How is it like working in Japan?

Question

Anybody with an experience working in Japan, care to share some of your stories?

1. people
2. office environment
3. clients
4. any weird cultural stuff that foreigners should know about?
5. discrimination issues?
6. food
7. living standard
8. average salary

etc

Tokyo

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I got a job offer there.

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I heard they don't treat women equally... anyone?

i heard there's a mandatory group get-together to bars every week or something... and u can't get out of it...

and what's up with Welcoming party (they told me they will hold one for me when I arrived)?
I don't even speak Japanese and I feel very unconfortable...

uncomfortable*

Entry level please

Answer 1

1.boring and weired
2.very small!
3.annoying
4.penis size
5.they all have some sort of vision problem
6.taste bad
7.crouded
8. 99999999999.00 yin

Answer 2

Highly over crowded to most Western understanding and comfort.

Very competitive and women are not treated as equal there as they are here, but it has become much easier for females to navigate their way into the workplace. Respect is key in Japan so if you know your place and understand ahead of time what is expected of you, you'll be fine.

Learn the language... Duh.

They do like to party after work usually very hard and rather late... and yes, it is often taken as an insult to try and get out of it! But you can always say Jet lag or feeling ill...

The bus seats are not for Western butts... They are smaller than here. Do yourself a favor and make sure you get your bus pass before getting into the country as it becomes very expensive once you are inside purchasing bus passes or train passes is a must too because not just anyone drives... usually only the rich. Most people either walk, bike or take public transport.

Big time mucho protocol. You have got to be a kind of politically correct there that most people here can't relate to... There is even special vocabulary for business situations...

Lunch is lunch... They usually take a bento box with some fish and some tea, rice or noodle and vegetables. Eating out is very expensive! Women eat more regular then men do. They are all workaholics and their expectations are much higher than here...

Price of living is very high, there are few apartments, too many people and not a lot of affordable real estate at all.

Depends on what you want to do. That decides your salary from entry level to professional. Salary usually follows the profession and the currency in most countries.

Answer 3

Unless you are very senior management, and from the sounds of your letter you are not, you don't stand a chance in any of the areas you listed.
If you are at all interested in working in a different country you should do a lot of homework, libraries, book stores and even the Embassy of that country. In fact the Embassy sould really be the place to start. You can get a lot of information there. What are the requirements to immigrate there, would you even be allowed to work etc.
Start asking for information, but Japan is a very closed society with years and years of strict culture behind them.

Answer 4

All depends on what part of Japan, Mainland or Okinawa on alot of your questions! Lived in mainland 3 years and moving to Okinawa in May! The people are so friendly.