As a country which values group performance rather than individual performance, in traditional Japan there are very few opportunities to negotiate salary raises in a company once you are an employee. As I have written previously, the basic idea is that the company will take care of you within its capacity and on a par with other players in the market...

Today's column is for bilingual Japanese (or very fluent foreign bilingual) readers thinking about working overseas. One of the attractions of learning English is the opportunity to study and work overseas. The major destination for language students is the USA, with about 45,000 studying at all levels then going on to work for 12 months after graduation on the OPT ( Optional Practical Training) program. But once your...

One reason people like to work for a Japanese company is knowing that your working life and environment are "looked after". If you're someone who craves security and stability, then the paternalism and lock-step nature of your remuneration and benefits are not a bad thing. But if you want something out...

A reader recently asked me about the possibility of his receiving the unemployment benefit here in Japan after quitting his job. I thought this is an interesting subject which hasn't been covered much in English. Please note that ALL the comments below only apply...

I mentioned last week that in getting an apartment, you don't necessarily need a Hanko to complete your contract. This is because instead of a hanko you may be able to register your signature at your embassy and thus you can give the realtor a certificate of proof of your signature instead. Thus, you really can 'sign' the contract...

I was asked by a reader (thanks C.A.) to outline the actual process of getting an apartment, following on from my column several weeks ago. So here goes... I'm assuming that you're doing things for yourself and don't have a secretary to look after things for you...

A continuing problem for foreign employees newly arrived in Japan is the issue of getting accommodation. If you're an expatriate and can afford it, of course there are a number of foreigner-specific apartment complex chains in Tokyo such as Homat and Mori. But if you're on more of a budget, then what are the options?...

A third major contributing factor to the salaryman's psyche is the continuing impact of WWII - yes, even today. During the 1950's, Japan almost became a communist nation - the principle of group dependency had been one of necessity after the war, and the socialist ideal of everyone being treated fairly and equally was extremely attractive to a population that was...

I often get letters from foreigners working inside conservative Japanese companies, many of which are famous brands, telling me how sick they are of watching the malaise. Younger talent gets wasted, senior managers are incompetent, and foreigners are treated as curiosities or temporary guests rather than...

The worst situation for a manager, and indeed for a company, is an employee who has been fired but who won't leave. Although in theory Japanese companies can hire and fire as they need to, it is the gray zone of the labour law and the power of the Labour Standards Inspection Office (Roudoukijun-kyoku) which holds most companies back from doing so. As a number of foreign firms...