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Many Americans discover that using more graphics is effective when working with Japanese. Do Americans find this approach more convincing? Or do they accept the need to use more visuals for the sake of business opportunities with Japanese? Read More

Japanese are often mystified as to why many Americans seem to not be interested in learning from past problems to prevent future ones…quite a contrast from the way many Japanese firms get all employees actively involved in improving quality. Read More

When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task; eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort… Read More

In Japanese firms, for any project there is always a designated person that people are asked to deal with, and that person is referred to as the madoguchi, which literally means “window person.” Read More

For Americans who are used to a more straightforward style, kishotenketsu can be very confusing…It can be hard to follow what Japanese have to say as they go on and on…I just can't tell where it's headed. Read More

You ascertain the needs of people by paying careful attention to them, and understand their desires before they even need to voice them…to comport yourself in such a way that not only avoids irritating them, but actively delights them. Read More

Ho-ren-so is quite different from this typical American working style. The initial instruction given to the subordinate tends to be vaguer and more general, particularly if the subordinate is viewed as already being skilled or experienced. Read More

Human resource management practices in Japan seem to place great emphasis on putting employees into categories. From an American perspective, the strict distinction between different categories is difficult to fathom. The emphasis is much more on the job than what category the employee is in. Read More

The typical Japanese urban denizen takes trains nearly everywhere, and may not even own a car. This means that anything they carry around with them needs to be light and compact… Read More

Traditionally, the consumption of alcohol has been the Japanese cultural signal that it’s ok to be frank and open. After-work bonding over alcohol thus creates the perfect atmosphere for getting things out on the table that are too hard to say while in the constrained environment of the office. Read More