Living and working in Japan
Objectives
- Facilitate the transition of expatriates into the lifestyle and work environment in Japan
- Help to avoid cultural misunderstandings
- Provide participants with practical approaches to understanding and adapting to business practices in Japan
- Learn to communicate more effectively with the Japanese
Who should attend?
- Expatriates and their partners.
Duration
- This is a 2-day course
Course content
1/ Foundations of Japanese culture
- Key geopolitical and historical factors
- Religions of Japan and their social and cultural impact
- Key features of the Japanese language
- The Japanese society today
2/ Key cultural dimensions to measure cultural gaps and similarities
- Low and high power distance
- Uncertainty avoidance and acceptance
- Individualist and collectivist cultures
- Ways of thinking
- Monochronic and polychronic time orientations
- Low and high context communication
- Duty and honour codes
3/ Commucating effectively with the Japanese
- Greetings and titles
- Welcoming rituals
- Business cards
- Non-verbal communication: eye contact, personal space, gestures and physical contact
- Verbal communication: Implicit messages, the meaning of “yes”
- Influencing techniques
4/ The business world in Japan
- Types of Japanese companies
- Management and leadership styles
- Teamwork
- Decision-making
- Hierarchy and respect for age
- Giving and saving face
- Meetings
- Motivational levers
- Women in the workplace
- Socialising and networking
5/ Living in Japan
- Health and safety
- Women in Japanese society
- Making friends
- Relationships with colleagues, friends and neighbours
- Where to go shopping
- Finding a tradesperson
- Leisure activities
6/ Top tips and personal action plan