Building a good relationship with colleagues at work is always one of the worries of many people. Especially for foreigners, when working in Japan, this becomes even more difficult because of barriers in language, culture, way of working, etc. However, just by grasping these 13 tips in working with Japanese, you can begin building good relationships with your colleagues from today.

 

Typical Japanese working culture:

 

When working in Japan, you need to understand the specific traits of their working culture. Here are some bullets you need to keep in mind when working for a Japanese company:

 

Punctuality.
Clear hierarchy.
Respecting opinions of superiors & seniors.

 

13 essential tips to build a good relationship with Japanese colleagues?

 

Don’t be late:

 

Japanese companies are very strict on time. For example, if the starting time is 9:00, then basically, at 8:50, you have to be at your desk already. It is also not allowed to be late to the meeting, unless there is a special reason. The Japanese do not have specific rules on arrival time, but you should be there 10 minutes early.

 

Greetings:

 

It would not be an exaggeration to say that greeting is the first factor that determines whether you can build a successful relationship or not. Greetings to acknowledge each other’s existence, help build mutual trust. Especially in Japanese companies, the relationship between seniors and juniors is very clear, so when coming to work or leaving, you should say hello or goodbye to your colleagues.

 

Do not impose your opinions on everything:

 

Japanese companies always attach great importance to cooperation. It’s good to have a personal opinion, but if you focus on it too much, you will receive negative reactions from everyone around. Normally, Japanese often expect their colleagues or employees to respect the opinions of their superiors and seniors.

 

Avoid talking too much about yourself:

 

In Japanese companies, when you talk too much about your stuff, people will think that you are not serious about your job. The Japanese often work in silence, so you should avoid talking about your personal matters at work. Also, don’t use your cell phone unless you’re on a break.

 

Remember to “Ho-ren-so” (Report – Inform – Consult):

 

Another trait is that most success at work comes from teamwork, not from individuals. To work smoothly as a team, it is very important to regularly report, inform on work progress, and consult each other when there are questions.

 

Avoid private questions:

 

In many places, you shouldn’t be asking questions like “Are you married?” “How old are you?” “Do you have kids?”. On the contrary, there are places where people are very close to each other, like to visit each other’s house or talk about private things.

 

You need to know that personal questions will be received differently in different places, so if you do not understand the culture of your workplace, it is better to avoid asking others about their personal problems.

 

Consult your superiors and colleagues if you want to take a long leave:

 

Although the company has a paid leave policy, it is difficult to manage the schedule if someone wants to take a long leave. The reason is “too much work” and you will have to hand over your work to someone during your absence.

 

Therefore, when you intend to take a long leave, you need to discuss with your superiors, seniors and colleagues altogether to adjust the timeline accordingly.

 

Buy gifts for colleagues while traveling:

 

There are many reasons to ask for a leave, but if you are traveling, remember to buy gifts when you return. It is highly recommended to buy confectionery wrapped separately in small packages. Japan has a culture of gifting amongst colleagues in the company to show gratitude towards people who have helped you while you’re not around.

 

Observe and feel:

 

Japanese people are relatively introverted and quiet. They often answer unclearly, but rarely say outright YES or NO. Even if they don’t like something, they will never say they don’t like it. So you need to understand the feelings of the opposites and interpret what’s going on around.

 

Pay attention to the “beat-about-the-bush”:

 

As mentioned above, Japanese people tend not to express their emotions clearly. They think that if they speak too frankly, they can hurt the other person or be seen as a person who does not think about others.

 

In order to get along with your Japanese colleagues, it’s best to avoid expressing your personal opinions too directly, and you can choose a more indirect way to make the other person feel comfortable.

 

Lunch helps to shorten the distance:

 

Having lunch together not only relaxes you, but also helps you get to know each other better. However, some Japanese people often do their private stuff during breaks such as going to the post office or bank. Also, some people like to have lunch alone, so instead of forcing people to have lunch with you desperately, try asking, “Would you like to have lunch together tomorrow?”.

 

Actively learning Japanese and their culture:

 

When you show your understanding of Japan, you can make a positive impression in the eyes of Japanese people. Take advantage of your lunch time, try to actively ask about Japanese language, proper manners, culture, etc.

 

When you introduce your country, you should have a deep understanding of both countries, and through that you will be able to build a better relationship with your colleagues.

 

Don’t be shy, go for those parties:

 

Japanese companies usually have 3 big parties around the year. “Bonenkai (Year-end party)” is an occasion for people to take a break and erase the hardships of the passing year. “Shinnenkai (New Year party)” is to celebrate the beginning of a new year. Last but not least, “Kangei-kai (Welcome party)” is to welcome new employees.

 

These parties will have the participation of current employees as well as former ones, and are important occasions for people to exchange, share, and fill in the gap among each other. So if you have a chance to party, don’t miss these!

 

If you are working in Japan and having trouble in your relationship with your colleagues, read and think about the tips we have mentioned in this article. Even so, you don’t have to force yourself too much, because if you don’t feel comfortable and try to please others, it cannot be considered a good relationship.