Blogs and Articles from Third Way Forum Membrs
Jan 19, 2023
Discussion#1 How can we make foreigners want to stay and work in Japan long-term, and how can we make the Japanese want to go more global?
Blogs from The Third Way Working Group
- Most foreigners want to come to Japan for fun, not to work. They say “Living in Japan is good but working is better outside Japan.”
- Lifestyle opportunities in Japan may be attractive for certain individuals, great food, great snow, great oceans, rich history and culture etc, but when it comes to work environment it’s not attractive due to the lack of sense of freedom at work such as hierarchy, long working hours, rigid Japanese ways etc.
- Having said that, however, despite the social pressure you feel, you actually see much less confrontations among people. People never come to confront you on your face. People don’t bother you so much. You can be left alone.
- For most foreigners in recent years, probably the greatest attraction would be the cheap cost of living in Japan. You can still get decent quality things at much cheaper price here.
- But as wages are also low, it’s better to earn money overseas and spend it in Japan. So work overseas and retire in Japan.
- Regarding the business working environment itself, probably teamwork, reliability (sense of responsibility), politeness etc could be regarded as nice things but not strong attractions enough to trigger foreigners to come to work in Japan.
- Some people find Japan’s cultural contrast very unique and attractive. “A lady in Kimoto with Nike shoes and eating McDonald’s hamburger.”
- Why do many Western people want to go to Italy? Italy also has massive cultural attractiveness but when it comes to the business world, it seems better to work in another country say Germany to make money and build a long-term career.
- Living in a foreign country long-term is different from working short-term there. You need to consider a wider range of things other than just your job. So non-business aspects of the county such as culture, lifestyle, safety etc are becoming more important for long-term residents.
- There are three types of foreigners in Japan. 1. Tourists 2. Expats 3. Long-term Residents
1. As Tourists, Japan is great, full of culture, great food and fun. Even not so expensive. Japan is unbeatably fantastic.
2. As Expats, despite some work culture differences you must navigate, you can get clear financial benefits and you can use Gaijin Cards and get away with domestic work customs which Japanese employees have to follow. So being an expat in Japan is definitely beneficial and advantageous.
3. As Long-term Residents, you truly appreciate safety, many days of nice weather, convenience, rich and deep cultural wonder etc and you also get better at clearing obstacles. So life gets easier for you in Japan. But at the same time you get familiar with many things and Japan gets less exiting for you and you still have the same old frustrations with Japan. You are torn between good and bad of Japan and may be confused with half happiness and half bitterness.
- Although people have different reasons to come to Japan and stay here long, one common feeling they share is that Japan still remains as a challenging place. Unlike Singapore and Hong Kong which are already international societies, Japan is still struggling with globalization, diversity and many other issues. If you are looking for a challenging work place, Japan can offer what you are looking for.
- If you work in a Scandinavian country or in Singapore, being an international person does not add special value as their society is already international. However, in Japan, there are still a lot of work to do to catch up with globalization. And whatever globalization effort was made in the past, it is often the case that the situation goes back to its original state as if nothing had happened at all. So you have to make another globalization effort from the start. That’s why a great work is curbed out for international people here in Japan.
- Japan’s slowness to catch up with globalization is maybe a good opportunity for international people to work in Japan?
- Well, only if the wage level is higher…
- Lifestyle opportunities in Japan may be attractive for certain individuals, great food, great snow, great oceans, rich history and culture etc, but when it comes to work environment it’s not attractive due to the lack of sense of freedom at work such as hierarchy, long working hours, rigid Japanese ways etc.
- Having said that, however, despite the social pressure you feel, you actually see much less confrontations among people. People never come to confront you on your face. People don’t bother you so much. You can be left alone.
- For most foreigners in recent years, probably the greatest attraction would be the cheap cost of living in Japan. You can still get decent quality things at much cheaper price here.
- But as wages are also low, it’s better to earn money overseas and spend it in Japan. So work overseas and retire in Japan.
- Regarding the business working environment itself, probably teamwork, reliability (sense of responsibility), politeness etc could be regarded as nice things but not strong attractions enough to trigger foreigners to come to work in Japan.
- Some people find Japan’s cultural contrast very unique and attractive. “A lady in Kimoto with Nike shoes and eating McDonald’s hamburger.”
- Why do many Western people want to go to Italy? Italy also has massive cultural attractiveness but when it comes to the business world, it seems better to work in another country say Germany to make money and build a long-term career.
- Living in a foreign country long-term is different from working short-term there. You need to consider a wider range of things other than just your job. So non-business aspects of the county such as culture, lifestyle, safety etc are becoming more important for long-term residents.
- There are three types of foreigners in Japan. 1. Tourists 2. Expats 3. Long-term Residents
1. As Tourists, Japan is great, full of culture, great food and fun. Even not so expensive. Japan is unbeatably fantastic.
2. As Expats, despite some work culture differences you must navigate, you can get clear financial benefits and you can use Gaijin Cards and get away with domestic work customs which Japanese employees have to follow. So being an expat in Japan is definitely beneficial and advantageous.
3. As Long-term Residents, you truly appreciate safety, many days of nice weather, convenience, rich and deep cultural wonder etc and you also get better at clearing obstacles. So life gets easier for you in Japan. But at the same time you get familiar with many things and Japan gets less exiting for you and you still have the same old frustrations with Japan. You are torn between good and bad of Japan and may be confused with half happiness and half bitterness.
- Although people have different reasons to come to Japan and stay here long, one common feeling they share is that Japan still remains as a challenging place. Unlike Singapore and Hong Kong which are already international societies, Japan is still struggling with globalization, diversity and many other issues. If you are looking for a challenging work place, Japan can offer what you are looking for.
- If you work in a Scandinavian country or in Singapore, being an international person does not add special value as their society is already international. However, in Japan, there are still a lot of work to do to catch up with globalization. And whatever globalization effort was made in the past, it is often the case that the situation goes back to its original state as if nothing had happened at all. So you have to make another globalization effort from the start. That’s why a great work is curbed out for international people here in Japan.
- Japan’s slowness to catch up with globalization is maybe a good opportunity for international people to work in Japan?
- Well, only if the wage level is higher…
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