Introduction

Do you have Japanese friends or co-worker, even Japanese manager? Do you live in Japan? Do you want to be Japan in future? Do you want to learn cultural background of Japan animation (Manga)?

You may have tons of reasons why you want to know Japan culture.

Let me introduce myself. I worked for international company and to stay in Singapore.

I’m Japanese, born at local area in Japan, to belong Japanese primary, junior and high school then to enter university in Japan.

My friends/colleagues ask me a lot, why Japanese does ~~~, why she seems like ~~~, what is preference for Japanese.

Started to feel it’s a good timing for sharing how Japanese think? what Japan culture is? why Japanese are different than you?

Why your Japanese colleague so quiet at the meeting?

You may feel like that “Why Japanese are so quiet in the meeting?”.

Sometimes, you may feel odd and wired for your Japanese colleague.

“Is he bad temper?” “Is she tired for something?” and even “She seems like not to have any opinions…”.

However, there is a reason why most of Japanese has a tendency of so quiet in the meeting.

There is 5 typical reasons below

• Language barrier
• Hierarchical culture
• High context cultural background
• Want to hear the presentation end to end. Don’t jump in during the presentation.
• Culture of shame

Let me share the details accordingly.

Language barrier

How do you feel my English writing?

You may already know that our Japanese have language barrier.

We spent almost 10 years for leaning English (from junior high school to university) and many Japanese belong to English school with their pocket money.

Then, why we Japanese can’t speak English??

Several reasons here.

Japan is developed country, so only speaking Japanese is sufficient for everybody day to day life. You don’t need English anywhere in Japan. Japanese works perfectly to live in Japan.

You can see Hollywood move with Japanese translation too. (almost simultaneously launch to other developed countries).

Amazing!!

But, this is the cause of the language barrier.

Japanese think

Do we need to learn other than Japanese?

Other reason is Japanese grammar is so different than English.

In English, you say

“I want to learn English.”

But, change order the words based on Japanese grammar

“English, want to learn”

Remove, “I” then to upend English like this.

Very different grammar makes difficult our Japanese speak English.

Hierarchical culture

Japanese culture is very hierarchical. So, Japanese tend to be quiet in front of manager.

I had over 10 years of experience as people manager.

I met the situation below.

Imagine, you have a meeting with your Japanese subordinate. you are talking about current project you and team are working on. Then, you need to decide go or no-go decision for the project. So, you have a time for discuss the direction with your subordinate.

“Could you share your opinion?”

You would have a surprising reply below.

“My opinion? You are my manager. I will follow your opinion.”

I can imagine you feel this is exaggerated, but

I had those answers often from my subordinate.

Worst case, your manager never ask your opinion at all….

So, Japanese have had limited opportunity to demonstrate their opinion at the meeting.

So bad, but this is not only the office but started to the classroom from your youthful days.

Good thing is we Japanese are so organized, punctual. But, flip side is we are not mastery for demonstrate our own opinions.

High context cultural background

Diversity would be limited in Japan since we are living island, kind of isolated.

We had “Sakoku” in Edo period, Japanese government in Edo not allowed to any interaction with oversea countries.

This unique situation makes Japanese so dense and more mono-culture.

So, we can believe his or her opinion next to you.

This is totally different out of Japan.

Japanese seem that not need to demonstrate their opinion because your person next to you would have similar opinion.

“Why we need to speak up?”

Don’t jump in the presentation

Outside of Japan, to jump in the presentation is normal.

However, it is quite rare.

Why?

Because, we think to jump in presentation is not polite way.

“We should hear his/her story because he/she is speaking now. This is not a time to jump in”

“I have questions, but not now. I will ask question after finishing his/her presentation”

But, outside of Japan, people jump in everywhere/every time…

I’m confident how Japanese feel,

“I want to hear full story. Please don’t jump in here and more.”

I know, this is Japan unique phenomenon.

Japanese should change if they work with globally.

I understood fully.

I just wondering if I try to represent Japanese voice in the meeting.

Culture of shame

Very famous words for Japanese is “Culture of shame”. This is contrast to culture of guilt in western countries.

Japanese prioritize high for their “Menzu” which is kind of pride. (not same…)

We are growing up to prioritize not to fail rather than accomplish the success.

If you fail in Japan, it is called “Menzu ga Tsubureru”, it means “lost honor”.

So, Japanese are tend to avoid any fail/false everywhere.

Japanese are not willing to demonstrate their opinion if they are confident it is completely true.

Bit similar to “perfectionism”. But, not same.

Japanese don’t want any fail/false in the meeting.

Mixed up their not perfect English capability, Japanese don’t want to express their opinion more and more.

Conclusion

Now, you understood why Japanese are quiet in the meeting.

One of the solution is “Bringing your Japanese colleague up in the meeting”.

It would be good if you ask your Japanese their opinion often.

You might be able to find good idea from your Japanese colleague those who are very silent in the meeting usually.

Shopping mall in downtown has been facing difficulties to keep their business due to high real estate price, rapidly spread e-commerce and etc.

Aeon Himonya which is one of the shopping malls where neighbors love to go, and to link deeply daily peoples life.

Today, will share one of famous shopping mall in downtown Tokyo,

Aeon Himonya style

Where is Aeon?

Aeon style was located in Meguro-ku, waking 8 mins from Gakugei-Daigaku station in Tokyu-Toyoko line.

Aeon Himonya style was renovated from Daie Himonya which was one of flagship malls of Daie group in 2016.

Since skirt of downtown Tokyo location, high exposure to the media and people come to here in Aeon from Meguro and Setagaya ward by car.

Floor guide

Aeon has 7 stories.

• 1st story: Groceries
• 2nd story: Groceries, alcohol
• 3rd story: Female clothing
• 4th story: Furniture, bedding, kitchen
• 5th story: Male clothing, book store, eye-ware, stationary
• 6th story: Toys, children clothing
• 7th story: Electronics store, restaurant

1st story

Unmanned cash counter has not been common in Japan. You can find them here in Aeon. You can use cash, credit card, and Waon which is tap on e-money.

What is WAON?|WAON|One card is all you need!

One card is all you need! WAON electronic money offers convenience and great value. Just touch the card on the device to...

www.waon.net

You can get fresh fishes and groceries. Here is crowded everyday/every-time, people for getting daily groceries.

You can get affordable “Sashimi” and “Sushi” here.

2nd story

You can take rest at Starbucks with coffee or Himonya-baru with alcohol.

You can find “Kagami-mochi” which is rice cake for new year offering in Dec.

What one of biggest surprise when relocated from Japan to Singapore was price of alcohol.

3rd story

Bun
Leader

This flor for female. You can find female clothes.

However, most of clothing is for over 30 or 40 year’s old or more.

You should go downtown department store in downtown if you are going to go with your teenage girls and 20’s.

4th story

You can buy almost everything goods related to kitchen, bath, bedding here.

5th story

Guppy

There is bookstore.

Books written in English is very limited.

Recommend to go bookstore more downtown where you can buy books written in English.

My recommendation is

Kinokuniya bookstore Shinjuku South – Shinjuku Station

www.shinjukustation.com

Find male clothing for dad.

You can buy clothing for your father with affordable price.

Also, find formal dress and suit/jacket.

6th story

You can buy toys for your kids.

Japanese characters, Kitty, Sumikko-kurashi, Rirakkuma and etc, you can find.

You can bite snack noodles here in 6th story.

Very tiny food court there.

Caveat: very small food court. but food court in Singapore is not common in Japan.

7th story

4 restaurants here in 7th story (top floor).
You can enjoy, Japanese, Chinese and Korean meal.

Electronic store we have.
You can buy Japan electric goods/devices.

Summary

Japanese skirt town shopping mall is very convenient to get everything.

You can find everything easily organized display everywhere, this is one of the Japan quality. So organized and efficient.

On the other hand, a bit inorganic and not colorful here.

Let’s explore Japan shopping mall if you are interested in.

Japanese are really in love with convenience stores, like “7-Eleven”, “Lawson”, “Family Mart” (those are big 3 in Japan) and etc.

Can you imagine this?

I assume most of people think this is strange. “Why convenience store??”

But, once you would explore Japanese convenience store, you must be in love with that as same as Japanese.

Japanese convenience store is real “One stop shop” where you can buy everything you want for your day to day life!

Also, Japanese convenience store operation is all day!

7 Eleven

Japanese called Seven Eleven as “Seven”.

Operation hour of 7- eleven is not 7:00-23:00 but all day/everyday.

Bun Leader

We can find 7-Eleven in Singapore, US and other countries.

Japanese people really love 7 Elleven.

I can imagine it seems odd for foreigners.

You do understand, however, once you would have an opportunity to go Japanese 7 Eleven.

We can find everything day to day life in Japan.

Also, we can find entertainment stuffs, like books, newspapers, magazines and Manga.

Guppy

Agreed, Bun leader.

You don’t think Japan 7 eleven is not same one in Singapore and US.

Very different than other countries 7 eleven.

7 eleven deli is not so good in other countries.

How is it in Japan?

Please find the link below.

お弁当

セブン‐イレブン・ジャパン

www.sej.co.jp

Will find delicious Bento Box line-up.

Japanese convenience store’s bento box quality is very high.

Let’s try those great bento box!!

Breads are so nice as well!!

パン

セブン‐イレブン・ジャパン

www.sej.co.jp

サンドイッチ・ロールパン

セブン‐イレブン・ジャパン

www.sej.co.jp

Sake, Soju and wine.

Full line up.

You can enjoy caned beer and coktails.

Let’s visit 7 eleven Japan site in English below.

403 Forbidden

www.sej.co.jp

Lawson

Lawson is one of the top convenience stores in Japan.

Most of Japanese reckon Lawson is Japanese originated company.

Doesn’t it??

See below the history of Lawson.

Origins of Lawson

The company name of Lawson and its trademark white milk can against a blue background date back to 1939 in Ohio, the United States, where J. J. Lawson ran a dairy milk store. “Mr. Lawson’s milk store” was locally renowned for its fresh and delicious milk and many customers came to buy milk there every morning. J. J. Lawson subsequently established Lawson Milk Co. and developed this into a chain of stores selling various commodities including daily necessities mainly in the northeast of America. The chain name “Lawson” and the milk can logo daily evoking an American dairy farm originated out of this milk trader in the United States. In 1959, Lawson Milk Co. became an affiliate of the American food giant Consolidated Foods Inc. and continued to widely expand its network of stores out of Ohio while establishing the convenience store operating system.

So, we can find “mark of the milk” on the signboard.

Enjoy Lawson delicious bento-box.

I can’t decide my bento-box for lunch.

So many nice options!!

お弁当｜ローソン公式サイト

ローソンのお弁当のご紹介です。

www.lawson.co.jp

Decided this ramen finally for my lunch.

This is “Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen Niku-mashi”.

Tonkotsu soy sauce ramen with large serving meats.

Price if 648JPY. (7.7SGD)

We don’t have hawkers in Japan.

But,

We have delicious bento box at convenience stores!

Soft drink and alcohol well lined up.

Like a super market.

Would you like to have team with chocolate cookies?

You can use ATM for banking.

Also you can use copy machine.

This is not Lawson but you will have those service at most of convenience stores in Japan.

Summary

59,648 convenience stores are in Japan.

Ranking of the # of stores is below

1. 7-Eleven: 21,109
2. Family Mart: 16,641
3. Lawson: 14,672

followed by “Mini-stop” but # of stores are 1,970.

So dominant top 3 convenience stores.

Let’s enjoy Japan convenience bento-box and Japan life as Japanese!