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Japanese Education Vs American Education

Analysis of Japanese Business Culture

Along with recent globalization, the business market is now diffused
everywhere in the world. Consequently, mega-competition and
international co-operation are promoted simultaneously in the field of
business. Under this circumstance, learning and understanding the
business culture each country has is important to succeed in global
business. As business culture is indivisible from a country’s cultural
uniqueness, American-style business is formed in the United States,
and British-style business is adopted in England. Equally, Japan has
developed its own unique business culture which has been practiced for
a long time. This essay will analyze the characteristic Japanese
business culture which forms the foundation for their business.

To begin with, in Japanese corporations, there is a sense of unity
which is fostered beyond the boundaries between employers and
employees (Odaka, 1986). This is called "Groupism," which is based on
joint responsibility and respect for harmony on which most Japanese
companies emphasize. Once employees joined a company, they are
required to no longer think of themselves simply as an individual
instead they identify with the group. Thus, the group mentality always
prevails and all decisions are made within a group. Unifying the
efforts of employers and employees who share the same ideals leads to
significant advances in productivity. As Odaka described in his book,
postwar high growth 1950s-60s in Japan was largely encouraged by the
groupism which achieved a high productivity in manufacturing
industries.

Secondly, characteristics of Japanese business culture include "Tacit
Agreement." (Iwata, 1982). The Japanese are trained throughout their
lives to read each other’s minds. Hence it is not necessary to explain
an idea in detail. This is applied in their way of business. In
Japanese business society, workers do their best to read the
circumstances they are placed in,...