Career Life Planning
  Homepage

  Assessment

  Occupational Exploration

  Job Search

  Interpersonal Skills for  
  Success

  Education/Training And
  Preparation

  Study Hall

  Cultures

  Program Events

Serving Students at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College JAPAN Culture

Cultural Orientation

Japanese society is complex, structure, hierarchical and group-oriented with strong emphasis on maintaining harmony and avoiding surface confrontation.  Ethics tend to be situational.
In large companies founded before World War II, group decision making from bottom up rather than top down is the rule; those founded after World War II and small family smaller firms where decisions may be made at the top generally manage the company so company members have a sense of participation. 

The decision making process is more subjective than objective.  Traditional values based on mutual trust, confidence, loyalty and commitment for the long term are important factors.

Japanese have a uniquely high level of respect for family ancestors.

Colors

Bright and vibrant colors are favored; white is associated with death to the Japanese.  Silver is preferred more often than gold. 

Gifts

Gift giving is expected on many occasions in Japan.  Regional U.S. gifts or company logo gifts are appropriate.  Quality is important but the gift does not have to be expensive.  The packaging of the gift is important as the gift itself and should be done professionally; rice paper is commonly used.  In Japan, sets of four are considered unlucky (the number four is pronounced the same as the word for death).  Gifts that can be shared among a group are appreciated.

Allow others to present gifts first and reciprocate similarly.  Usually gifts are not opened upon receipt; when they are comments are generally modest.