Our Japan CEO, Masa Matsuoka, recently shared his perspective in his ongoing opinion series for Diamond Online, one of Japan’s leading business media platforms.
In the latest article, Masa-san examines the management challenges that can emerge when Japanese managers work with foreign employees. He notes that strong Japanese language skills do not necessarily mean that foreign employees understand or accept the unspoken assumptions behind Japanese workplace communication and management practices.
Masa-san argues that issues often attributed to cultural differences may instead reveal weaknesses in management itself. Ambiguous instructions, unclear decision-making, excessive intervention, and vague evaluations can place an unnecessary burden on employees, who are expected to interpret what managers mean rather than receive clear direction.
The article also points out that these issues are not limited to foreign employees. Younger Japanese employees and mid-career hires may face similar frustrations, but foreign employees can make these problems more visible because they are less likely to silently absorb unclear expectations or unexplained decisions.
By looking at Japanese management through the experience of foreign employees, Masa-san raises the need to rethink what globalization means inside companies. Hiring foreign talent or increasing language capabilities is not enough; companies must also reduce the hidden burden placed on employees and build clearer, more accountable management practices.
In this article, Masa-san covers several key topics:
Why Japanese language proficiency does not automatically mean acceptance of Japanese workplace norms
How unclear instructions and ambiguous decision-making can shift responsibility from managers to employees
Why excessive intervention and vague evaluations can weaken trust and accountability
How foreign employees can reveal management weaknesses that have long been hidden by employee patience
Read the full article here.
Please note that the original article is available in Japanese only.
About Our Expert
Masa Matsuoka is YCP’s Japan CEO, Group Officer, and Managing Partner, with deep expertise in corporate strategy, restructuring, and value creation. He brings extensive experience in turnaround execution and equity research across retail and consumer sectors.
