The ability to communicate and make oneself understood in English when travelling is often taken for granted, whether negotiating at a street stall or checking in at a five star hotel. The use of English in Japan thus warrants some comment at the outset. Written English, on billboards, shop windows, even clothes, is ubiquitous in Japan and very fashionable, easily leading visitors to expect its use in spoken form is equally common. However, even though every student who completes high school has received at least six years of painstaking English tuition, this is far from the truth. The … [Read more...]
Doing Business in Japan
There are no insurmountable obstacles to trading with Japan. However there are numerous factors, some unique to Japan, that might be considered obstacles, but that can, with appropriate research and subsequent clarification and understanding, be overcome. Consider the following: Language Without widespread use of English in Japan, it should never be presumed a Japanese person can speak English, or is comfortable doing so. It’s sensible to ascertain this beforehand. All usual documentation in Japan is in Japanese. As a consequence, interpreting and translating services may be required at … [Read more...]