Case Study: Helping Foreign Employees Thrive in Japanese Companies
CQ Business® Seminar
— Case Study: Supporting Foreign Employees’ Success in Japanese Companies —
In today’s globalized Japanese corporations, it is essential to create environments where employees from diverse cultural backgrounds can work together and fully utilize their abilities.
AtGlobal, Ltd. organized and delivered the CQ Business® Seminar for foreign employees working in Japan. Commissioned by JTB Corp. and held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the seminar aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of Japan’s unique workplace culture.
※CQ Business® is a registered trademark of AtGlobal, Ltd.
Overview
Theme
Communication Skills for Thriving in Japanese Companies
Participants
23 foreign employees working in restaurants and food processing plants in Japan
Objective
To understand Japan’s distinctive workplace culture and communication styles, overcome intercultural barriers, and advance their careers.
Format
Online
Program
To overcome challenges in intercultural environments and sustain motivation, the right mindset is indispensable. This seminar emphasized building awareness of one’s own culture while fostering mindsets for understanding others.
Examples of Mindsets:
- Look beyond visible cultural traits and ask about the “why” behind behaviors
- Focus not only on differences but also on commonalities with others
Using real-life examples of participants’ “surprises” and “challenges,” the seminar introduced key cultural characteristics critical for working in Japanese companies.
Examples of Cultural Traits:
- A culture of preparing for contingencies
- A culture of indirect communication
Understanding these cultural contexts helps prevent misunderstandings and enables smoother communication.
With future leadership in mind, the seminar used role-playing to practice language and behaviors useful in specific workplace situations. Since nurturing subordinates and managing teams are highly valued by companies, these skills directly contribute to career advancement.
Key skills included:
- Encouraging and motivating team members
- Clarifying instructions when they are vague
- Providing effective feedback when mistakes occur
Voice
Post-training surveys revealed strong motivation toward career advancement and high appreciation for the practical value of the seminar content.
I joined this seminar because I am aiming for Specified Skilled Worker Type-2. The theme ‘Characteristics of Japanese Companies and What’s Important to Become a Leader’ was particularly interesting.
The training content was easy to understand, and I could grasp most of the Japanese used. Thank you very much for teaching us so many things.
It was very educational to learn about the importance of intercultural understanding and diversity through concrete examples. The many group work sessions also provided a great opportunity to learn other students’ ways of thinking. If there are other seminars on this topic in the future, I would definitely like to join.
It was very useful to learn deeply about Japanese thinking such as ‘avoiding failure and risk.’ I want to apply what I learned in this seminar to my work from now on.
Toward the Development of Global Talent
AtGlobal, Ltd. provides customized global human resource development programs using CQ, tailored to the needs of each university or company.
Enhancing CQ directly improves team performance, leadership, and organizational adaptability.
With expert-led CQ assessments and training programs,
take your institution’s intercultural communication skills to the next level.
Start with a free consultation—contact us today.
CQ Seminar
AtGlobal, Ltd.’s CQ Business® seminars are designed flexibly by experienced instructors according to the specific needs and context of your company or university. Beyond learning about cultural differences, participants explore how to respond effectively, fostering real behavioral and mindset changes. The ultimate aim is to raise CQ (Cultural Intelligence), an indispensable quality for global talent.
Benefits of Enhancing CQ
For Companies
- Strengthen competitiveness in global markets: Avoid cultural misunderstandings and maximize outcomes in international business and negotiations.
- Unlock global talent potential: Smooth communication enables foreign employees to contribute their expertise and perspectives, strengthening the organization.
- Boost team collaboration and productivity: Building trust through intercultural understanding facilitates effective cooperation among multinational, cross-functional members.
For Students & Individuals
- Develop true “global competence”: Thrive in study abroad, overseas employment, and international environments while minimizing stress.
- Reduce interpersonal stress: Gain deeper insight into “why communication fails” and respond constructively.
- Foster personal growth: Learning about other cultures helps individuals see themselves in perspective and grow into more flexible, broad-minded professionals.
