Relocation Assignment

I’m sure if you’ve also been an expat in another country, you’ve had the same experience. How do you prepare yourself for something that you didn’t know existed, right? In the early 2000s, there wasn’t Youtube! Now, we can learn all about moving to a new country from those who have done it before us – they almost all have videos online now. And that’s how we learned some about the cultural and everyday living differences that there are in Japan.

5 Things that will Surprise you when Relocating to Japan

I actually went there to spend a month at a Japanese immersion school in 2016. So this is a compilation of differences from my own experience and from others.

The Squat Toilet
Like in some bathrooms that I found in France, Japan also has a nicer version. In France I remember they called it the Turkish toilet or Turkish bathroom, and it was simply a hole in the ground at the back of the restaurant or bar – there was a door of course. But in Japan, it is like an ivory toilet that is in the ground, not raised, like the ones in the USA. Of course, there are Western style (American) toilets found in Japan as well, but these toilets are quite common also. I still prefer a nice sturdy seat to sit on while I use the restroom!
Take Off Your Shoes
Taking your shoes off before entering a restaurant, dentist or doctor’s office! Yes, that’s right, no shoes allowed, even at the doctor’s. At first it might feel very strange to be walking around your doctor’s office without shoes on, but think of how clean the floor is because of this. You have not brought in anything from the street. So make sure your socks match. This can stress out some Westerns, as it can take time to get your shoes on and off, and there might be people waiting behind you. But do not stress, and if this does stress you out, make sure to wear slip-ons the next time you have a doctor’s appointment.
Slimey, Gooey, & Sticky Foods
Nebaneba is a phrase to describe the consistency of these types of slimy foods – although slimey is not exactly the word we’re looking for. Sometimes, you just can’t find the exact translation if it doesn’t exist in the English-speaking world. Foods that have this texture/consistency are foods like natto (Japanese dish made of fermented soybeans), yamaimo (a Japanese yam), and okra (not the delicious southern fried one, but the natural one is quite slimey). This texture might not be a favorite for Americans.
Going Naked Into the Onsens
I personally experienced this one and I jumped right into the culture (after a small fight with the onsen employee). An onsen is a Japanese hot spring, a bathing facility that you must enter naked (you are outside). I, the American, tried to go in with my bathing suit on, and the employee was absolutely not having it. She had learned the word for ‘naked’ in English and she kept repeating it to me: naked, naked, naked. Finally, I went for it. I felt enormous, even though I am only 5’8”. It was very relaxing, even though I had to go in with no clothes – being outside in nature naked was a great experience.
Speaking Keigo to those Older than you or your Boss
Just as in English we use Sir, Ma’am, Mister, and Mrs, the Japanese have an honorific way of speaking to someone in order to show them respect. This can be challenging for more casual cultures, where if you get to know someone more, you start to talk more casually with them, in Japan, you will always need to use keigo with someone older than you or someone higher in rank than you, no matter how long you have known them. Keigo goes farther than Sir and Ma’am though. They have entire verbs to use instead of the regular verb. For example, if you ask your friend ‘do you want something to eat?’ you use the verb ‘eat’. But in keigo, you would use a completely different word for the verb ‘eat’. Intense! Even if you have married someone from Japan, you must always use keigo with your in-law’s family, as this will always show them respect and their rank over you. This is actually similar in Hispanic countries as well, although they do not use a completely different word for the verb. Kids will even use it with their parents sometimes, throughout their lifetime. Or older couples using keigo with each other. To understand this, they might be showing each other the utmost respect, as if they are trying to honor each other still. It’s seen as cute, not as formal.

We hope this has helped you understand a little more about the Japanese culture. We thought the above differences were some of the more shocking for us, so they were important to share. When we visit Japan again, we will take great notes about even more differences, and we will share them with our expat followers so that they can be more prepared for their job relocation in Japan. Enjoy the adventure.

If you are interested in learning Japanese for your job relocation, please send us a message or give us a call. We would be happy to set you up with one of our native instructors, whether you prefer classes in your home in the US before going, or in your office or home in Japan once you get there, and if you want to stay with the same instructor throughout, we can set you up with someone online – always a live instructor – no video classes, ever! The only way to get fluent is through real conversation. Don’t forget it!