In the same week, two of my friends – a Japanese working for a Japanese company and an American working for an American company – complained about their respective jobs, in similar ways but for very different reasons.
My Japanese friend said, “There’s so much drama at my job. The Japanese who have been hired in Japan look down on those from other countries, or even Japanese hired in the U.S. as opposed to those hired at headquarters in Japan. They treat the newer employees like they are less important and hardly talk to them. It’s ok for me because I show them a lot of respect and apologize a lot, but for others (non-Japanese) who don’t understand what’s going on, they really suffer or leave.”
My American friend said, “There’s so much drama at my job. If someone suggests something outside of their defined job that is theoretically someone else’s area, they’re treated as though they’re encroaching on the other’s area, even if the suggestion would help the company or the team, and even if the person who suggests it isn’t trying to take credit for it. Personally, I don’t care who comes up with a good idea. But all these others are so possessive and defensive about their ‘territory,’ even if they really aren’t producing good ideas or meaningful work.”
The dynamic that is happening in each of the scenarios described above, reflects deep-seated values, so deep, we’re barely aware of it. Although hierarchy and territoriality certainly exist in both cultures, the difference is where the importance is placed between individuals.
Hierarchical Japan
Much has been written about the deeply ingrained hierarchical system in Japan, and there are numerous ways that the hierarchy is continually reaffirmed. For example, there is no single word for brother or sister: you must say either elder brother or younger brother, and elder sister or younger sister. Status within a family, a company, or other group determines how things are done. This includes seating position around a meeting table, bowing depth and length, and serving order – the person of higher status is served first, of course, not the lady, unless her status is highest.
It is clear to the Japanese – but not necessarily to the foreigner – who defers to whom, and what specific behavior and obligations are assigned to each status. And if you don’t pay respect to status, especially through humble apologies, you’ll suffer the consequences because your actions can cause them to lose face–the appearance to others of status. The preponderance of expressions around “face” or “image” in Japan is testimony to this.
Territorial U.S.
I would like to propose that, in contrast, Americans’ social order is mapped out in terms of territory more than hierarchy. “You’re in my space,” is not a concept the Japanese entertain. Since there are no job descriptions in Japan, you can’t encroach on someone’s job territory. But in the U.S., you can, and it’s not appreciated. When Japanese supervisors ask Americans to do something outside of their job description, the answer will likely be, “that’s not my job.” Although it sounds like the person just doesn’t want to do something they weren’t hired for, sometimes they’re just trying not to invade someone else’s territory.
The extent of expressions around territory in the U.S. is vast. If someone seems to be suggesting something that’s part of your job description in the U.S., then you’ll be likely to “defend your territory,” and possibly “not give an inch,” because it can seem like the person is “stepping on your toes.” In fact, you may end up in a “turf war.”
Please share your thoughts on this!
by Diana Rowland, author Japanese Busines: Rules of Engagement
