U.S. Business Buzzwords

Designed as a resource for Americans and Japanese working together, "U.S. Business Buzzwords" offers explanations of terms that are commonly used in the modern American business world but that are typically unfamiliar to Japanese - including retention strategy, micro-management, feedback, chain of command, and work-life balance. Written in a bilingual, English-Japanese format, it offers not only interesting and informative content for English speakers, but also accurate and understandable translations of terms and explanations for Japanese speakers. Each term is given one full page in each language, with important terms highlighted in both languages to help facilitate fuller comprehension and better vocabulary building. Along with a complete definition of each term, there is also an example sentence and an example application to help eliminate confusion about the word's usage. The explanations are full and complete, but more than that, they are interesting to read and easy to understand. Also incl uding short explanations of cultural differences that may arise in relation to the terms, this book is a must have for Americans and Japanese who work together closely in business! Originally published in 2000, this updated version is being offered again due to popular demand.

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Working Effectively with Japanese Colleagues: Cross-cultural Training for American Employees of Japanese Companies

This workbook provides the reader with an in-depth look at Japanese business culture as well as tips on how to develop positive working relationships with Japanese colleagues.

• Understand Japanese culture in business
• Learn how to communicate effectively with Japanese colleagues
• Increase your efficiency and effectiveness working with Japanese colleagues

Most books about working with Japanese are about how to sell to them--not how to work effectively inside a Japanese company. This unique book directly addresses the needs of Americans employed by Japanese firms, explaining why Japanese behave the way they do and how to improve your communications and working relationships.

The conversational style and helpful illustrations and summaries make it easy to read. It is great for use as a tool in new employee orientation. Those who have recently joined a Japanese company as well as veterans will find this book invaluable.

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The Rice-Paper Ceiling: Breaking Through Japanese Corporate Culture

The Rice-Paper Ceiling is currently unavailable as a new revised edition is being prepared. 

Clashing communication styles and differing attitudes about work are a major reason why very few Americans employed in Japanese corporations ever reach top-level management. This invisible - but very real - obstacle to advancement is a result of opposing views on matters that each culture takes for granted. In her book, The Rice Paper Ceiling: Breaking Through Japanese Corporate Culture, international business consultant Rochelle Kopp examines and deciphers the Japanese business code to expose the reasons why the "rice paper ceiling" keeps American employees from climbing the corporate ladder in Japan.

Interesting topics covered include:

• American and Japanese assumptions on how, by whom, and why things need to be done
• Expectations and obligations regarding work and goals
• Corporate hierarchies, philosophies and management styles
• Transactional analysis of business relationships with regard to the communication styles and socialization of members of each culture

Open communication, empathy, respect, patience and a little introspection will go a long way in the quest for success in Japanese corporate world. Kopp provides numerous case studies and strategies to equip readers with the skills and understanding needed to develop mutually beneficial working relationships and to eventually pierce the rice paper ceiling. Kopp's insider knowledge and perspective of the Japanese corporate system makes for a relevant, well-written, invaluable resource for anyone planning to or already working for a Japanese company.

Excerpt from Chapter 1: "Root Causes of Problems for American Employees at Japanese Companies"

The frictions and problems at Japanese firms in the United States result from a combination of structural differences and mutual misunderstandings. In addition to the different levels of sensitivity to discrimination issues . . . , typical problem areas include the following:

Language. Few Americans speak and read Japanese well enough to use it for conducting business. Although Japanese businesspeople usually have some command of English, it is often tenuous at best, especially in conversation. Few Japanese businesspeople are comfortable with conducting detailed discussions or reading long documents in English. Like anyone else, they naturally prefer to do business in their native language.

Cross-cultural communications skills. Both American and Japanese businesspeople tend to have little experience in dealing with people from other countries, and generally lack the skills needed to overcome cross-cultural challenges.

Communication patterns. Japanese and American communication patterns are quite different. The American style is direct, and values discussion. The Japanese style is more vague and roundabout, placing greater emphasis on nonverbal cues and subtle nuances of tone and wording. Informal debate and the act of openly challenging another's opinions are often viewed negatively.

Leadership styles. Americans expect their managers to attack problems head-on, set the agenda, make detailed plans, and then delegate the implementation to subordinates. Charisma and motivational ability are considered crucial. Yet Japanese often feel that American-style "strong leadership" is insensitive and dictatorial. Rather than giving detailed direction, Japanese managers strive to create an environment in which self-motivated subordinates can take initiative.

Internal management and decision-making patterns. American companies tend to be financially oriented, and value individual leadership and autonomy. Each employee's role is clearly defined, and he or she is responsible for those activities. Individuals make decisions in their realm of authority or expertise, and the company clearly defines who can make which decisions about what. In contrast, Japanese companies tend to take a more intuitive approach to management. Employees have undefined roles and are expected to work as teams to meet group goals. Decision-making is a group process, with large numbers of people involved in each decision.

Centralized management processes. At many Japanese firms, the head office has significant input into decision-making at the U.S. affiliate. This necessitates constant, detailed communication across the Pacific. Due to language and cultural barriers, such communication is often dominated by Japanese employees. The result can be an exclusion of American employees from managerial processes. The large role of the head office also diminishes the U.S. operation's ability to act independently.

Ethnocentricity. Many Japanese are uncomfortable interacting with foreigners and frequently hold negative stereotypes about Americans in particular. Many Japanese also lack the flexibility to consider doing things differently from the way they are done in Japan. By the same token, Americans often hold negative views about the Japanese, and often seem convinced that the American way is best.

Employment system differences. In comparison with the American free market for labor, the Japanese tradition of lifetime employment leads to vastly different career patterns. As a result, Americans and Japanese tend to have radically different assumptions about basic features of the employment relationship such as compensation, performance evaluation, the pace of advancement, and when it is appropriate to change jobs.

Japanese personnel management. Many authors, both Western and Japanese, have praised the Japanese system of "lifetime employment" for its ability to foster individual loyalty and encourage the development of firm-specific skills. However, the domestic personnel management system is a weakness when the Japanese company expands overseas. The typical Japanese company's personnel management style is quite rigid and makes demands on employees that few non-Japanese would tolerate. This is because the Japanese system is predicated on the lack of an external labor market-Japanese employees have few other employment options, so once they join a firm they have little choice but to go along with the demands of the company. Unable to absorb non-Japanese into this system, companies tend to relegate them to separate employment categories that may not provide equivalent advancement opportunities or job security.

Corporate cultures. Since most Japanese employees work for the same firm for their entire careers, Japanese companies tend to develop their own distinct, inbred corporate cultures. These corporate cultures are so strong that they tend to exclude even native Japanese who might join a company at midcareer. It is extremely difficult for non-Japanese employees to break into the circle, especially given the other barriers listed above.

As this list suggests, the possibilities for misunderstandings are endless when Americans work at Japanese firms. Frictions and frustrations arise from complicated combinations of these various factors. Thus, the pattern of problems at Japanese firms is, in effect, a set of typical cultural and systemic clashes that play themselves out over and over again. These issues add up to a significant set of challenges that Americans who work for Japanese firms, as well as the companies themselves, will have to face.

「新ビジネスミーティングの英語表現」
English for Effective Business Meetings Today

A new edition of one of Rochelle Kopp's best sellers, this book addresses one of the biggest causes of friction between Japanese and Americans who work together: meetings. The different assumptions that our two cultures have about the purpose and conduct of meetings are discussed, and specific techniques that Japanese can use to more effectively participate in and lead American-style meetings are introduced. A must for anyone who attends meetings in English!

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「外国人との交渉に成功するビジネス英語」
Successful Negotiating in English

This book discusses how negotiation practices differ between Japan and other countries, and offers Japanese practical advice for improving negotiation outcomes through effective use of techniques and verbal strategies. Situations covered include budget negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, salary discussions, and contracting with outside vendors.

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「ビジネス・コミュニケーション」
Business Communication

Aimed at helping Japanese businesspeople improve their communication skills -- whether in English or their native language, this book focuses on how to get your point across clearly, logically, and respectfully. Sharing opinions, giving feedback, participating in meetings, negotiations and problem-solving are among the practical topics covered. Each chapter combines general guidelines with a detailed case study showing how they can be applied.

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「製造現場の英語表現」
Effective Communication for Engineers

This book covers the basics of how engineers can communicate with locally-hired colleagues in English to get work done together smoothly. Topics include giving direction, explaining procedures, solving problems, and providing feedback. Designed to be accessible and useful to those with lower level skills in English, but also interesting and insightful for those who are more advanced. Contains numerous realistic case studies and over 1000 example sentences geared toward manufacturing and technical settings.

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外国人部下と仕事をするためのビジネス英語
Managing Non-Japanese Subordinates in English

This book covers key management activities such as clarifying job responsibilities, giving direction, giving feedback, and performance management. Essential for anyone who is in a management position in the U.S. Designed for those who already have a good basic foundation in English, but need to develop their language skills in order to be more effective managers in English.

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ビジネスミーテｲングの英語表現
English for Effective Business Meetings

Now in its 13th printing, this book is one of Rochelle’s bestsellers, because it addresses one of the biggest causes of friction between Japanese and Americans who work together: meetings. The different assumptions that our two cultures have about the purpose and conduct of meetings are discussed, and specific techniques that Japanese can use to more effectively participate in and lead American-style meetings are introduced. A must for anyone who attends meetings in English!

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「ビジネス英語：これが常識・非常識」
Common-sense Business English

This book covers some of the typical mistakes that Japanese make when speaking in English and interacting with non-Japanese. Practical information is offered for improving communication and avoiding misunderstandings. A good basic book for those who have recently arrived in the U.S. but also has interesting insights for those with longer experience.

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職場における効果的な人間関係を築くために
アメリカ文化とコミュニケーションスタイルについて
Building Effective Interpersonal Relationships in the Cross-Cultural Workplace

A transcript of a training seminar conducted by Rochelle for Japanese participants, this workbook covers the basics of what Japanese who have been assigned to work in the U.S. need to know about how to communicate with Americans in the workplace. Typical communication challenges at Japanese firms in the U.S. and how to overcome them are discussed in detail in a conversational style.

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アメリカにおける効果的なフィードバックと実績評価
目的を達成する組織の作り方
Effective Feedback and Performance Evaluation in the U.S.: Creating a High-Performance Organization

Another transcript of a seminar taught by Rochelle, this workbook helps prepare Japanese managers for giving feedback and performance evaluations to their American subordinates. A must for anyone who manages people in the U.S. Chock full of Q&A from the seminar participants, it’s accessible and practical.

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アメリカにおける効果的な人事管理のために
アメリカ人従業員は、今何を求めているのか?
What do American Employees Want? Effective HR in the U.S.

Almost every aspect of human resources management is different in Japan and the U.S. This presents many challenges to Japanese companies that want to design effective HR policies and programs that will attract and retain talented American employees. This workbook, the transcript of a seminar given by Rochelle, introduces Japanese to the fundamentals of what they need to know about how HR is practiced in the US, from job descriptions to FLSA to salary grades to incentive compensation to the war for talent.

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これで海外工場でうまく仕事ができる
Factory English

A business book that reads like a novel! Japanese manufacturing veteran Tomo is sent to shape up a failing factory in America. He needs to bond with his American top manager Jerry and gain the trust of the American team, while helping them learn the Japanese manufacturing techniques that will turn their factory around. Their story draws the reader in, even as the text teaches important lessons about cross-cultural communication and teamwork. A great way to help Japanese working in manufacturing environments improve their English and gain cross-cultural insight without feeling like they are reading a boring textbook.

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反省しないアメリカ人をあつかう方法（増補改訂版)
How to Deal with Americans Who don’t Hansei

Hansei is the Japanese practice of reflecting on areas to be improved, taking responsibility for problems, and publicly stating your intention to do better in the future. A key aspect of Japanese business, it’s often aggravating to Japanese when Americans do the opposite of hansei and shrug off problems as being out of their control. This book draws in Japanese readers by discussing this perennial sore point, and then introduces them to key insights about cross-cultural differences and American culture. Realistic and informative, and full of actual case studies, this book is one of Rochelle’s most popular.

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プレゼンなんて怖くない!―アメリカ人が教えるプレゼンテーションの秘訣53
Presentations Aren’t Scary! 53 American-style Presentation Tips

Most Japanese don’t have a lot of experience giving presentations, and find the thought of giving one frightening. This book aims at taking the fear out of presentation-giving, and describes techniques that Japanese can use to give more effective presentations, from proper body language and eye contact to organizing content in a fresh and memorable way. Useful for anyone who needs to give presentations in the U.S.

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ソフト･マネジメントスキル
Soft Skills For Managers

Published by the prestigious Japanese business association Nihon Keidanren, this book introduces American-style soft skills, particularly feedback and respect for diversity, to Japanese readers. The point is made that while these skills are useful for managing Americans, due to recent social changes in Japan they are also becoming increasingly useful for managing Japanese. Written in a polished style, this book is a particularly good choice for executives. This book is also a good choice for individuals who seem stuck in an old-fashioned hard-nosed kind of management style who need to have their minds opened to a different approach.

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ビジネスライティングの英語表現
English for Effective Business Writing

An essential primer for anyone who writes emails in English. This book helps Japanese avoid the common pitfalls involved in writing emails, and learn techniques for writing in a way that is persuasive and appropriate in American culture. Sure to help smooth communication with colleagues, customers, and suppliers.

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ビジネスで失敗しない！トラブル回避の英会話&マナー
International Business Success Toolkit

Designed so that it could be read by an executive on their plane flight over to the U.S., this book contains the basics needed to avoid cultural misunderstandings and develop good working relationships with Americans. A worthwhile investment for every visitor to your U.S. operations.

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ビジネス交渉と会議英語辞典＜携帯版＞
Dictionary of English Expressions for Business Negotiations and Meetings

A portable collection of phrases that can help the reader be more effective in negotiations and meetings. Rochelle envisioned this as something that a Japanese negotiator would keep in their briefcase and sneak a peek at if they got tongue-tied during an important meeting!

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受かる！英語面接
Interviewing in English

This book is an excellent reference for Japanese who are applying to work at American companies, or any other situations where they may be interviewing in English. A large number of samples helps the reader learn what questions they are likely to be asked, and what are effective answers in the U.S. The differences between the modesty required in Japan and the “sell yourself” mentality in the U.S is also discussed.

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アピールする！英文履歴書
English Resumes that Appeal

This book covers all facets of resume-writing in English. The format and contents of an English resume are very different from the traditional Japanese resume, so this is an essential guide for any Japanese person who wants to put their best foot forward in the U.S. job market.

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英語で文通しませんか
Improve Your English through E-mail Correspondence

Unlike Rochelle’s other books, this is written for non-business readers -- anyone from junior high school students to homemakers to senior citizens to businesspeople during their time off – who wants to improve their English by writing to a “pen pal” in English. How to find a pen pal, appropriate topics, and how to develop a warm and meaningful correspondence are covered.

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