Navigating Japan's Business Culture: A Practical Guide to Succeeding in the Japanese Market

Page-turning practical and essential tips for success in the Japanese market—from communicating to negotiating, product selection to distribution, management to sales

Navigating Japan’s Business Culture: A Practical Guide to Succeeding in the Japanese Market delivers clear, specific information to help executives understand and successfully navigate the numerous obstacles that confronted when foreign companies do business in Japan.

Unlike “cultural intelligence” books that describe Japanese social etiquette, this book goes straight to the cultural values and social customs entwined in Japanese capitalism that make their capitalism so different from Western capitalism—and therefore can become stumbling blocks for gaining success in the Japanese market. Readers will come away with specific guidance on how to

• negotiate successfully with your Japanese partner.
• ensure your business will endure for the long term in that market.
• know your Japanese counterpart is telling you “no” when it sounds very much like “yes.”
• capitalize on deeply held Japanese cultural traits in a way to benefit both your company and your partner’s company.
• create good business practices that will strengthen your business by drawing on the strong values of Japanese management styles and employee work ethic.
• and much more...

This book is filled with page-turning practical wisdom and case studies covering communication goals to negotiating, product selection for the Japanese market to distribution services, management to sales. Azar provides valuable direction by

• identifying Japan’s culture-based differences in management and business practices to alert Western businesses of these differences.
• explaining and linking these practices to their cultural roots so that they may be understood in their correct cultural context.
• delivering guidance for dealing with these differences to create strong, successful, long-term partnerships with their Japanese counterparts.

Ignore the important cultural differences highlighted in this book at your own business risk if you are working in or plan to enter the Japanese market. The case studies the author includes underscores the wisdom shared throughout the book.

This book will be of interest to and benefit three groups of readers:

• Individuals with professional interests in Japan, such as those in business and government
• Those with an academic interest in Japan, such as teachers and students of both Japanese business and culture
• The culturally curious and globally minded who are interested in the many diverse cultures that enrich our world

If you are or plan to be doing business in Japan, read this book now!

Robert Azar is an intercultural management expert who has spent thirty-five years and counting in the milieu of Asian culture. He has logged over a million flight miles traveling to, from, and within Asia and lived in Japan for six years and Seoul, Korea for one year. He has worked for Japanese companies and, over the last twenty-five years, has very successfully developed and managed U.S. businesses in Asian markets within a variety industries. His deep understanding of the intricacies of Asian culture and his fluency in reading, writing, and speaking the Japanese language have been key to the success his clients have enjoyed.