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Japan Local Companies
New ReviewZaibatsus are powerful financial and industrial groups in Japan (the term is formed by the Japanese words zai, meaning “money” or “wealth,” and batsu, meaning “clique” or “clan”). These conglomerates have long influenced Japanese...
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Japan Making Contacts and Developing Trust
New ReviewThe Japanese place great value in building relationships and developing trust. Learn more about the importance of a person's background and associations in developing new business contacts. Become familiar with the significance of using...
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Japan History
New ReviewAlthough myth indicates that Japan was founded in 660 BCE by Emperor Jimmu, the first clear records concerning Japan are provided by the Chinese almost one thousand years later, in the third century CE. Since its beginnings, Japan has...
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Japan Corporate Culture
New ReviewCorporate Japan has been going through a significant transition. Overall, the Japanese business culture is characterized by formal interpersonal relations, group orientation, structured processes, and defined protocols with a...
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What is the G20?
New ReviewThe G20 is a powerful, informal group of nineteen countries and the European Union. It also includes a representative from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The list evolved from an effort to include major developing...
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High-Context vs. Low-Context Communications
New ReviewWhen it comes to communication, cultures can be high-context or low-context—and this is one of the key ways that cultures differ. In low-context cultures, people tend to be explicit and direct in their communications. In high-context...
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France Attitudes Toward Work
New ReviewThe French tend to be motivated by a search for perfection and generally take pride in their work. Nevertheless, business and social relationships along with quality of life and well-being matter a great deal to the French, some of whom...
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China Geography
New ReviewChina is the third-largest country in the world after Russia and Canada, covering 3.7 million square miles (9.6 million square kilometers). Its massive geography stretches from the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet in the west to the Yangtze...
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Singapore Historical Highlights
New ReviewTraders came to the island of Singapore beginning in the thirteen century CE, and over the years commerce between Chinese, Arab, Indian, Thai, Malay, and Javanese traders resulted in a colorful mix of cultures and languages. Eventually...
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Snapshot of Japan
New ReviewMyth indicates that Japan was founded in 660 BCE by Emperor Jimmu, but the first clear records, provided by the Chinese, are from almost one thousand years later. Since its beginnings, Japan has been heavily influenced by both the Korean...
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Japan Tokyo - Yokohama
New ReviewAs Japan’s capital city and the hub of Japanese business, government, and finance, Tokyo is the number one destination for foreigners relocating to Japan. Japan’s largest city, which became the capital in 1868, is a study in contrasts,...
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Japan Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe Area
New ReviewThe Japanese cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe rank just after Tokyo in popularity, and each is unique in its landscape, local culture, and lifestyle. In traditional Kyoto, the pace of life is less frenetic than in Tokyo, and people tend...
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Japan The Island of Kyushu
New ReviewThe island of Kyushu claims a long history of trade and interaction with Europe, evident in the numerous churches on the island, and with Korea and China, which has made the locals far more open to foreigners than other Japanese. It’s...
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Japan Chopsticks Etiquette
New ReviewThe Japanese use chopsticks for all varieties of Japanese food, although some restaurants that are used to tourists can provide knives and forks. Learn why you should never leave your chopsticks standing upright in your rice and other...
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Japan Visiting Homes
New ReviewExplore cultural tips and etiquette for visiting people’s homes, especially when it comes to shedding your shoes and wearing guest slippers. Learn more about local practices for house slippers, toilet slippers, and even garden slippers....
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Japan Socializing Outside Work
New ReviewIn Japan, corporate entertainment is an ancient tradition, and good business relationships are dependent on good personal relationships. One of the most common ways business associates and clients develop personal relationships is by...
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Japan Leisure Activities
New ReviewThe Japanese love the physical pleasures in life, including drinking, dancing, and adult nightlife. Explore the range of entertainment options, from stylish bars and foreign-influenced pubs to movie-going and the arts. The Japanese enjoy...
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Japan Values
New ReviewMany of the values and basic assumptions the Japanese make about life have their origins in Buddhism and Shintoism. The primacy of the group or the collective good and the value placed on maintaining harmony are particularly strong and...
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Japan Religion
New ReviewExplore the influence of religion on Japan over the centuries. Learn about Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, which is still practiced but serves mainly as a source of traditional customs and festivals. It has slightly more followers...
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Japan Language
New ReviewThe standard dialect of Japanese is spoken throughout the country, although there are some regional differences in accent. English is taught in many schools and is the most common language other than Japanese that is spoken in the...
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Japan Humor
New ReviewThe Japanese aren’t usually avid joke tellers, but put them in a group, and they’ll sometimes do humorous imitations of friends and colleagues. Such imitations aren’t considered rude; indeed, they’re often performed in front of the...
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Japan Environment
New ReviewAlong with many people around the world, the Japanese are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment. Among several environmental concerns being debated, garbage disposal has become, quite literally, a burning issue. Having...
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Japan Education
New ReviewEducation plays such a key role in Japanese life, it's hard to overestimate its importance. Whether a child gets into the right school early on determines whether he or she will attend the right university—which, in turn, can determine...
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Japan Food and Eating Habits
New ReviewDepending on what country you call home, Japanese cooking and food preparation may be very different from what you are used to. Food in Japan ranges from traditional Japanese dishes to a wide range of foreign cuisines from around the...