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Business Cultural Dimensions Analysis: Japan
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Research Question 1: What are the principal elements and dimensions of culture in this region?
Dimension of Culture: Communication
Communication is an effective process that enhances sharing and receiving of messages.
It entails an understanding of the message and then sharing the same message with other people.
Also, an individual can use a message for meaning and guide them in fulfilling various
necessities. The Japanese consider the indirect transmission of messages which is a critical factor
in interactions to show a high degree of respect. Moreover, they tend to ignore basic
communication concepts such as body language and paying attention. They are focused on
getting to the point and attaining valuable information from the conversation. However, they
embrace active listening, which involves avoiding physical interaction with other people. Their
enthusiasm is visible in need for clarification on essential details and aspects.
The Japanese are not talkative and mostly perorate displeasure whereby they do not want
to distress the community nor annoy them. In this case, they do not strive to achieve the best out
of every service and situation. A more striking aspect is the preoccupation with saving their
faces during conversations (Garcia, 2016). They do not avoid presenting a direct answer to a
particular question. The Japanese find it necessary to convey the message subtly rather than
discomforting their counterpart. It explains why they are modest by nature and avoid boasting
characteristics.
There is a low degree of eye contact, which portrays honesty and respect for other people
during conversations. They are easily approachable as they demonstrate warmth to the other
person. In this case, they attract many people who are willing to converse with them and share
information. It implies that the Japanese receive information as they quest their curious nature.
They incorporate aspects such as nodding, small smiles, and personal space during
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conversations. Further, the Japanese respect personal space and are likely to step back when they
feel close to the other person.
Dimension of Culture: Religion
The Japanese culture comprises the secular version known as Shintoism, whereby there is
complete separation between religious entities and public affairs. Most people believe in
Buddhist, which is the most common religion. There is approximately 1.5% of Christians and
other more minor religions. However, the most significant number of people in Japan are
ethicists since they do not incline to any religious standing. Instead, they believe in traditional
means and the indigenous lifestyle of their forefathers. Most of the visible customers relate to
Buddhism, which appreciates social tradition.
The nation comprises religious diversity as many people establish their denominations in
the free country. Although it differs from Christianity, traditional practices, as well as other
religions, embrace modernity and human value. It implies a high level of peace and unity as a
result of responsible religious practices. The Buddhism culture brings the belief in
enlightenment, the necessity of love, and wisdom to the believers. In this case, they demonstrate
a high level of unity and peace as they create a love for one another in the community. The
Japanese trust that there is a supreme being who oversees their functionalities. In this case, they
strive to live a moral lifestyle.
Dimension of Culture: Ethics
Freedom, equity, and justice guide the Japanese ethics system since they establish the
guidelines. These values guide the establishment and implementation of ethical behaviors in
society (Kim, Mori, and Rahim, 2018). These ethical behaviors include honesty and fairness,
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which is evident in the Japanese culture (Thovuttikul, Ohmoto, and Nishida, 2018). Citizens
understand the value and need for equality while they respect others and express dignity. They
establish a good relationship with everyone professionally and essentially. There is enormous
respect for the rights of individuals, and people tend to avoid violations of these rights.
These ethical principles help the citizens in determining the wrong and rights within a
given context. They provide practical guidance that helps the people in making decisions
(Kimura and Nishikawa, 2018). They are highly effective, especially in the efforts to live
harmoniously while practicing the virtues of equity and fairness. Respect for autonomy is an
essential ethic that is implemented in different organizational setups.
Dimension of Culture: Values and Attitudes
The Japanese value success and outstanding accomplishments. Their hardworking nature
defines the reasons as to why they celebrate their success with enthusiasm and much appreciation
(Hara, Maegawa, and Yamauchi, 2016). They like to share their life with others which turns out
to be a blessing to everyone in society. Others attain motivation by embracing the life of a
successful person and trying to emulate their success path. They are also open to providing
advice and criticism to others to help them attain the best and grow their wealth. In this case, the
Japanese are friendly in nature and value the aspect of helping others.
They have a positive attitude towards unity and helping others in society. Their polite
nature is not a negative indication but reflects how well they value humanity (Nurilaila,
Ricahyono, Setyadi, and Arifin, 2020). It is evident through the high number of charity
organizations and individual efforts to help the poor. They support the poor in the community
and help them during periods of disasters. It explains why the Japanese country is prosperous and
has a high degree of unity as people live in family settings.
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Japanese value for their country is exceptional and of a high degree. Hence, they take
negative comments seriously and aggravate criticism of their country. In as much as they help
others, the Japanese have the attitude of positivism and optimism, which enable them to cope
with life issues. It includes dealing with pandemics such as hurricanes, diseases, and other
imminent challenges in life. Therefore, it pinpoints down their resilience and the attitude of
winning in every situation.
Dimension of Culture: Business Manners and Customs
The Japanese are friendly individuals who like to initiate relationships and maintain
lasting friendships. The Japanese value was working in groups and regarding themselves as
representatives rather than indicating their superiority. They value casual businesses and ensure
that their associate feels comfortable with the proceedings. Japanese like to maintain professional
business affairs and do not mix personal relations with business matters. In this case, they are not
entirely ready to open up on various matters that are either personal or harm the other person.
They value personal life and do not intervene in other people's affairs.
They respect the aspect of time as they seek to avoid lateness during meetings and other
important events. The nature of the meetings depends on their type and the type of matters that
are at hand. They like to express their ideas during meetings and gatherings and are comfortable
with lengthy discussions to attain appropriate solutions. They allow everyone to table their
opinions regardless of their gender or nature. On the other hand, there is a high motivation for
career choices. Hence they perform exceptionally at the workplace. Americans tend to work
longer while they implement all possible ways to achieve a good solution.
The Japanese do not appreciate disputes. Hence, they mainly implement the proper
conflict avoidance techniques to solve matters. They like negotiations and will strive to acquire
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the right and fair deal that will provide value. They are susceptible to cheating and bribery and
will strive to get lawful deals. In this case, they appreciate legal controls as they abide by the rule
and guidelines in the country. Other matters affecting the Japanese include robbery issues and
security in the country. In this case, they will associate themselves with a legal business and does
not violate national peace.
Dimension of Culture: Social Structures
There is no discrimination in Japan based on social structures. However, they categorize
a person in terms of their living stands, occupation, and education. Other factors that define a
person into specific social structures include income levels and skills. In this case, there exist
three-class structures in the United States. These include the lower class, Middle class, and upper
class. Other studies elaborate that there is the existence of other classes such as the upper-middle
and working class.
The upper class is the topmost level that comprises the elite, such as politicians, top
business executives, the wealthy, and successful businessmen in society. Also, the class consists
of the most educated individuals who receive a high level of income and compensation for their
skills. The middle class comprises professionals working in various institutions and receives an
average salary range in the country. The lower class comprises those living near and below the
poverty line in society. There is a high level of interaction between the low class and the middle
class in society. However, the gap between the upper and lower classes is large, whereby they do
not interact in the social setting.
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Research Question 2: How are these elements and dimensions integrated by locals conducting
business in the nation?
Dimension of Culture: Communication
The Japanese understand the value of verbal communication; hence, they maintain
various elements such as posture and expression. They seek to understand everything in a
conversation, especially when negotiating in the business frontier. These tips enable them to
conduct business successfully without conflict arising. The Japanese tend to convey a message in
a subtle way that is impressive to the listeners. It is easier to understand and attain all valuable
information concerning various aspects in the business realm. Whenever they do not understand
a particular factor well, the Japanese seek clarification. Hence,e it is essential to have good
exp[alantion and all the information at hand when conducting business with the Japanese. It is
easier to close a deal with a Japanese when they believe that the other person is honest and
delivers accurate information. They do not appreciate lies and will detect from the expression
during the delivery of the message.
The Japanese are respectful to the extent that they can contradict situations. It is coarse to
providing a 'no' answer to the other person, which makes it cumbersome. It is imperative to table
one'/;s opinions, especially when there is a high degree of rejection of the offer. In this way, the
other partner can understand what the Japanese person does not like and try to persuade them. It
involves changing the original offer and trying to include aspects that are worth to the other
person. in this case. It is easy to conduct business when a person understands and delivers value
to the other person.
The Japanese tend to avoid eye contact due to their respective nature. It is i9meprative to
understand this character trait, especially for people from the west. The westerners understand
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that failure to maintain eye contact implicates various factors such as lying and cheating (Kim
and Lee, 2020). They believe that the other person is trying to hide something mainly due to
failure to express their emotions. Hene, it is imperative to understand this aspect of the Japanese
and try to conduct meaningful business with them in the open.
The Asian people, especially the Japanese and Chinese, value silence during
communication. They will sometimes take a considerate period to think through the statements
and situation before issuing a thoughtful response. On the contrary, westerners like faster
business communication and transaction, which makes them naïve. It is imperative to understand
the aspect of the slowness of the Japanese since it is not a weakness, but they value quality
response to a question or situation. It is also a formal way of expressing politeness and respect
for the other person.
Dimension of Culture: Religion
Most of the Japanese are traditionally oriented with Buddhism as their primary religious
integration. There is a high value for decency and respect for other people as per their religious
customs. These traits are visible in the business realm as they seek to conduct business most
appropriately without affecting other people. They have total respect for others are they practice
legal business activities. Despite their traditional values, the Japanese do not disregard other
people in the society with different religious believes. Unlike in the past, modern days involve
interaction and peaceful interrelations with people from other denominations.
The Japanese have believed in success through hard work, which is the principal value of
their religion. They believe that a lazy person cannot attain wealth, and it is essential to carry the
business in the correct order. In this case, they tend to work hard and deliver quality services and
products. They are respectful to their seniors and bosses in the business sector and do not conflict
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their interests with those of the organization and others (Toma, Marinescu, and Tohănean, 2018).
A common factor that the Japanese dislike is the boastful nature due to superiority in religious
background. They value equality and unity, which are fundamental principles in business.
Dimension of Culture: Ethics
The principles of justice, fairness, and freedom guide the Japanese through their daily
endeavors and business activities. They understand the need for unity which enables individuals
to interact freely in a given market setting. In this case,e they are ready and open to accepting
business ideas and business transactions from people worldwide. their industrious nature pens
down to their value of equality and fairness, whereby they believe that a person must work to
receive. In this case, there is no discrimination of workers and other people in the business
setting. The vices of robbery, dishonesty and cheating are highly punishable by the law. In this
case, the Japanese are competent and reliable as employees and business partners.
Freedom of movement is an imperative aspect in Japan, whereby there are no restrictions
even for other countries. In this era of globalization, Japan receives many visitors, especially
business enthusiasts who seek to benefit from the free trade frontier (Bates, 2018). There is no
dictatorship in Japan on whichever grounds, which makes it appropriate for international trade.
Other ethics, such as freedom of speech, allow business people to present their grievances and
points of interest to enable smooth business activities.
The Japanese also embrace fairness whereby they avoid discrimination and lack of
inclusion of people based on various factors. For instance, there is a high level of diversity in the
business environment as people interact freely. People from different cultures, races, and
countries attain various positions such as executives and chief executive officers in organizations
without discrimination.
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Dimension of Culture: Values and Attitudes
The Japanese value optimism as they strive to work hard and achieve success in their life.
They believe that they will attain their goals and objective, which enable them to create a good
strategy. They follow through with the procedures and avoid making mistakes in the entire
process. They also trust in their leaders and believe that by following the guidelines, they will
attain success in the future.
The Japanese have a positive attitude towards work and relations with other people,
which is imperative in the business frontier. These attitudes enable them to express great concern
for others and love for what they do daily. In this case, they are competent in their skills as they
strive to attain the best for others and themselves. They have a high degree of self-worth and
self-value, which enable them to perform at high levels every day.
Dimension of Culture: Business Manners and Customs
Japanese are rather polite and find it rude to provide the answer 'no' to another person. In
this case, they will disappear when they are refusing an offer or a deal. They like sitting in
silence, especially when there is a challenge and unsolvable situation. However, they appreciate
punctuality and presence in every meeting or special occasion. They do not appreciate
uncomfortable discussions; hence they will maintain silence until the next topic or issue of
discussion. They like harmony and are likely to clear space for a new discussion without
presenting differing opinions and arguments. Therefore, they will avoid providing a flat negative
response to conversations and proposals.
The Japanese value integrity and do not conduct corrupt activities. As per the Corruption
Perception Index (2017), they had a score of 74, which places them high in the ranking table.
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They stand at position 20 among other countries, indicating that they value honesty. They
appreciate working in a group and do not classify themselves as leaders but rather associates,
partners, spokesperson, and representatives. They are humble when delivering their message and
expression on their character. Hence, it is easier to connect with the Japanese who do not highly
place themselves.
Dimension of Culture: Social structures
The Japanese are humble and like integrating with other people in society. Despite the
differences in the social classes, the Japanese do not discriminate on business nor classify
themselves in terms of luxurious living and poor living. They have high respect for the loyal
families and do not appreciate negative comments towards their elites. The Japanese do not have
a particular form of living, such as dressing and talking which separate them into different
classes (Stathopoulou and Balabanis, 2019). Instead, they appreciate formal dressing and
decency, which is referenced chiefly to their culture.
There is no discrimination for all people in society despite their social class. In this case,
it is easier to interact with these people and involves them actively in business activities. The
elite also has respect for other people and small people in business, whereby they provide
support rather than disturbance. For instance, the government supports local businesses through
policies and incentives rather than denying them licenses and permits for business operations.
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