Business
WANT TO MAKE IT BIG IN JAPAN? ELEVEN TOP BUSINESS TIPS
Published by Gbaf News
Posted on October 29, 2014
3 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Gbaf News
Posted on October 29, 2014
3 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Enjoying more three star Michelin restaurants than France and where etiquette allows for noodles to be slurped – Japan is not always what we in the West assume it to be.
However, as the world’s third largest economy and main exports that include vehicles, computer parts and watches, the land of the rising sun is a formidable player in the world of commerce.
When doing business in Japan, key values such as loyalty and respect for status play a pivotal role in this Asian high tech nation whose strong social and employment hierarchies result in most Japanese men working for the same employer for their entire career.
The Japanese feel that their qualities of abundance hard work, discipline and commitment are lacking in their western counterparts – considering us to be too direct, unprepared and unpredictable. In short, they view our way of working as inferior. That’s why it is vital to research, understand and appreciate the Japanese mentality and how they operate in business, before embarking on any commercial relationships with them.
Rob Johnson, of Farnham Castle Intercultural Training, a cross cultural consultant specialising in Japan; where he lived for five years, share his top tips for building successful business relationships:
The Japanese are renowned for being the world’s most demanding customers, who accept nothing less than the highest standards of quality and service. Understanding this and not judging everything from a Western perspective will ensure greater success for those seeking to tap into this dynamic market.
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