Geert Hofstede's Six Dimensions Of Japanese Business Culture

The Japanese are well known for their unique culture, which has been established as a complex and multifaceted system since ancient times. Most importantly, they are known to set a high value of protocols and etiquette during any type of business affairs, which applies to foreigners as well. When an external company wishes to conduct business with any Japanese companies, it is crucial for them to firstly understand the major elements and dimensions of the Japanese culture, as well as their impact on the way Japanese companies conduct their business. Using Geert Hofstede’s six dimensions, the unique Japanese national culture can be exemplified to hold several unique characteristics.

Hierarchy. With a score of 54, Japan is considered as a mildly

Masculinity. At a score of 95, Japan is considered as one of the most masculine societies in the world, particularly evidenced by ardent competition between groups as each tries to outdo another in a fierce competition. This culture was instilled to people since a young age, when children would learn to compete for their groups during annual Sports Day in schools (Hofstede 2016), and eventually the pursuit for excellence becomes the main motivational factor in the business culture. For example, in company meetings, it is not uncommon for several participants to take detailed notes to be compared later on so as to maintain absolute accuracy (Alston and Takei 2005). Aside from that, the society’s relentless strive for excellence and perfection is also evident in sectors such as material production (monodukuri), service quality in hospitality environments (omotenashi) as well as visual presentations in gifts or food wrapping. An example is the famous Japanese department store Takashimaya, in which employees are trained to provide the maximum level of service towards their customers. Carter (2014) recounts a time when a Takashimaya store clerk created a customized carrier for a roll of plastic film she purchased on the spot, because it could not fit into the standard shopping bag. Fashion retailer Uniqlo is another company that wants to maintain the ‘Japanese way’ of customer service in their global expansion efforts, hence overseas stores often arrange for their foreign staff to be sent to Japan for training in ‘the Japanese way’ (Carter 2014). These extensive procedures may consume a lot of time and effort, which also contributes to the notorious Japanese workaholic culture. With employees subjected to long working hours, the general belief is that women still find it difficult to rise within the Japanese career environment. Uncertainty Avoidance. Due to its previous experience with major natural disasters such as the tsunami,