Negotiating with the japanese american corporations wishing to enter into virtually any type of relationship-ground leases, sales or transfer of ownership of facilities-with a japanese company must overcome several formidable barriers in their dealings with the japanese. This article will acquaint the american reader with the vast differences in management thinking between westerners and japanese that occur as a result of basic cultural differences. Business visitors to japan are easily misled by surface appearances, such as the prevalence of spoken english and western customs in hotels, shopping centers and, most importantly, in the japanese companies with whom they ” re dealing. This surface “westernization” masks the very real chasms separating western from japanese thinking.
Our concerns in this article are the pragmatic ones of not just attracting japanese investments to the u. S. , But also of minimizing some of the joint difficulties in any type of proposed relations between japanese and american corporations. In order to be successful we must clearly recognize not only where these differences between japan and the west lie, but also be aware that there are, in fact, areas where there are no commonalities of interest at all! These latter are in areas relating to correct and proper social relations between people and ofttimes there can be no translation of these ideas from japanese into english, not only, because the words simply can’t be translated, but because the very concepts themselves are inherently alien to westerners. The development of japanese cultural attitudes is unique in the world’s history.
The Research paper on A Cultural Difference American Weddings Versus Hispanic Weddings
A Cultural Difference: American Weddings versus Hispanic Weddings It is very important to understand that each culture has the traditions of its own. While the Americans are individualists, the Hispanics belong to a collectivist culture. No wonder these differences find their reflection in cultural traditions of the nations, thus making the traditions between the two cultures so different. The ...
Nowhere in the world today is there a country approaching the pre-eminence of japan whose cultural and ethical behavior patterns are so little understood by the rest of the world. Japan was sealed off from the outside world for the first 250 years of the past 375, and, as a result, developed its own social patterns completely unique even from other oriental cultures during the same period. In order to at least understand-if not resolve-the differences between the japanese and westerners, it’s necessary to have a brief look at the history of japan itself. Because of its lack of a consistent and reliable written language, we don’t know a great deal about japan during the period prior to the eighth century. From that point on there was an enormous influx of chinese culture in much the same way as the influence of american culture is felt worldwide today.
chinese influence made itself felt in japan in many ways-through trade, through adoption of the chinese written language and adoption of many of the social systems of china by the japanese. There were also significant interchanges of scholars between the two countries, and their influences were felt one way or another in virtually every level of japanese society. The degree of this chinese influence waxed and waned over hundreds of years, with intermittent attempts by japanese leaders to terminate it. That extraordinary novel, shogun, depicts the latter part of this era with amazing accuracy. About 1600 a. D.
The shogun tokugawa (the title actually means generalissimo) effectively sealed all japan from all contact with the outside world by imposing a series of extremely harsh punishments for not only japanese attempting to contact other countries, but also for non-japanese (such as shipwrecked sailors) trying to come into japan without express permission. The only exception to these punitive measures was the toleration by tokugawa of tiny trading enclaves maintained by the dutch and portuguese. This enforced insularity, when coupled with the pre- tokugawa japanese attitudes, evolved into a truly extraordinary set of social and economic relations among all strata of japanese society. The hierarchical structure was thus established in which everyone knew his place as being either superior or inferior to those around him. This gave rise to what even today is referred to as the oyabun- kobun relationship. Translated very loosely, it is a master-slave relationship, parent-child relationship or husband-wife relationship.
The Essay on Vietnam Wars Impact On Australias Relationship With The World
The Vietnam War had great political impact and led to deep division within Australian society. The Australian people were forced to take the issues about the Cold War, Vietnam and the arms race seriously because of Australias military involvement in Vietnam from 1962 to 1972. As a result, our fear of communism and of Asia increased dramatically. Australia, occupying a large mass of land, yet ...
Many of these superior-inferior relationships changed with particular circumstances so that at one specific time, for example, one person might do obeisance to another, but the roles could easily be reversed for those same two people under different sets of circumstances in the same society. These relationships most assuredly prevail even today in japan. When you, as a corporate real estate officer or facility planner, are in discussions with the japanese you must at least be aware that these relationships exist even though you will never be able to fully appreciate their complexity and interweaving. We are all aware, for instance, of the pervasive japanese practice of exchanging name cards. The prime purpose of this practice is to enable the recipients of the cards to know the status of each other so that they may not only bow correctly, but also use the proper form of language.
As westerners you will not be expected to know these practices, and indeed confusion invariably results when a westerner will attempt to bow first and a japanese to extend his hand for a handshake. This confusion is generally met with good humor by the japanese and should not be the subject of much concern by the westerner. Far more important, however, is for the westerner to offer his business card immediately so that his status within his own company can be determined. This hierarchical system developed during the period of an extremely rigid caste system in japan.
The Essay on Class Scheduling System
College and university campuses frequently struggle with the task of getting academic classes and the wide variety of non-academic meetings and events that they host into the appropriate rooms. Ensuring the availability of the necessary services and resources can also be difficult. How Class Schedule Maker Software Can Help You A class schedule maker will go a long way in making life easier for ...
There were four categories of classes. On the top were the samurai and following them were the peasants. Third in the order were artisans and on the absolute bottom of the totem pole were the merchant classes. For centuries anything smacking of mercantilism was regarded with disdain. Salesmen definitely fell in that category and, even today, the sales or marketing function in japan is accorded not nearly the respect it commands in the u. S.
As a result of this hierarchy and caste system, a set of relationships between people evolved that went beyond the oyabun-kobun interactions. The very method by which things were done was of the most extreme importance. The appropriate dress, for example, for each of the classes was rigidly prescribed. Their conduct toward each other, even within the same class, was equally rigidly prescribed and extended even to the accepted position for sleeping, manner of eating with utensils and hands, etc. It was literally a case of more importance being paid to style than to substance.
