Business culture in Japan and the world

Business culture in Japan and the world

This week's lesson on Business Culture provided me with a clear view of how Japanese workplaces differ from those in Canada. After watching the video “A Day in the Life of a Japanese Retail Worker,” I was surprised by how professional and dedicated the workers were, especially for a retail environment. Every worker’s behaviour was very professional, and they spoke to each other formally. They seemed very structured and cooperative compared to many Canadian retail jobs I've seen, where employees are professional but not to that extent.

The main thing that stood out to me was how the manager and staff all went out together after work. In Japan, these after-work gatherings are a normal part of business culture. In Canada, it’s not very common for people to hang out with their coworkers, because it “feels like work” and may seem pointless.

Another interesting point is the Japanese concept of Nemawashi, which means preparing decisions quietly behind the scenes to ensure agreement among all parties. As stated in The Japanese Mind, “meetings in Japan are more like ceremonies, and often important decisions have been made well in advance through the process of Nemawashi” (Davies & Ikeno, 2002, pp. 161-162). This indicates that Japanese workplaces prioritize group harmony and fostering strong relationships with coworkers.


Refrences 

 Davies, R. J., & Ikeno, O. (Eds.). (2002). The Japanese mind: Understanding contemporary Japanese culture. Tuttle Publishing.

Comments

  1. RobertNovember 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM

    Amazing post Nora!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. TakumiNovember 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM

    In Japan, it is generally expected that employees, especially in customer-facing roles, adhere to specific, often deeply-rooted, traditional rules and manners established by the store or industry.

    For example, a fundamental principle is treating the customer with the utmost respect, often described by the phrase "Okyaku-sama wa Kami-sama desu" (お客様は神様です), which translates to "The customer is a god/divine being." This belief dictates an extremely high level of service, politeness, and attention to detail.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan's BlogNovember 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM

    nice post! I enjoyed your additional research on Nemawashi

    ReplyDelete
  4. HaydenNovember 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM

    With entry level/minimum wage jobs (like retail work), I agree that it is common for coworkers to be less formal than what was depicted in the video. The idea that meetings are like ceremonies was interesting. Good blog!

    ReplyDelete

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