TokyoShoes: Foreign woman working in Japan

Today I was quoted in the Financial Times in an article on foreign women�s experience working in Japan, my first time being quoted in a newspaper ever. It unfortunately is not on the FT site so I will included a scan of it here.

Somehow I have also made it onto the Tokyo speaking circuit on this topic. I recently spoke at the Career Seminar organized by FEW (Foreign Executive Women), next week I will speak at the Tokyo American Club, and later in the month for JET participants.

For those of you who don�t know I work for a German bank in Tokyo. I now work part time from home, but was full time onsite my first year here. I certainly had my ups and downs, but I believe that most of the challenges I faced had more to do with being foreign / cultural barriers than with being a woman. I get the impression that foreign women can succeed in the workplace in Japan because they are viewed as foreign instead of as women. (The point I am quoted on in the FT).

If I may, I impart the following advice from very hard-learned lessons working in Japan. I wish someone had told me this:

Read between the lines: when someone says, �it�s difficult� it means, �it�s impossible.� Yes also usually mean no.

It�s a waste of time to ask people to brainstorm new ideas.

Lying is okay if it is done for the purpose of saving face.

Watch your back, ratting someone out is perfectly acceptable.

Make sure you have tons of business cards. Treat other peoples business cards as delicately as a newborn baby.

Don�t expect anyone to take ownership, just tell the exactly what you want them to do and you will be far more pleased with the results.

People don�t like to make decisions. Try asking which option is better and you might get an answer.

Say your sorry all the time even if your not. Say thank you and excuse me even more often, it will make your life easier.

If you are willing to lead others will willingly follow. Be warned if one of them then f#cks something up it is your fault.

As a foreigner the same rules don�t apply to you. As long as you are polite about it you can get away with lots.

Here�s a picture of me at work. I had a cute little stuffed animal on my computer. My co-worked in the back had one too. All the girls did, even women in their 30�s!

Comments

i have heard that most japanese businessmen are so sexist that they make mike tyson look normal... the porno comics convinced me. i get so turned off thinking about their men that it makes me not want to go there.

by catgrrl | 02.01.03 @ 02:00 AM

catgrrl - not all Japanese men are sexist - even in Japanese companies. Although my former boss was a complete loser - I worked with some really great older Jpanese guys - the systems manager would often explain programming bits and pieces with me, and he and one of the other guys and I would often brainstorm ideas and discuss things together.

My beer drinking buddy in the company was a Japanese guy in his 40's - when I was having problems in the company they supported me. Interestingly enough we all quit the company at about the same time...

A company I frequently do contract work for now dotes on me and my opinions are always valued.

It really depends on the people you are working with.

On a more personal level - th J-boys I know are in no way sexist or into porno comics.

While I'm not denying there are those typical sexist salarymen out there - not all men here are like that. (^^)

by gomichild | 02.01.03 @ 09:26 AM

gomichild - thanks for that quick reply of just about exactly the same thing I have to say.

catgrrl - I hope my posts have not been implying that I think Japanese men are sexist. I don�t. As a western woman I was either idolized or feared by most of the Japanese businessmen, but never treated in a sexist way. Occasionally I became friends with them. One ultra conservative Japanese man liked me so much I he asked me to call him by his first name, a really big deal in Japan. For work related issue this guy took my word as gospel.

I am sure that Japanese women have a different experience, but my observations were that I don�t think Japanese women are looked down on in the workplace, or at least no more so than in any western country. I get the impression that no job is looked down on in Japan. The Office Ladies have their role/place and everyone takes their work fairly seriously. At my company we also had a number of female Japanese equity analysts. In this professional level job, I don�t believe they were treated differently than their male peers.

by Nadine | 02.01.03 @ 12:07 PM

I've been living and working in Japan for 12 years and I say your advice is so on the mark!
One more thing I'd add-- Always dress the part. (but that's the part I hate so I'm moving back to NH!)

by Pam | 03.04.03 @ 10:53 PM

I love your site!!! Thanks for sharing Japan with us. I really got a kick out of your advice for the working!!

http://www.sewingfabrics.com/home/mya.cfm?1104

by E | 10.14.03 @ 04:45 AM

I agree. I was only in Japan for 3 months, but I found that men in general (most, not all) were very sexist, expecting to be waited on hand and foot by women.

by Sarah | 10.10.05 @ 09:15 AM



« Evening view from my window \| Main \| Your own blog » Foreign woman working in Japan Today I was quoted in the Financial Times in an article on foreign women�s experience working in Japan, my first time being quoted in a newspaper ever. It unfortunately is not on the FT site so I will included a scan of it here. Somehow I have also made it onto the Tokyo speaking circuit on this topic. I recently spoke at the Career Seminar organized by FEW (Foreign Executive Women), next week I will speak at the Tokyo American Club, and later in the month for JET participants. For those of you who don�t know I work for a German bank in Tokyo. I now work part time from home, but was full time onsite my first year here. I certainly had my ups and downs, but I believe that most of the challenges I faced had more to do with being foreign / cultural barriers than with being a woman. I get the impression that foreign women can succeed in the workplace in Japan because they are viewed as foreign instead of as women. (The point I am quoted on in the FT). If I may, I impart the following advice from very hard-learned lessons working in Japan. I wish someone had told me this: Read between the lines: when someone says, �it�s difficult� it means, �it�s impossible.� Yes also usually mean no. It�s a waste of time to ask people to brainstorm new ideas. Lying is okay if it is done for the purpose of saving face. Watch your back, ratting someone out is perfectly acceptable. Make sure you have tons of business cards. Treat other peoples business cards as delicately as a newborn baby. Don�t expect anyone to take ownership, just tell the exactly what you want them to do and you will be far more pleased with the results. People don�t like to make decisions. Try asking which option is better and you might get an answer. Say your sorry all the time even if your not. Say thank you and excuse me even more often, it will make your life easier. If you are willing to lead others will willingly follow. Be warned if one of them then f#cks something up it is your fault. As a foreigner the same rules don�t apply to you. As long as you are polite about it you can get away with lots. Here�s a picture of me at work. I had a cute little stuffed animal on my computer. My co-worked in the back had one too. All the girls did, even women in their 30�s! Posted on 01.31.03 @ 05:26 PM \| Permalink Comments i have heard that most japanese businessmen are so sexist that they make mike tyson look normal... the porno comics convinced me. i get so turned off thinking about their men that it makes me not want to go there. by catgrrl \| 02.01.03 @ 02:00 AM catgrrl - not all Japanese men are sexist - even in Japanese companies. Although my former boss was a complete loser - I worked with some really great older Jpanese guys - the systems manager would often explain programming bits and pieces with me, and he and one of the other guys and I would often brainstorm ideas and discuss things together. My beer drinking buddy in the company was a Japanese guy in his 40's - when I was having problems in the company they supported me. Interestingly enough we all quit the company at about the same time... A company I frequently do contract work for now dotes on me and my opinions are always valued. It really depends on the people you are working with. On a more personal level - th J-boys I know are in no way sexist or into porno comics. While I'm not denying there are those typical sexist salarymen out there - not all men here are like that. (^^) by gomichild \| 02.01.03 @ 09:26 AM gomichild - thanks for that quick reply of just about exactly the same thing I have to say. catgrrl - I hope my posts have not been implying that I think Japanese men are sexist. I don�t. As a western woman I was either idolized or feared by most of the Japanese businessmen, but never treated in a sexist way. Occasionally I became friends with them. One ultra conservative Japanese man liked me so much I he asked me to call him by his first name, a really big deal in Japan. For work related issue this guy took my word as gospel. I am sure that Japanese women have a different experience, but my observations were that I don�t think Japanese women are looked down on in the workplace, or at least no more so than in any western country. I get the impression that no job is looked down on in Japan. The Office Ladies have their role/place and everyone takes their work fairly seriously. At my company we also had a number of female Japanese equity analysts. In this professional level job, I don�t believe they were treated differently than their male peers. by Nadine \| 02.01.03 @ 12:07 PM I've been living and working in Japan for 12 years and I say your advice is so on the mark! One more thing I'd add-- Always dress the part. (but that's the part I hate so I'm moving back to NH!) by Pam \| 03.04.03 @ 10:53 PM I love your site!!! Thanks for sharing Japan with us. I really got a kick out of your advice for the working!! http://www.sewingfabrics.com/home/mya.cfm?1104 by E \| 10.14.03 @ 04:45 AM I agree. I was only in Japan for 3 months, but I found that men in general (most, not all) were very sexist, expecting to be waited on hand and foot by women. by Sarah \| 10.10.05 @ 09:15 AM Post a comment (If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. 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