Tales of divine customer service in Japan

Tales of divine customer service in Japan

By Casey Baseel Lifestyle Dec. 29, 2013 - 06:23AM JST ( 2 )

Tales of divine customer service in Japan

TOKYO —

A lot of sayings in English have equivalents in Japanese. Sometimes, though, these proverbs receive a bit of an upgrade in their Japanese translations. So while the English truism states that “the customer is always right,” Japan holds that “the customer is God.” It’s a mantra companies take to heart, as illustrated by these tales of amazing customer service in Japan.

We start our tour of customer worship at Uniqlo, Japan’s biggest casual clothing chain.

As Uniqlo’s commercials from two decades ago show, the company started off with a lenient return system. It looks like the company has stuck by its system, judging from this satisfied shopper.

—“I bought something at Uniqlo, and after I’d worn it and washed it once, I decided I wanted to return it. I’d already tossed the receipt, and even though I took the item back to a different store than I’d bought it at originally, they still let me return it.”

Of course, not just home-grown companies, but overseas operations, like Amazon, have to provide the high level of service Japanese customers are accustomed to in order to succeed in the country. Sometimes, this even involves one-upping the Japanese manufacturers of the goods the online retail giant sells.

—“I purchased a new Mitsubishi monitor for my PC through Amazon, but it broke almost immediately. First, I called Mitsubishi, and they told me I’d have to mail in the monitor and wait at least a week, or maybe two, for them to repair it. I was ticked off they weren’t going to replace the whole unit, so I contacted Amazon instead. They emailed me back right away saying they’d replace the monitor, and also gave me a coupon for 500 yen off my next Amazon order.”

Another foreign company thriving in Japan is Disney, particularly with the Tokyo Disney Resort complex of theme parks and hotels.

—“When we were at Disneyland, my little brother got really excited when he spotted Mickey walking around, so he ran over to give him some of his chocolate. I’d heard the park doesn’t allow that kind of thing, but none of the cast members tried to stop him. Instead, Mickey just gave him a hug.”

This level of hospitality is present at Disneyland’s eating establishments, as well.

—“We were eating dinner at a restaurant, and we got up to go see a show that was going on outside. When we got back to our table, saw the staff had folded our napkins into Mickey Mouse shapes while we were gone.”

On one occasion, it seems the theme park’s workers even helped lessen the blow of a terrible tragedy for a married couple.

—“I heard about a couple whose baby passed away shortly after it was born. They’d been looking forward to going to Disneyland together, as a family, when the child got older. So just the two of them went, and when they went into a restaurant to eat, they told the staff what had happened. The staff thanked them for coming with their family, and even set out a children’s meal on the couple’s table at their request.”

Japanese video game makers have also shown a strong commitment to keeping their customers’ spirits up. Multiple Internet commenters expressed their gratitude towards publisher Enix (now merged with former rival Square as part of the Square Enix brand).

Enix has had several hits over the years, but perhaps none was bigger than the third installment in its “Dragon Warrior” series of role-playing games. When “Dragon Quest III” was released for the Famicom in 1989, it caused such hysteria in Japan that a rash of muggings and thefts of the cartridge broke out in the normally law-abiding country. Feeling sorry for customers who had become the victims of such unexpected crimes, Enix offered to replace cartridges that had been taken from boys and girls who filed police reports after their copies of the game were stolen.

Enix was even generous enough to help out fans who were unable to enjoy the game for less dramatic reasons.

—“I broke my ‘Dragon Quest III’ cartridge, and I couldn’t save or load my data anymore. I sent it to Enix, asking them to replace the battery, but instead, they mailed me back a brand new copy of the game.”

There have been even more stories about Nintendo’s customer service exploits. In particular, stories abound about the Kyoto-based company’s understanding and helpfulness regarding its DS series of handheld systems, which tend to take a lot of punishment in fulfilling their role of gaming on the go.

—“There were a couple annoying dead pixels on my DS Lite’s screen, so I called to ask about getting it repaired. Instead, they sent me a brand new unit, and they even put a protective sheet on the screen for me.”

—“It might have just been my imagination, but the colors on the bottom screen on my DS were looking a little weird and yellowy, so I sent it in for Nintendo to check it out. They sent it back with a letter saying, ‘The colors looked OK to us, and we couldn’t find any problems with your DS but we went ahead and replaced both screens for you.’”

—“I bought a DS in a sketchy online auction, and the unit number on the proof of purchase didn’t match the number on the warranty card. It broke in less than a year, so I went ahead and sent it in for repairs. Nintendo not only fixed it for free, they included a new proof of purchase with the proper registration number.”

Nintendo’s technicians will even go the extra mile in preserving their users’ cosmetic modifications.

—“I sent in two broken DS units. Not only did Nintendo replace them both, they even transferred the stickers I had on the old systems to the new ones for me.”

This isn’t a new thing for Nintendo, either. One fan recalls calling Nintendo to ask for help when he was stuck in the company’s 1995 title “Yoshi’s Island,” and getting the answer he needed in a matter of minutes.

This might not seem so impressive to gamers who grew up in territories where Nintendo had an entire side businesses of selling game hints through toll numbers. However, Nintendo didn’t offer such a service in Japan, and the person the boy had spoken with wasn’t a specialized game counselor, but rather the company’s quick-thinking front desk receptionist, who had to put the child on hold while she tracked down an employee who could answer his question.

This dedication has been shown to extend all the way to the top at the company. In the early 1990s, an elementary school student was riding his bike when he was hit by a car. During his subsequent stay in the hospital, the boy wanted to play some games, but his Game Boy had been in the basket of his bike at the time of the accident, and was so damaged it had to be sent to Nintendo for repairs.

The maintenance department, shocked at the abuse the handheld system had taken, called the boy’s mother to inquire about how it had ended up in such a state. She told them about the accident, and a few days later the boy received a new Game Boy, along with a note telling him to watch out for cars signed by “Yokoi,” ostensibly Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-13

Why do the Japanese recognize Christmas on 12/24 instead of 12/25?

Christmas Day is on December 25th. As an American Expat in Japan, I found this holiday familiar on the one hand since every shopping center was decorated to the hilt as it would be back in the US, but on the other hand, felt awkward when I started looking into Christmas in Japan and realized that it was a romantic day for sweethearts on Christmas Eve, the day that my family and I would be worshiping at church for the peak of the Christian season. Also, hearing Wham's "Last Christmas" playing in every store and sung by Japanese musicians was a bit too much George Michael for me too. Furthermore, Japanese Christians are few and far between unlike what you may find in larger numbers in nearby South Korea. As a result, in Japan, Jesus Christ's birthday of 12/25 is nothing more than another day where busy Japanese salarymen are off scurrying around like they did on 12/24 and will do on 12/26. Also, all those Christmas decorations are taken down on 12/25.

Even the retail outlets in Japan have no dog in the fight when it comes to Christmas but in the US, this sector is expected to have their lion's share of its annual sales take place for Christmas. In Japan, when it comes to Christmas, if you are single and dating someone, you basically take you sweetheart out to a fancy restaurant, maybe exchange a small gift, and visit the love hotel. Love hotel bookings are at capacity on 12/24. The Japanese have adopted some Western traditions at Christmas such as eating Christmas Cake, something I learned of when I lived in Japan since this is big in the UK. In the US, eating turkey the 4th Thursday of November for Thanksgiving is big, but nearly a month later, the Christmas dinner is pretty much up for grabs in the US with the possibilities of a repeat of turkey, hams, steaks, etc. However, KFC in Japan sell buckets of chicken to the point that lines are out the door and around the corner on 12/24.

In recent times, the Japanese children want to meet Santa who is usually the bigger Caucasian in the area. I've done this several times and had to always remind myself to not speak Japanese since Santa isn't to know any Japanese.

So, now you know why Christmas in Japan is celebrated on 12/24 instead of 12/25. If you weren't a Christian, you wouldn't celebrate Christmas on the correct day either. Thankfully, it is celebrated for those Christians living in Japan, but not like the way that you are use to back home. Often, I would travel to a Lutheran church in Tokyo on Sundays and would receive a sermon from another American like I would in the US. So, the possibility of worshiping as it is intended if available in Japan as "Christ is the reason for the season" and if Christ is taken out of "Christmas" then there wouldn't be Christmas.

Out of the all the Christmases in Japan, I worshipped the way I would in the US the first year and hated it so the next year, I returned to the US. The following year, I traveled to Okinawa. Way back when, when I was in Japan the first time, I did Christmas the way the Japanese did and got lucky in the front seat of my girlfriend's Nissan, a good ol' Japanese gal from Yokohama. I'd have to rate the trip to Okinawa as the best Christmas in Japan and wonder why more people don't travel for the sake of traveling during the Christmas holidays.

In the end, if you are a Christian living in Japan, remember that you live there to follow their way not the other way around. That's what living overseas is all about. Adapting and adjusting to the the local culture and its interpretation of global holidays such as Christmas.

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-13

Japan Today- Education ministry proposes radical English education reform

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has announced plans to reform the English education curriculum at junior high schools across Japan from the 2020 school year. The main change will be that all English-language classes will be conducted entirely in English.

Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura told reporters at a news conference that “the goal is to enable students to learn communication skills vital to everyday life at an earlier age by speaking with native speakers of English, a skill I believe to be in great demand for this current generation,” TBS reported.

Under the new plan, from April 1, 2020, third-year elementary school students will begin taking English courses as a foreign-language activity. English will become a formal subject from fifth grade (it is currently designated as a foreign-language activity) three times a week.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

10 Japanese dishes you can make at home worldwide

10 Japanese foods you can make at home worldwide TOKYO —

Even though Japanese cuisine has more or less infiltrated most of the major cities worldwide, domestic foodstuffs and condiments still remain mostly inaccessible and rare in most countries. Japanese blogger Madame Riri shares a list of 10 Japanese foods that can be made at home, no matter where that may be. We’d like to call it the lifesaver list for Japanese abroad, or the inspiration list for non-Japanese who would love an authentic taste of Japan in their own kitchen.

1. Pseudo Chinese Noodles

In Japan, “yakisoba” or Chinese noodles can be readily bought at supermarkets for as low as 30 yen per serving. These versatile noodles are a common sight on the dining tables of Japanese families, be it stir-fried, in soup, or even as “hiyashi chuka” (chilled Chinese noodles), disputably the most popular Chinese dish among the Japanese. But in many Western countries, the Asian noodles tend to be pricey and sometimes hard to find. But here’s a neat trick that turns the number one “noodle” in the West – spaghetti – into pseudo Chinese noodles in your very own kitchen.

Simply throw in some sodium bicarbonate, otherwise known as baking soda, together with some salt when boiling the pasta. And that’s all there is to it. The sodium bicarbonate works its magic on the pasta, giving it a texture and taste that is uncannily similar to Chinese noodles. Madame Riri also suggests experimenting with pasta of different thickness to suit the dish; spaghetti for champon and cappellini (angel hair pasta) for ramen.

2. Homemade Natto

“Natto,” fermented soybeans, is a traditional Japanese food known for its slimy texture and characteristic smell, which earned it the nickname of “stinky beans” among many non-Japanese people. If you’re able to stand the stink though, this Japanese acquired taste is a healthy source of protein and vitamins, and is said to prevent cancer, lower your chances of heart attacks and enhance health in general. While “natto” is commonly found in Japan at economical prices, exported batches available overseas are often expensive and less flavorful, having had its strong smell and taste mellowed down to adapt to foreign consumer tastes.

Ultimately, “natto” is made from soybeans, which are way more accessible than the fermented food itself in most countries. All you have to do is soak the beans in water for half a day or longer, boil or steam the beans for a couple of hours so that they’re thoroughly cooked and soft, then put them in a container for fermentation. Keeping the beans at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius is the key to ensure quality fermentation, which can be a challenge to maintain, but if you have a yogurt maker at home, it will make the process as simple as pouring the cooked beans in and switching the machine on. Soaking and boiling the beans may be slightly time-consuming, but having made homemade “natto” is definitely an awesome addition to your Facebook profile if you ask me.

3. Sesame Dressing

The all-time favorite Japanese style dressing within and outside of Japan. Its delicate balance of sweet, sour and savory flavors, slightly milky texture, and the appetizing fragrance of sesame seeds works wonders to invigorate appetites, and is most commonly used on salads, cold tofu, or as a dipping sauce for cold shabu-shabu.

You might not be able to find it at your local supermarket, and even if you do, it probably costs twice or three times the price it is in Japan. The good news is, as sophisticated as it sounds, you can actually mix up your own sesame dressing with just a couple of simple ingredients. All you need is roasted sesame seeds, mayonnaise and rice vinegar (best to use Japanese variations for these two to achieve authentic flavor), and a pinch of sugar and salt if you prefer. Mix around until you get the right consistency and taste you like, and voila! You’re ready to wow your friends with a Japanese style dish.

4. Homemade Tofu

Tofu (bean curd) is recognized as a healthy ingredient pretty much all over the world. The soybean product is stunningly cheap in most Asian countries, but can be slightly pricey over in the West. Apparently it costs about 400 yen in Paris, more than four times its price in Japan. Why pay the hefty price tag when you can make your bean curd out of soy milk?

Apart from soy milk, you will need some “nigari” (magnesium chloride) to help the soy milk coagulate into a solid form. Be sure to use food grade magnesium chloride flakes or liquid for this. Detailed instructions can be found on this wonderful recipe.

5. Shiozake

Unlike smoked salmon, “shiozake” (salted salmon) can rarely be found in supermarkets outside of Japan. But fresh salmon cuts are commonly sold in supermarkets, especially in the West. Simply by sprinkling salt (amounts of 2% the weight of the filet seems to be the perfect ratio) over the fresh salmon and letting it sit in the refrigerator for two days, you’ll have deliciously flavored salted salmon ready for cooking.

Preparing the “shiozake” is as simple as pan-frying it, or putting it on the grill for a couple of minutes. Enjoy it whole and fresh from the pan, cut up as fillings for a sandwich or sushi, or break it down into flakes as a topping for salads or onigiri (Japanese rice balls).

6. Dried Mackerel

Similar to salted salmon, dried mackerel is another popular Japanese food that is rarely available outside of Japan, but can be easily made with simple ingredients at home. In this variation, you’ll need fresh horse mackerel, some salt, and skewers. Carefully remove the scales of the fish, then slice the fish open from its back, remove its innards, then clean and pat it dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle some salt on both sides. Put a skewer through the fish horizontally to keep it flat and open as it dries, and hang it up, leaving it to air dry for a day in a well-ventilated place (just like hanging out your laundry). Pan-fry or grill it and you’ll have an authentic Japanese home-cooked dish.

7. Umeshu

“Umeshu” (plum wine) is a type of Japanese alcohol that can be easily made at home. Although “umeshu” can be bought at supermarkets or convenience stores in Japan, many families enjoy the process of concocting their own variation at home when plums are in season, usually from June through July.

Even if you reside overseas and have no access to Japanese liquor, you can easily make your own “umeshu” out of fresh plums, vodka and rock sugar. Wash and dry the plums (you could also use apricots as an alternative if you can’t get “ume” plums), layer the plums and rock sugar proportionally in a large jar or plastic container, then pour in the vodka. Make sure the container is sealed air-tight. Let it soak for at least three months before enjoying your homemade “umeshu.” Patience is the key. The alcohol-soaked fruits can also be eaten. Have it with your glass of “umeshu,” or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of honey as a classy dessert.

8. Handmade Udon

Udon, the thick, chewy Japanese noodles popular among Japanese and foreigners alike, takes a good kneading to achieve its characteristic texture, but requires nothing more than medium ground wheat flour, water and some salt to make. Traditional methods involve stepping on the dough in order to make it nice and chewy. If you have children brimming with unspent energy, or would love some interesting interaction at a home party, here’s the recipe for this marvelous kitchen activity!

9. Warabi-mochi

If you’re a fan of traditional Japanese sweets, you must be familiar with “mochi.” It can be challenging to make since it involves strenuous pounding of glutinous rice flour, but “warabi-mochi,” on the other hand, can easily be made by heating potato starch, sugar and water over a stove. It’s so easy to make.

10. Homemade Miso

Of course, the all-mighty seasoning that represents Japanese cuisine, miso. Anybody who loves Japanese food knows about miso soup. But did you know that the Japanese use miso in a multitude of ways? Miso is used in stews, stir-fry and even grilled dishes. It’s barely even exaggerating to say that the Japanese can’t live without it. But like many of the items listed above, miso is difficult to get, or expensive, in many countries apart from Japan. You’ll need “koji” (fermented rice) in order to make your own miso, and it takes quite a bit of time and effort, but if you’re a Japanese person living overseas with limited access to miso, this could be the best way out.

Source: Madame Riri

The Divine Wind Vault

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com

(C)2006-13

Most expensive cities for expats revealed

06/12/13 16:49 To see original page, please click here: Expatriates in Caracas have the toughest time when it comes to cost of living, with the city topping a new survey that analysed the price of day-to-day essentials in locations across the world.

According to the latest Cost of Living survey produced by consulting firm ECA International, the capital of Venezuela has jumped seven places to take the top ranking, knocking Japan's Tokyo off the top spot. .

The Japanese capital slipped down to tenth place following quantitative easing measures put into place by the prime minister Shinzo Abe that led to a softer yen and a boost in the economy. .

Luanda and Oslo in Angola and Norway respectively rounded out the top three, while Switzerland saw four cities in the top ten - Zurich, Geneva, Born and Basel. .

ECA International stated that a strengthening of the euro had led to a dramatic reshuffle in this year's table, which saw a number of key locations climb or drop significantly. .

"The strengthening of the euro against many major currencies over the 12 months between surveys has contributed to some significant climbs up the ranking from countries within the eurozone," commented Steven Kilfedder, cost of living and remuneration services manager at the business. .

Brussels, Amsterdam and Munich were among those that rose dramatically on the table in terms of cost of living, with all three of them climbing several places to overtake London, which has fallen to 65th place. .

According to the data, Caracas managed to secure the top spot after items in ECA's shopping basket saw their costs shoot up by a whopping 60 per cent. .

Despite the eyebrow-raising increase, the company said in a statement that it "may be short-lived, as pressure is building on the currency, which could well be devalued in the near future". .

Expatriate Healthcare specialise in providing international health insurance. Make sure you're protected. .

© Expatriate HealthcareADNFCR-1788-ID-801669905-ADNFCR .

The Divine Wind Vault .

http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com .

(C)2006-13

JET Infosession at OSU- Wednesday, October 16, 5:30-730pm

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

"Take life as it comes" in Japanese.

Japanese:  Okurazu mukaezu

English:  Take life as it comes, without looking back or ahead.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Eight Things Worth Knowing About Sushi

Eight Things Worth Knowing About Sushi

By:  Ryoko Iwata

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

You Can Use Chopsticks? And Other Remarks that Bother Some People.

Hearing complaints lavished on the use of chopsticks. People praising your Japanese after you utter an "arigatou". The endless and repetitive questions. In Japan, some find these remarks and questions irritating—a form of "soft racism" called "microaggression". But are they?

As Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D. and David Rivera, M.S. pointed out in a 2010 Psychology Today article, "racial microaggressions are the brief and everyday slights, insults, indignities and denigrating messages sent to people of color by well-intentioned White people who are unaware of the hidden messages being communicated." Psychiatrist Chester Pierce, MD, coined the term back in the 1970s.

American-born Japanese Debito Arudou tackled the issue of microaggression recently in The Japan Times in relation to how he perceives it playing out between Japanese and Non-Japanese. According to Arudou, "Nobody 'means' to make you feel alienated, different, out of place, or stereotyped. But microaggressions are also subtle societal self-enforcement mechanisms to put people 'in their place.'"

Examples Arudou, who is a Japanese citizen, gives are how Non-Japanese are complimented on things like their ability to use chopsticks or speak a few words of Japanese or their ability to eat nattou—as well as questions regarding when Non-Japanese are returning to their home country or personal questions about what they fight about with their spouses or how they raise their children.

"Microaggressions have such power because they are invisible, the result of hegemonic social shorthand that sees people only at face value," wrote Arudou. "But your being unable to protest them without coming off as paranoid means that the aggressor will never see that what they say might be taken as prejudiced or discriminatory."

"Microaggressions have such power because they are invisible, the result of hegemonic social shorthand that sees people only at face value."

But these repetitive questions—as marginalizing as they seem—are in no way unique to Japan. They are, for better or worse, part of human nature. If you meet someone from a different country, your first ice-breaking questions might be asking them about when they left it or displaying what knowledge you do have about their homeland in hopes of making small talk. Japanese people are no different.

As website Mutantfrog Travelogue explained, "It just so happens that when Japanese people see a Western face, it calls up memories of learning English in school, the images on TV, and the experiences they or their friends have had with foreigners in the past. It's all completely natural and utterly mundane."

Much of these questions—even if they are irksome—are innocent enough. And I'm always bemused when people ask me things like if America has Mother's Day. Dopey questions are universal; I've seen my wife gracefully handle silly inquiries in America about Japan, such as whether or not Japan has cookies. (Yes, yes it does.)

But for long-term residents in Japan, I can see how these repetitive questions and remarks would be irksome. Though, when I first visited to Japan many moons ago, I remember thinking people were really nice and keen to learn about where I was from. After you spend a third of your life in Japan, it's easy for those same questions and comments to become dull, but for the Japanese person, they may not know how long you've been in Japan or that you've been using chopsticks since grade school. Not everyone, however, can use chopsticks—my dad cannot, and he always has a tricky time when visiting. If someone complimented him on his chopstick use, I'm sure he'd be tickled.

The issue becomes a matter of when are microaggressions actually microaggressive. That isn't to say soft racism doesn't manifest itself in microaggression—or doesn't exist in Japan. If anyone is going to get up in arms about microaggressions, then things like strangers (or children!) referring to adult non-Japanese by their first names or without a marker (san, kun, chan) is probably a better example of "othering", than asking foreigners if they can eat nattou. Not all Japanese can—heck, not all Japanese like sushi and public baths, so there.

"But your being unable to protest them without coming off as paranoid means that the aggressor will never see that what they say might be taken as prejudiced or discriminatory."

I've also found that the repetitive questions often lead to interesting conversations. I never hesitate to ask people where they are from, about food they eat, or about their jobs. I've found that to be some of the best ways to learn about this country.

Mutantfrog Travelogue smartly pointed out that repetitive questions aren't only limited to nationality or race, but also profession. I'm sure doctors get asked the same questions over and over and over again. I always try to take the questions and remarks in good stride—sometimes there are jerks, because, well, there are jerks everywhere.

Even though some Japanese people love talking to non-Japanese, some really do not care and are busy with their own lives to start firing off a bunch of questions at foreigners. Some people just do not care. And it's somewhat arrogant to think they do or should! Moreover, many people are more than happy to talk with non-Japanese and not ask them any of these repetitive questions.

It's not so much the microaggressions that bother me. Honestly, at this point, they don't. And going around getting upset at each one of them will definitely lead to a very, very stressful life in Japan. Rather, it's other things, like most notably how property is rented to non-Japanese. I was once told I could not rent an apartment in my name, because I might skip out on rent and flee the country. My wife, who was not working and without an income, was asked to sign the lease agreement. Then again, I didn't run into situations like that when it was time to buy a place—or even buy a car—both of which I did in my name.

I remember once when my eldest son started pre-school, the teacher wrote his last name in katakana (the writing system for foreign words) instead of phonetic hiragana like the other kids. Little kids don't know katakana (or kanji), so after explaining that writing his name in katakana would be akin to writing another kid's name in kanji, she quickly apologized and made a correction. The teacher wasn't trying to other the kid, but probably, just wrote "Ashcraft" in katakana as an automatic reflex.

In Japan, there are notions of political correctness—and not only directed at foreigners. The country has changed the word for "nurse" to include male nurses and, like in other countries, renamed crayons that were previously "flesh colored". Being sensitive to others is not a bad thing and neither is being interested in people from other countries and other cultures. How else will they learn that non-Japanese can use chopsticks and like nattou?

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Matsuzaka gets first Triple-A win

Kyodo Jun 24, 2013 Article history Online: Jun 24, 2013 Print: Jun 24, 2013 Last Modfied: Jun 24, 2013

NEW YORK – Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka won his first decision of the season, pitching 5⅔ innings of one-run ball in the Columbus Clippers’ 6-2 win over Lehigh Valley on Saturday night.

The 32-year-old Matsuzaka, who is trying to revive his career with a promotion to the majors, scattered seven hits, walked two, struck out six and threw 89 pitches. He improved to 1-3 with a 3.86 ERA for the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate.

Matsuzaka signed a minor league deal with Cleveland in February with the hopes of making the major league roster for the start of the 2013 season, but things have not panned out, mainly because he has been plagued by injuries.

He went on the disabled list with a strain in his left rib cage on April 28. In his comeback on June 11, he lasted just 2⅔ innings due to a blister on his right hand. On June 16, Matsuzaka allowed four runs in 3⅔ innings.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Job potential draws Midwest students to classes in Japanese

by Tsukasa Arita

Kyodo

Jun 22, 2013

Article history

AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN – More college students in the U.S. Midwest are taking Japanese classes because of the potential for future employment.

While the pace of growth in Japanese studies slowed across the U.S. after the 1990s, Michigan has seen a remarkable increase over the past couple of years, apparently because of promotional activities being undertaken by the government, academia and industry.

One of the main architects of the trend is Kuninori Matsuda, Japan’s consul general in Detroit.

In his bid to motivate American students to learn Japanese, Matsuda tried to break away from today’s typical presentations of Japanese culture, such as anime and manga.

“The study of Japanese can open doors to many interesting career opportunities,” Matsuda told about 100 students in a lecture at Oakland Community College near Detroit. “It is important to note that in recent years, Japanese companies have been hiring an increasing number of local candidates.”

Matsuda explained that Japanese companies are willing to hire newly minted American graduates who speak Japanese and have “a genuine interest in Japan.” He also produced figures showing that between 2010 and 2011, Japanese companies doubled their number of local hires.

Michigan is home to about 480 Japanese corporate facilities that employ more than 35,000 people.

Justen Bowser, 22, who attended the lecture, said his original goal was to become a teacher of Japanese in the United States.

“This is what I still plan to do, but now I know I have some other options, like working for one of the many ‘nihon no kaisha’ (Japanese firms) in the area,” Bowser said.

He said the lecture “reignited my desire to learn the language.”

A senior official at a Japanese manpower agency based in Michigan said, “Japanese companies here more highly rate new graduates’ readiness to accept and understand a different culture than their language skill itself.”

People involved in Japanese studies said they have difficulties talking young Americans into learning Japanese due to a decline in general interest in Japan in light of its protracted economic downturn and reduced budgets for foreign language programs at many academic institutions.

They also mentioned a boom in Chinese. In the past 10 years, the Chinese government has opened nearly 100 Confucius Institute language schools across the United States to promote the appeal of Chinese.

In Michigan, however, the number of college students studying Japanese rose by some 300 to around 2,300 over the three years through 2012.

A separate tally shows that the number of pupils studying Japanese at elementary, junior high and high schools rose by 600 between 2011 and 2012, bringing the total to nearly 4,400.

Western Michigan University introduced a Japanese major last fall. Rika Saito, assistant professor of Japanese, said the institution saw an increase in students with a mid- and high-level command of Japanese last semester.

“We must increase one by one the number of Americans who know Japanese and understand Japan” to expand the presence of Japan in U.S. communities, where Chinese and Koreans have more influence over public opinion and policymaking processes than before, said Matsuda, who has lectured in 18 colleges in Michigan and Chicago.

Teachers of Japanese in the region said there were some students recently who chose Japanese companies over other options, including U.S. companies that offered higher pay.

They also heard of a college that had planned to scrap its Japanese major because of funding difficulties, but later reconsidered.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

China career boost can come with health risks for expats

By LOUISE WATT

Careers May. 08, 2013 - 06:05AM JST ( 18 )

BEIJING —

Whitney Foard Small loved China and her job as a regional director of communications for a top automaker. But after air pollution led to several stays in hospital and finally a written warning from her doctor telling her she needed to leave, Small packed up and left for Thailand.

In doing so, the Ford Motor Co executive became another expatriate to leave China because of the country’s notoriously bad air. Other top executives whose careers would be boosted by a stint in the world’s second-largest economy and most populous consumer market are put off when considering the move.

There is no official data on the numbers leaving because of pollution, but executive recruitment companies say it is becoming harder to attract top talent to China — both expats and Chinese nationals educated abroad. The European Chamber of Commerce in China says foreign managers leave for many different reasons but pollution is almost always cited as one of the factors and is becoming a larger concern.

If the polluted skies continue, companies may have to fork out more for salaries or settle for less qualified candidates. Failure to attract the best talent to crucial roles could result in missed commercial opportunities and other missteps.

Poor air quality has also added to the complaints that foreign companies have about operating in China. Even though China’s commercial potential remains vast, groups representing foreign companies say doing business is getting tougher due to slowing though still robust economic growth, strict Internet censorship, limits on market access and intellectual property theft.

China’s rapid economic development over the last three decades has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty but also ravaged the environment as heavy industry burgeoned, electricity demand soared and car ownership became a badge of status for the newly affluent in big cities. Health risks from pollution of air, water and soil have become a source of discontent with Communist Party rule among ordinary Chinese.

Foreigners regularly check the air quality readings put out by the U.S. Embassy and consulates on their Twitter feeds when deciding whether to go out for a run or let their children play outside.

The pollution has become even more of a hot topic since January, when the readings in Beijing went off the scale and beyond what is considered hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On the worst days, skyscrapers disappeared into the capital’s murky skyline and masks multiplied on the streets and sold out at convenience stores. At the same time, China’s state media gave unprecedented coverage to the pollution following months of growing pressure from a Chinese middle class that has become more vocal about the quality of its air.

“January was probably the worst,” said Australian Andrew Moffatt, who worked for nine months in Beijing as regional manager for a chain of language schools before the pollution pushed him to return to Brisbane in March with his wife and 5-year-old son.

“Back in November I had been sick and then we went on holiday to the beach in Hainan and it just reminded me of Australia and I just thought we could be breathing this quality air every single day rather than polluted air in Beijing,” he said.

And it’s not only Beijing where the air pollution is driving expats away.

Ford transferred its regional headquarters from Bangkok to Shanghai in 2009. Four months after the move, Small, the director of communications, had her first major asthma attack.

“I had never had asthma in my life, never ever had asthma before China,” said Small, who quit the country in May last year. Her asthma was exacerbated by an allergy to coal, which is the source of about 70 percent of China’s energy. Her allergy was first identified in 2005 after a six-week assignment in Beijing ended with her being hospitalized for three days in Hong Kong with her lung function at about 30 percent.

In Shanghai, the asthma resurfaced. “Three hospitalizations later, my doctor said it was time to call it quits,” she said.

Her frequent treatments — involving inhalers, steroids and a nebulizer in the mornings and evenings to get medication deep into her lungs — meant the medication became less effective.

“I actually got a written warning from my pulmonary doctor and it said you need to reconsider for your life’s sake what you’re doing and so that was it. I didn’t really have a choice, my doctor made it for me.”

Ivo Hahn, the CEO of the China office of executive search consultants Stanton Chase, said that in the last six months, air pollution has become an issue for candidates they approach.

“It pops up increasingly that people say ‘well we don’t want to move to Beijing’ or ‘I can’t convince my family to move to Beijing’,” he said. Two expats, one Western and one an overseas Chinese, recently turned down general manager and managing director positions because of the air pollution, he said.

Hahn thinks this trend will only strengthen over the next one or two years because the highest-level executives generally “are not working primarily for their survival.”

“They normally get a decent pay, they are generally reasonably well taken care of, so the quality of life actually it does matter, particularly when they have children,” he said.

Some, however, say that China has become too important economically for up-and-coming corporate executives to ignore. It generates a large and growing share of profits for global companies while still offering a vast untapped potential. Its auto industry, now the world’s largest by number of vehicles sold, is expected to outstrip the U.S. and Europe combined by 2020 as car ownership rises from a low level of 50 vehicles per 1,000 people.

“It’s increasingly important for people who want to have careers as managers in multinational companies to have international experience and as part of their career path, and in terms of international experience, China is one of the most desirable places because of the size of the market and growth and dynamism of the market,” said Christian Murck, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

Carl Hopkins, Asia managing partner of legal search firm Major, Lindsey & Africa, said Chinese nationals who had studied abroad at top universities or business schools were reluctant to return unless they had elderly family to take care of.

“There is an unwillingness for these people to return to China because they have got a better standard of living in the States or somewhere else than going to Beijing and Shanghai with its current issues with pollution,” Hopkins said, adding that this had become more prevalent over the last year.

Hahn said the effects of expats refusing to relocate to China aren’t going to be felt overnight, but eventually “either companies will have to pay a higher price overall because maybe candidates may have to commute as an example, or they may lower their standards or they may offer the position to somebody who may actually not be quite as qualified.”

If the current trend hardens, it would have some economic impact, said Alistair Thornton, senior China economist at IHS in Beijing.

“Expats contribute almost nothing to China’s growth because the numbers are just tiny, but intangibly they contribute quite a significant amount” by introducing foreign technology, best practices and Western management techniques “that Chinese companies are harnessing and using to drive growth,” said Thornton.

He is leaving Beijing in June with air pollution one factor.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Going global: Success factors for finding the right talent

Careers May. 10, 2013 - 06:26AM JST ( 2 )

http://www.japantoday.com/category/careers/view/going-global-success-factors-for-finding-the-right-talent?utm_campaign=jt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jt_newsletter_2013-05-12_PM

TOKYO —

An increasing need for employees with the ability to work in the global marketplace (“Global Jinzai” from the Japanese word “Jinzai,” meaning “talent”) puts pressure on employers to find the right attributes to attract and retain global talent. Workplace diversity, clear career paths, global opportunities and an employer branding strategy with emphasis on the company’s global abilities are all key attributes for employers to attract and retain the right talent.

“One of the most pressing issues in many Japanese companies going global right now is to find the right kind of candidates with a global mindset and the language skills to work anywhere in the world and help grow the company internationally. The increasing demand for these kind of candidates are far greater than the supply. Japanese companies with global aspirations must take into account what candidates with the right profile are looking for,” says Jonathan Sampson, Regional Director of Hays in Japan.

In order to attract the best candidates, a starting point is to adopt an employer branding strategy that communicates and markets the company as a global organization. A local company with business outside of Japan can present itself as being more than a domestic player and focus its communications on its international presence through the following methods:

—Advertising on international job sites and posting job descriptions in both English and Japanese

—Utilising employer branding campaigns with referrals from the existing workforce

—Participating in international job fairs

“It is about developing a value proposition that is attractive to globally-talented candidates. The employer branding strategy also goes hand in hand with the overall marketing and communications strategy. If a company simply markets itself the same way as other domestic companies, an employer branding strategy focusing on being global will not be perceived as trustworthy,” says Sampson.

Once a company succeeds in the competition over the best global candidates, it’s not over yet: the task of retaining and developing the Global Jinzai can prove to be just as demanding as attracting them.

Companies must live up to the expectations of candidates as a global company. Actively promoting a global working environment by providing opportunities in different countries in which the company operates is a first test of global commitment. It is also important for the company’s corporate culture to be reflective of norms and standards that are seen as progressive and global. This can be achieved through the provision of:

—Assignments abroad

—Office exchanges between countries

—Foreign language opportunities in the workplace

—Strong diversity policies

—Clear career paths

“An open and diverse work environment is a sign of the company being in tune with international corporate culture. The employee with a global mindset is typically open to and driven by the opportunity to work with colleagues from different cultures and backgrounds. A clear career path based on performance that provides equal opportunity for men and women to reach higher positions is also an important part of the mix in a successful Global Jinzai,” says Sampson.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

40 Sony executives give up bonuses

TOKYO —

Dozens of Sony executives including the firm’s chief are foregoing bonuses this year in an “unprecedented” step to atone for a slump in its embattled electronics unit, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Chief executive Kazuo Hirai is among 40 top managers who will not get a bonus estimated at several hundred million yen “due to severe business circumstances, including stagnant performance in the electronics sector”, the spokeswoman said.

The leading Nikkei business daily said the payout could have totalled 1 billion yen.

Last year, seven top Sony executives gave up their bonuses “but the number this time is unprecedented,” she added.

The decision comes as the maker of PlayStation consoles eyes a profit after four years in the red. But its troubled electronics unit may remain mired in losses despite Hirai’s bid to drag it back to profitability.

Sony has launched a massive corporate overhaul that includes thousands of job cuts as it unloads a string of assets, including buildings in Manhattan and Tokyo.

Last week, Sony doubled its annual net profit forecast for the last fiscal year to March, saying it expected to earn 40 billion yen as a weaker yen and the asset sales helped boost its bottom line.

Sony lost 456.66 billion yen in the fiscal year to March 2012, its fourth year in the red.

A tumble in the value of the yen in recent months—losing about a fifth against the dollar since November—has helped exporters make their products move competitive.

Sony reports its full-year results on May 9.

The firm’s Tokyo-listed shares, which last year fell below 1,000 yen for the first time since the era of the Walkman, closed down 1.85% to 1,583 yen on Wednesday.

Japan’s electronics sector, including Sony rivals Panasonic and Sharp, has suffered myriad problems recently including slowing demand in key export markets, fierce competition—especially in the struggling TV division—and strategic mistakes.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Five things I like about expat guys

by Cynthia Popper TOKYO —

Eccentric, zombie-loving, nerdy: a few things I ♥ about expat dudes in Japan.
1) They’re weird.
Expat guys have a lot of the qualities I look for: complicated, geeky, and slightly dark. They tend to be way into computers, sci-fi, and play first-person Zombie shooter games way more than they’ll admit. But they’re also here for a reason. Sure, it might be a JP culture-addict thing, but chances are they might have been a little socially awkward back home and came here to experience something more fun than furtive glances of disdain from random blind dates.
2) They’re handy translators.
Not being able to speak Japanese yet, I LOVE this. It’s so comforting to be able to roll into a restaurant and try something new without mystery. Language proficiency is really the keys to the castle here, and if he speaks Japanese, it’s a major dating bonus.
3) They’re not all up in your face.
Unless they’re the über-creepy hermit type, these guys usually have a lot on their plates. Teaching, music, art, starting their own businesses: expat guys tend to keep a full schedule and aren’t going to be texting you every little thought in their heads thirty times a second. And if you’re a solo female here, chances are you’re the independent type who can smell needy from fifty paces.
4) They’re adventurous.
I realize this one sounds like every OK Cupid profile in existence, but if we’re here it means we all love to travel off the paved road of homogeneous tourism. Want to go eat bizarre in Nowheresville, Malaysia? These guys are down. They’ll even help plan the trip.
5) They dig us, despite being surrounded by gorgeous local babes.
Especially the ones that have been here a while and are looking to chat about old movies or pop culture references that local girls might not get. It’s fun to see a guy’s eyes light up when you mention David Lynch or punk rock (when punk rock was really punk rock… crap I’m getting old). Local girls are foxy, no question, but when an X-man wants to have a deep, meaningless conversation, gaijin girls hold the number one slot.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

David Lee Roth in Japan, March 2013

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Van Halen Interviews: Japanese Subtitles

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Differences in business culture between Japan and West

By Andrew Miller

Lifestyle Apr. 02, 2013 - 06:03AM JST ( 44 )

TOKYO —

Below is an account from Sayaka, a reporter over at our sister site Pouch. It is an intriguing look at differences in business culture between Japan and the west. It makes one realize that there is no perfect business strategy as such but by incorporating the best parts from each culture, one can get pretty close to their own perfect business model. Moreover, Japan’s business culture has to be one of the most unique in the entire world.

Just the other day I had the privilege of liaising with several western businessmen who gave me some rather interesting views relating to differences in business customs between Japan and the West. They mentioned having recently listened to a lecture before coming to Japan on how to conduct business the Japanese way. Something that really stood out to me were their impressions of the Japanese business culture as a whole:

“Out of all the countries we’ve visited so far, Japan’s business culture has got to be the most uniquely different.”

Those who took part in the business lecture included two Frenchmen, an Englishman and an American. All four men worked in such high power roles as international manufacturing or as planning designers at construction companies. They are the type of elite that upon coming to Japan enter into managerial positions giving Japanese workers orders and undertaking transactions with other high-ranking Japanese companies. Their period of employment is usually no longer than a year and a half, after which they often shift to positions in other countries.
Below, I would like to introduce the five most interesting things from the lecture imparted to me by the foreign businessmen.

1. If a Japanese person says they can complete the job, it is best to take them on face value.
Many may think “what’s so surprising about that!?” However, looking at trends on the foreign market, a lot of workers claim to be able to complete a given task even when it clearly exceeds their capabilities. The businessman from England commented that in contrast to their foreign counterparts, the Japanese modestly accept the job at hand while delivering exceptional results.

He went on to comment: “With regard to suppliers in Japan, workers have a clear comprehension of the production scale and necessary production time. Whether it be the person who places the order from the supplier, or those who deal with the transaction thereafter, from beginning to end the level of service is consistently high. If we look at Western business culture, incompletion of a task within the designated period often sees the worker placing the blame on the boss by claiming that his directions weren’t clear. Thus, for the Western worker, one can, to some degree, avoid responsibility.
“In contrast, in Japan, if business doesn’t go according to plan, it becomes the problem of the individual undertaking the task. What’s more, the Japanese deliver a service that goes far beyond what was originally requested, leaving many customers very satisfied. The fact they carry out the job with consistency means they are easy to work with.”

2. From a Japanese perspective, the customer is God.
According to the American businessman: “Westerners, particularly the French, tend to go by the ideology that the customer and customer service are on an equal footing. This takes root through the idea that one is exchanging money for a service and the view that both are equal components. In this way, it is seen as fully acceptable for the person providing the service to declare from the outset that they refuse to do something as they see fit. However, in Japan customer service is paramount, which also has the benefit of keeping the customer happy and maintaining healthy mutual relations.”
Nevertheless, he does have one suggestion for improvement when it comes to Japanese business ethics.

“The reservation of both the customer and supplier not to offend the other party is perhaps a little too strong. In order to produce the best result, speaking one’s mind more is what’s required.”
3. For the Japanese, the company conference room is not a place for discussion but rather somewhere to report progress.

From a Westerner’s viewpoint, a meeting room is a place for discussion about current work projects and serves as place to dedicate time to reach a conclusion about something. Many westerners find the idea that Japanese workers use the conference room simply to report findings rather bewildering.
However, one French businessman takes a more positive approach to this style of conduct. “This is all part of Japan’s product efficiency and when you think about it, contacting the parties involved and reaching a decision before the meeting can actually have the benefit of making everything go more smoothly in the meeting room itself.”

On a negative note, he commented that due to the nature of the Japanese meeting room, even when asked their opinion, few people ever feel inclined to respond honestly.

4. A delay in reaching a decision is a not a reflection of a Japanese person’s inefficiency.
At first I was a little taken aback by what I thought was criticism of the speed at which Japanese work, but as the second French businessman explained, “It is difficult to deny that the Japanese take time to reach a decision, however this is by no means a reflection of inefficiency. Rather, it has to do with a difference in the decision making process.”

He then went on to give an example. “Let’s say you have a financial budget of 500,000 yen. You’re looking to request the work of an outside company and have two months to complete the task. Imagine that you have the option of considering four different companies. Company A estimates that it can complete the work in two months for 500,000 yen. Company B estimates 2.5 months at 480,000 yen. Company C estimates two months at 490,000 yen. Lastly, company D estimates over a course of a month and a half that it can complete the project for 50,000 yen.

“In the case of the French company, company A and B would be dismissed as possible contenders almost immediately, with only C and D remaining. However, from a Japanese perspective one would consider each company on their individual merits. Increase the budget by 500,000 yen or extend the work for an extra two weeks, are factors that would also enter into the consideration process. Ultimately, the priority lies with the company that provides the best service. Therefore for the Japanese, the entire decision making process takes considerably longer.”

Theoretically, calculating one’s budget and the completion period also takes time. The French therefore view paying too much attention to which company to use a waste of time. In other words, a French company treats the job at hand with great importance and upon reaching a decision is reticent to negotiate or return to a previous deliberation process. However by looking back on their decisions and considering how it could affect the overall result, the Japanese demonstrate a clear focus on the end result rather than the decision-making process itself.

This same French businessman mentioned that after actually having worked with the Japanese, what the lecture taught him was correct. “I can’t help but admire the spirit with which the Japanese strive for high quality.”

5. Alcohol allows many Japanese to reveal their true thoughts; however drinking with business colleagues is also regarded as work.

From a Western perspective, a beer with your work colleagues after a hard day’s work is only something that you do with those you are close with. However, from the lecture, it is recommended for anyone working in Japan to make a positive effort to go drinking with your sub-ordinates. The reason being that alcohol helps us relax and allows us to share opinions that we keep to ourselves in the work place. During the daytime conference meeting, a subordinate may have seemed to agree with a particular decision, but after a few drinks it becomes clear that his feelings couldn’t be more to the contrary.

The English businessman added another comment about what he learned from the lecture. “It’s not like you’re in a company meeting saying all these things. Speaking what’s on your mind doesn’t hinder your reputation and it certainly doesn’t make any one get mad at you.”
Returning back to the French businessman’s comments: “I’ve worked in many countries before but there are only two business cultures that stand out as being so remarkably different. One of them is India. The other one is Japan. From the way people work, the process of decision making and the fine attention to detail, there are many things to be learned from Japan’s business world.”
Admittedly not all these Japanese business traits can be applied to the Japanese youth of today, but after hearing about the lecture from the foreign businessmen the following things became apparent to me.

Maintaining the aspects of Japanese business deemed as virtuous in the lecture and discarding of the areas that received criticism can be advantageous. In addition, when working with colleagues from the western world, being adaptable to alternative working methods might also be beneficial.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Educational Development and English as a Second Language training program.

http://www.cipcolumbus.org/training-programs.html

Announcing the 2013 Council of International Programs USA (CIPUSA) and the Columbus International Program (CIP) Educational Development and English as a Second Language training program.

Dates: July 27-August 10, 2013

Purpose: To provide short-term, intensive, high-quality, customized individual and group experiences in the field of Educational Development and English as a Second Language. Teachers will be immersed in an American classroom, providing the opportunity to use new teaching techniques, develop confidence, and to become stronger educators.  Outside of the classroom, teachers will learn about a variety of subjects, including, but not limited to:  American educational theories, effective instruction methods, curriculum development, technology in the classroom, and creative lesson planning. Program will include cultural opportunities to immerse in the American culture.

Program Costs: $1,250 Included in the program cost:

-          Airport pick-up and drop-off

-          On-site job training

-          Arranged living with a host family

-          Transportation for the duration of the program

-          An orientation to the U.S. and a tour of Columbus

-          Planned cultural visits to local museums, city landmarks, and other tourist destinations

-          Daily breakfast and dinner

Applications: Applicants may apply for the program by going to http://www.cipcolumbus.org and clicking on the link.

Application Deadline: May 1, 2013

Expected Outcomes:

-          Participants will learn transferrable skills in the classroom, leading to more productive and interesting classes in their home country

-          Teachers will be exposed to new instruction methods, which when combined with current methods will produce more effective methods used in the classroom

-          Participants will experience modern technology used in the classroom, inspiring them to use new and up-to-date techniques when they return home

Program Content: This program will challenge teachers to use and improve their skills by teaching in a university classroom. Teachers will work with each other and a professor at a university to develop and effectively implement lesson plans. Additionally, teachers will have the chance to meet local leaders in Education, allowing them to further understand the American education system and to improve their own teaching skills.

Classroom training will consist of a teachers pairing up with a university professor to develop ESL lesson plans, after which they will co-teach several lessons together at the university. By experiencing hands-on teaching in the U.S., teachers will learn by actively participating in our program.  In addition to teaching first-hand, teachers will also visit schools and organizations that promote ESL, and highlight educational practices in Columbus. For example, this program will include visits to the ESL programs at Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College, Tolles Career and Technical Center, Columbus International High School, Columbus Education Association, Columbus Literacy Council, and Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS). Site visits and training are always customized to the needs and desires of the group.

 All CIPUSA programs include opportunities to take part in cultural activities. Activities include: visits to museums, sporting events, theaters, festivals, etc. For an additional charge of $350 (per trip), a trip to Washington DC, Chicago, or Niagara Falls can be incorporated into the program.

Program Specifics: As a participant of this program you will receive:

-          Personalized training based on the group’s needs

-          A well-designed program in the field of educational development and English as a Second Language that provides opportunities to learn through hands-on teaching, networking opportunities, and educational lectures

-          A network of focused teachers, schools, and organizations, leading to first-hand educational knowledge and experience

-          A chance to interact with U.S. counterparts, both professionally and informally

-          An opportunity for you to share your country’s customs and history through interacting with community members

-          Free time to participate in leisure activities

-          A certificate of completion

Program Hosts: The Council of International Programs USA (CIPUSA) has provided training programs since 1956. Our organization is comprised of highly educated, well-traveled individuals who have an appreciation for cultural understanding. CIPUSA has trained nearly 15,000 alumni from 147 countries. It has 8 affiliate offices across the United States. CIPUSA will work together with the Columbus affiliate, the Columbus International Program (CIP). The Columbus International Program will facilitate your program while you are in Columbus, Ohio and be responsible for participants and all program elements. CIPUSA will provide the paperwork for the necessary visa sponsorship for the program.

Living Accommodation: Every group will stay with selected host families with an interest in international affairs. The affiliate office will also provide the group with transportation during their stay. Each individual will have his/her own bedroom, a shared bathroom and will be provided with breakfast and dinner. Lunch will be during the program on business days and participants will be expected to pay for their own lunch ($5-10 per day). While in Columbus, the guests will be part of a family and encouraged to participate in family activities.

Program Participants: The delegation will be comprised of 16-20 teachers or educators from various countries.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Time to harden up on those soft skills

Careers Mar. 13, 2013 - 09:07AM JST ( 1 )

  Time to harden up on those soft skills While the internet has created great networking opportunities for businesses and individuals, the value of face-to-face communication should not be forgotten, according to Hays. According to Jonathan Sampson, Regional Director of Hays in Japan, email should be no substitute for human contact and companies should develop their staff’s softer skills as there are gains to be made whether within or outside the organization. This is particularly important in countries such as Japan. “Staff who are isolated by email can become a threat to an employers‟ competitiveness, so offering formal training in networking skills would benefit both companies and the individuals concerned,” says Jonathan. Introductions via technology can be a good starting point, but professional relationships are often cemented in person. “If you want your business to succeed, sooner or later you’ll need to meet the people you would like to turn into clients or staff,” says Jonathan. Top 5 networking tips according to the Hays Journal:

1. People should be cultivating their “weak ties” – those individuals encountered casually or unexpectedly who could develop into new and useful relationships. Potential networks are everywhere and not always in work-related places.

2. Technical knowledge of a job role or organization is a given in anyone with any professional ambition. But “loose knowledge” – what and who we know outside of work – is also relevant and could also be useful to career development. Such information should be exploited appropriately.

3. The “global green room” – the elite networks that welcome senior people, but remain closed to those further down the professional chain – stifles creativity. Opening up established groups to outsiders and sharing knowledge and best practice on a more meritocratic basis could revitalize networks.

4. “Marzipan managers” should be a source of concern for organizations. These employees sit beneath the leadership icing and often feel frustrated and swamped in a sea of email and paperwork. Responsible employers will encourage them to network for their own benefit and that of the organization.

5. Organizations should aspire to becoming “curious corporations”. In order to flourish and succeed, businesses must not be too insular and should be aware of what is happening outside their operation. To achieve this, they must engage with the broader world through external networks and information-sharing to generate new ideas. Source: Hays Journal (www.hays-journal.com)

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

Double tax season just around the corner for U.S. expats in Japan

By Dave Hurst

Lifestyle Feb. 26, 2013 - 10:08AM JST

 

Many if not most American expats are unaware that they are required to file a U.S. federal income tax return every year if their income is over the minimum threshold, regardless of where they live in the world - and the procedure can be rather daunting. Filing - or not filing - returns pretty much guarantees a few sleepless nights. What’s more, the U.S. tax code changes frequently, making it rather difficult to latch on to a particular method.

Important things to know for American expats and Green Card holders

■ If you are residing in Japan but are a U.S. citizen, then bear in mind that you are eligible to pay taxes in the U.S. if your income from worldwide sources is over a specified amount.

 ■ The due date for paying your taxes is April 15 with an automatic 2-month extension for those taxpayers who live outside the U.S.

 ■ Further extension until Oct 15 is granted to file the taxes by filing form 4868 before due date.

 ■ If you have paid taxes in Japan, then you can take a credit or deduction for the same so that your U.S. taxes are reduced.

 ■ As a U.S. citizen living in Japan, you can take advantage of certain tax-related benefits such as Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and Foreign Housing Exclusion (FHE).

 ■ What to prepare: In addition to any other documents needed to prepare your return, your U.S. tax preparer will ask for copies of your Japan income tax withholding statement “kyuyo shotoku gensen choshu hyo” (給与所得源泉徴収票). Actual taxes paid will depend on your salary amount, resident vs non-resident status and other factors. There are also various other Japan based taxes that may affect your U.S. tax filing, which your tax preparer should review when preparing your return.

What is FATCA and why has it got non-resident Americans so worried?

According to the IRS, under the newly introduced Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), U.S. taxpayers with specified foreign financial assets that exceed certain thresholds must report those assets to the IRS. This reporting will be made on Form 8938, which taxpayers attach to their federal income tax return, starting this tax filing season.

 In addition, FATCA will require foreign financial institutions to report directly to the IRS information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or held by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest.

While FATCA was likely introduced as a long-term strategy for more capital control and increased reporting requirements and transparency for Americans trying to hide assets overseas, it includes non-resident Americans, who in most cases need to open bank accounts for routine purposes such as receiving salary and paying rent. While actual filing requirements differ somewhat for eligible non-residents (e.g. minimum threshold amounts), the basic procedures bank and personal reporting requirements are the same.

As reporting requirements (and penalties for not filing) are constantly changing, it is important to find a professional tax preparer who will be able to wade through the ever-increasing complexity of tax filing for Americans living abroad.

The author is a CPA at ExpatTax.com.
 

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

20+ Years Ago: MOVIE REVIEW : 'Mr. Baseball' a Culture-Clash Comedy

October 02, 1992|KEVIN THOMAS | TIMES STAFF WRITER

"Mr. Baseball" (citywide) racks up a real home run for Tom Selleck. He recalls Clark Gable with the irascible, easy masculine charm he brings to his tailor-made role as Jack Elliot, a veteran New York Yankees hitter in the virile prime of life but on the downside of his career. Good-natured but insightful fun, this smart and sassy Universal release is more cultural-clash comedy than baseball picture, and that's a big plus for non-fans of the sport.

Within the film's swift first 10 minutes Elliot finds himself traded off to the Chunichi Dragons of Nagoya, Japan, a development he views with something considerably less than joy. From the moment he steps off the plane he looks to be a lamentably high-profile Ugly American, miserable in his fate and contemptuous of ways foreign to him. Underneath, not surprisingly, Jack is not such a bad guy, spoiled, undisciplined and quick to defy authority for sure, but intelligent and, when pushed hard enough, even capable of self-reflection.
 

Clearly, director Fred Schepisi and his writers are aware--how could they not be?--that Jack's story almost immediately takes on a quality of predictability. Their wise response has been to make the getting there as perceptive and amusing as possible. In this era of political correctness, Schepisi et al. inescapably find themselves on a tight wire, constantly having to balance the need to make Elliot and the Japanese he meets believably human yet avoid offensive stereotyping in their humor. To their credit they never falter.

 

Anyone with firsthand knowledge of Japan, its culture and society will recognize that the filmmakers have done their homework. The crux of the matter is that while the Japanese view baseball as work, Elliot insists that it should be fun--and that the Dragons might actually do better if they could feel it would be OK for them to enjoy themselves. Of course, there's right on both sides: The point is whether or not Jack, so hot-tempered and rebellious, and the rest of the Dragons will ever be able to communicate and learn from each other.

Luckily, there are two people on hand just as feisty as Jack. First is Hiroko (Aya Takanashi), a bright and attractive young woman whose unenviable job it is to get him to live up to the terms of his contract and do TV commercials, which tend to be generally sillier and less sophisticated than their American counterparts.

With two unattached individuals as handsome as Jack and beautiful as Hiroko can there be any doubt that mutual attraction will set in? Hiroko is far from being a Madame Butterfly, but the saying recited by a woman at her office is not lost on her: "Foreigner charming, foreigner romantic, foreigner go back to America."

The other person with as much mettle as Jack is the team's deceptively solemn manager (the great veteran star Ken Takakura, who won international notice with "Black Rain"), who hired him because he was convinced, after studying tapes, that Jack had one good season left in him--despite his sloppiness. Takanashi and Takakura are as vital as Selleck; Toshi Shioya as Jack's interpreter-publicist and Dennis Haysbert, as the only other American with the Dragons, also make strong impressions.

"Mr. Baseball" (rated PG-13 for sensuality and language) is by far the most commercial, mainstream project Fred Schepisi has ever been involved in--including "Roxanne"--and he brings it off with panache. Although in a broadly comic vein, Schepisi is, as always, engaged with a strong individual in conflict with society.

'Mr. Baseball'
Tom Selleck: Jack Elliot
Ken Takakura: Uchiyama
Aya Takanashi Hiroko
Toshi Shioya: Yoji Nishimura
Dennis Haysbert: Max (Hammer) Dubois

A Universal Pictures presentation of an Outlaw production in association with Pacific Artists. Director Fred Schepisi. Producers Schepisi, Doug Claybourne, Robert Newmyer. Executive producers John Kao, Jeffrey Silver. Screenplay by Gary Ross and Kevin Wade and Monte Merrick. Cinematographer Ian Baker. Editor Peter Honess. Costumes Bruce Finlayson. Music Jerry Goldsmith. Production design Ted Haworth. Art director Katsumi Nakazawa. Set decorators Yukuki Sato, Hirohide Shibata. Sound David Kelson. Running time: 1 hour, 49 minutes.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13

How to function optimally in Japanese work environment

by Nicole Sauer

Opinions Jan. 25, 2013 -

Perhaps no amount of research could fully prepare you for the realities of working for a Japanese company, but having learned the hard way that it’s no cakewalk, I would like to offer to newcomers, or even veterans who need a supportive reminder, my advice on how to function optimally in the unique Japanese work life… with some helpful song titles.

1. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
In Japanese culture, true feelings are generally not shown in public. If you’re at work, make sure you’re showing your most “genki” face at all times. While bonding with co-workers through mutual dissatisfaction may be acceptable in Western countries (ie. “our boss/students are so demanding!”) in Japan, complaining is frowned on, as it is seen to bring others down. Even making helpful, proactive suggestions- “why don’t we try it this way?”- may be seen as a challenge to the prescribed method, which was originally made for a clear, effective purpose (maybe?)
If there truly is a real problem, there’s a good chance that it might not be handled directly. Conflict is avoided and it can be very hard to get a straight answer from someone. Forthrightness is not valued in the same way here that it is in the West. If you feel confused about what’s going on, just remember that’s normal. 

2. “All Apologies”
What else should I be? The most helpful answer is: apologetic. It doesn’t matter if the mistake was not yours, or if it was impossible for you to have known in advance (for example, being blamed for forgetting to submit a form that you were never told about in the first place)- be sure to apologize. “I’m sorry,” is always better than making an excuse or trying to shift the blame. You can find out later what happened and try to remedy it retroactively, but denying that it’s your fault will only lead to more problems.

3. “Down With the Sickness”
Getting sick in the West is something inevitable that can’t be helped and generates sympathy from others. In Japan, getting sick means you haven’t taken care of yourself well enough. It is not customary for Japanese people to take a sick day unless they might actually be dying. Of course, that’s an exaggeration, but don’t expect to get out of work with a bad cold, no matter how much you’re suffering. Put on a mask, pop some pills, and carry on.
That being said, if you have a fever, you should probably stay home, but be aware that your employer will want to know that you’ve been to see a doctor and gotten a prescription. This may seem a little intrusive, but it will make everyone feel more at ease that you’ve been taken care of.

4. “Hard Day’s Night”
Work overtime. Just do it. Everyone else does. Sound like classic peer pressure? I can’t argue that it’s not. However, staying late can make your day more relaxed because the work is spread out over a longer time period. It can also give you some extra time to bond with co-workers.
Working long hours is incredibly common in Japan. Of course, no one expects you to work yourself to death (they have a term for that here actually- karōshi). Set limits for yourself and stick to them- it can be anything from not staying more than a certain amount of time, to making sure you catch the last train home. You will feel less stressed if you sort a schedule out early on.

5. “Taking Care of Business”
A few more items on the agenda:
- Japanese work culture is all about appearance. Being well-groomed is a good starting point and easy enough to pull off. First impressions are incredibly important in Japanese business, so looking sharp from the start is a must.
- “15 minutes early is on time in Japan.” Maybe you’ve heard this somewhere else; it’s completely true. The Japanese place a great deal of emphasis on punctuality. Even if your train broke down, it’s still your fault for being late because this is seen as not planning ahead.
- You’re expected to always keep in mind what’s best for the company, because this is supposedly what’s good for everyone in the long term. Even if you don’t plan to stay more than a year or two, you should still act as if you’ll be with them until you retire.
If I’ve made it sound like the Japanese work environment is challenging, well… it’s not all bad news. Keep in mind a few things:
a) As long as you look like you’re doing what you’re supposed to, you are mostly trusted and left on your own to complete your tasks. For those who loathe micromanagement, this can be valuable, just be sure to check periodically that what you’re doing is actually OK, so as to prevent future problems.
b) You will surely go out drinking with your colleagues- it’s completely acceptable to make a complete drunken idiot of yourself and show up to work the next day pretending it didn’t happen. This can be a good way to bond and relieve stress (I recommend onsen as well).
And don’t forget,
c) This isn’t your culture. Even if you exhaust yourself trying you will never get it quite perfect. And that’s OK. And in your free time you can do as you like.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-13