Have you ever been curious about working for a Japanese company but felt discouraged by stories of long hours, low pay, rigid hierarchies, and mandatory social drinking? If so, this episode is for you. Our guest, Alvin Tan, dives into his controversial Medium article, "Why More Foreigners in Japan Should Work for Japanese Companies: Six Reasons to Consider It." The article sparked a firestorm online, generating nearly 100 negative comments on social media, with many Japan experts calling work...
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Have you ever been curious about working for a Japanese company but felt discouraged by stories of long hours, low pay, rigid hierarchies, and mandatory social drinking? If so, this episode is for you. Our guest, Alvin Tan, dives into his controversial Medium article, "Why More Foreigners in Japan Should Work for Japanese Companies: Six Reasons to Consider It." The article sparked a firestorm online, generating nearly 100 negative comments on social media, with many Japan experts calling work...
(Best of) Masafumi Otsuka: Intercultural Business Facilitator and Cultural Navigator
Now and Zen Japan
43 minutes
1 year ago
(Best of) Masafumi Otsuka: Intercultural Business Facilitator and Cultural Navigator
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the often-mystifying Japanese business practices that foreigners in Japan struggle to navigate. Intercultural facilitator Masafumi Otsuka sheds light on puzzling practices like "Why Japanese managers change jobs every three years" and "Why they always see the glass as half empty." Masa offers a logical breakdown of the periodic job rotation system and Japan’s risk-averse decision-making process. We also explore key cultural concepts that are often mis...
Now and Zen Japan
Have you ever been curious about working for a Japanese company but felt discouraged by stories of long hours, low pay, rigid hierarchies, and mandatory social drinking? If so, this episode is for you. Our guest, Alvin Tan, dives into his controversial Medium article, "Why More Foreigners in Japan Should Work for Japanese Companies: Six Reasons to Consider It." The article sparked a firestorm online, generating nearly 100 negative comments on social media, with many Japan experts calling work...
