Just like in India, Japan too has a well-developed hierarchical work culture.  Use of honorifics like ‘san’, ‘sama’ (for a noble person), ‘sensi’ (for teachers) etc. is parallel with the use of ‘Shri’(a title of respect) , ‘ji’, ‘sadguru’ (for religious person), ‘pandit’ (for scholars) etc., in India. But what should be noticed is that while Japan has established a common system throughout the country, use of honorifics in India differs across the length & breadth of the country.

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In both the countries, elders in the family are looked upon with great reverence & respect. While Indians show respect for their elders by touching their feet, deep bows and words of care are used when seeking blessings from elders in Japan. Another common thread between the cultures of both the countries is the joint family system that is much appreciated & practiced even today among people of all classes & ages.

1. If you are an Indian who has recently shifted to Japan for work, you’ll find their workplace interaction to be more formal. Calling each other by first name is a big no and considered rude. Another thing to notice is that the idea of ‘business casual’ when it comes to dressing up for office, does not exist in Japan. Men are mostly seen walking around in grey, black or navy suits with tie while women wear white button-down shirt with a skirt along with matching blazer.

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It is common for most Japanese companies to follow the mantra of ‘ho-ren-so’. The term stands for a mnemonic device that combines the first syllable of three verbs: Houkoku (report), renraku (contact) and soudan (consult). This primarily means that in Japan employees must keep their superiors informed of their actions at all times and must not take any decision without consulting with them. No matter how big or small the decision maybe, it must go through a chain of command and get the stamp of approval from the seniors.

Perhaps one of the most important values Japanese companies insist on is that of group harmony among employees. For a holistic approach and peaceful cooperation within the organisation, more emphasis is laid on group consensus. Employees are expected to go above and beyond their capacity to be accommodative of each other’s schedules and needs. Selflessness over individual needs is given prominence and managers are often expected to take their role of a mentor and guide seriously whilst encouraging group harmony among team members.

It is important to note that higher productivity doesn’t always necessarily, result in better work. For companies and people to succeed, breaking from the shackles of monotony and engaging in activities that will improve the overall functions is important. This adaptation of the Kaizen- which broadly translates as ‘improvement’- by the Japanese workforce has made them appreciative of even slightest of enhancement in their own self and of their surroundings. Overall, having a focused and energized mind, be it at work or at home, is encouraged among Japanese employees so that they can pay attention to things that matter the most to them and constantly find ways to improve themselves for higher efficiency.

Can there be a better synonym for meticulousness than Japanese people? It’s not hard to notice how much the Japanese care about details. ‘It’s not that important’ is an attitude they don’t support and perhaps that’s the reason they don’t let a single thing skip their mind with ‘care’ being the keyword here. It is because they care so much about little things and details that in their business every single thing matters. For example, take their bento boxes. A reflection of tidiness, functionality and ease of eating, bento box is a carefully crafted lunchbox featuring a variety of tastes, textures and flavours. Now imagine, if there is so much thoughtfulness put into creating the perfect lunchbox what would they be doing when it comes to developing other big things like technology, automobiles, infrastructure etc.?!     

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In Japan there is a saying, “Being ten minutes early is early, being five minutes early is being on-time, being on-time means you are late.” The idea of being on-time is ingrained in the Japanese lifestyle. From reaching for official meetings to making it for lunch dates, everything is done on-time and with the attitude of supporting each other’s schedule or plan. In fact, not just people, even the trains follow a strict time rule in Japan. The Shinkansen or the Japanese Bullet Train has a record for always being on-time. Other transport systems in the country also follow suit. In case they are delayed by even a few seconds, proper announcements are made and apologies are extended by the station staff. In a country where being on time is equated with keeping the promise, efficiency, productivity and alacrity are the qualities one must possess to be able to match up with their work standards. So, if you have made up your mind about working in Japan, you should learn to be as strict about your time as the Japanese.

Experiencing a part of Japan is one thing, nonetheless, being in Japan and witnessing the complete spectrum of the daily life one lives there is a whole new thing. One can find themselves not only admiring their systems, but understanding the absolute relevance of it all. A life altering opportunity without a doubt, it always helps to have a solid precursor on the cultural and professional sensitivities of any place.

Japan, its culture, language and technology are an integral part of NHSRCL’s work. We recognize the immense set of learnings one can gain from which is why our emphasis on crafting meticulous Japan based training systems for our employees is unwavering. Since the High-Speed Rail technology is being adopted from Japanese Shinkansen train technology, there is a need for seamless inter-country exchanges between the officials of two countries. This forms a core reason why facilitating a proficiency in Japanese language will lead to an empathetic understanding of lifestyle systems. A training programme on Japanese language and culture developed by the Japan Foundation is instrumental for learning and using Japanese language for oral communication, and better understanding the Japanese culture.

It is the combination of all of these facets pursued with utmost sincerity that fosters a positive set of learnings and memories stemming from the rich pool of learnings that Japan as a Nation has to offer to us and vice versa. It is through such exchanges that makes Shinkansen technology not only a subject of pride for Japan, but an ideal vehicle of revolutionary progress for India.