January 21, 2020
Writing business e-mails in Japanese, Part 1: Requests
Writing Japanese business e-mails can certainly be a challenge, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Read up on what to look out for and check some example messages......
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5 Pillars of Japanese Manners
There is no shortage of behavioral rules in Japan. While Japanese manners are strict, especially when dealing with customers, they are not as scary as it first seems. All it takes are 5 basic...
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Essential Japanese Office Vocabulary to fit right in
Want to get a jump-start at your new job in Japan? Knowing the right vocabulary can make the difference between getting lost at work or fitting right in. Especially during the first month it...
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Daily Reports – Information Sharing at Japanese Companies
Daily reports are written by many employees in Japan. But why are companies requiring their employees to spend valuable work hours on writing up reports of their day? What is a Nippou? A daily...
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New Year’s Greetings at the Office
During the last business day of the year, it is customary in Japan to greet everyone you were working with that year. This is part of greasing work relationships and helps to “sell your...
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English Level still low even among IT Staff in Japan
Over 50% of online content is in English. In the global IT world, English is a basic requirement for most – but English skills remain curiously absent in many Japanese offices. Let’s take a...
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Complete Guide to Nomikai
From super strict rules to bosses going crazy, many rumors surround nomikai, Japanese drinking parties. Nomikai are a place where the formal working culture is relaxed and people get drunk and talk straight with...
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Hourensou – Reporting at the Japanese workplace
Hourensou, the secret Japanese recipe to gain trust and authority among your Japanese coworkers. Do you know the meaning of ほうれんそう? If you are thinking of ほうれん草 (spinach) then rest assured, the leaves in...
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When to Say Thank You at the Japanese Office
That Japanese people are polite is common knowledge. What some may not be aware of is that while most Japanese will forgive a few slurs in your keigo, not being conscious of what is...
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4 Japanese Business Greetings you need to know
What should you say to greet Japanese colleagues at the office? Let’s take a look at the proper Japanese business greetings and the right time to use them. I pretty much grew up watching...
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The 5 most important everyday expressions at the office
When working in Japan, fluency in the language is a desirable skill. Especially if you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes with awkward Keigo. To help you fake it until you make it,...
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