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Managing in Japan

Etiquette and Management Strategies

Learn about Japan's rich work-culture.

Bill has recently moved from the U.S. to Japan, and he's just completed his first day managing his new team in Tokyo. Unfortunately, it didn't go very well.

The first mistake he made was trying to bond with his new people by making jokes. Not only did they not laugh at his attempts at humor, but they seemed to disapprove. Then, instead of apologizing, Bill glossed over this faux pas, and started issuing orders. Some team members were older than Bill, and they were offended that he would tell them what to do so brazenly.

The day went downhill from there. At the end, Bill's boss invited him to dinner to honor his first day. But he was so dispirited that he politely turned him down, wanting to go home and rest. However, this also seemed to cause offense.

Japan has a wonderfully unique culture, which means that managing a team and doing business can be challenging if you're not prepared. In this article, we'll explore the ins and outs of working in Japan. We'll look at the culture, the people, the work hours, and the etiquette. And we'll highlight the best approach to use when managing a Japanese team.