Naoki Kameda, Ph.D.

Doshisha University

Kyoto, Japan

Mexico vs. Japan

Mexico Japan

Land (1,000 Km) 1,958 378

Population 114.8 million 126.5 million

GDP Gross (@1 B) US$1,034 US$4,278

GDP Per Capita US$9,522 US$42,783

Trade Volume (@1M)

Exp. $298,473 Exp. $771,720

Imp. $331,630 Imp. $694,028

Trade with Japan (@1M)

Exp. $1,926 -------------

Imp. $16,516 -------------

Conclusion

• Know your country, culture, history, your

company, and yourself;

• Know the reasons why you want to do

business with Japanese; and

• Know the Japanese culture, history, people,

company, and communication style.

Topics of discussion

• Background to culture: history, land area,

company, unique communication style, etc.

• Economy, business and management: market,

longevity of companies, etc.

• Religion and culture: the unique Japanese

business philosophy, modesty, etc.

The Emperor

Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan

Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and the divine ancestor of the imperial family, ruled both the sun and the heavenly fields of rice that fed the Japanese people.

The flag of rising sun

7

National Flag of Japan

2012/10/18

Mexico: The Sun Country

2012/10/18 9

Background to Japanese Culture Land Area: 380K Sq. Kilometers (Mountainous Area: 67%) Population: 126.5 million Residential use: 4.8%

Homogeneity: 99.4% Japanese 0.5% Koreans 0.1% Chinese

Isolated for about 270 years

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The Tokugawa Shogunate banned Christianity and foreign trade.

The galleon San Francisco shipwrecked off the coast of Japan on its way to New Spain.

It prohibited people from going abroad.

It imposed seclusion of Japan from all foreign contact for 215 years.

It enforced a caste system, putting the warriors on top followed by farmers, artisans, and tradesmen.

The Meiji Restoration started Japan’s new era.

Equal Treaty was signed with Mexico.

Japan’s modern history 1600

1609

1633

1638

1868

1880

Unique language habits

• A deeply held respect and consideration for

others;

• A focus on understatement and humility; and

• A distrust in verbal communication.

Modest expressions

• The richer rice ripens, the lower its head

hangs. (Japanese saying)

• The boughs that bear most hang lowest.

(English saying)

The Overseas Sales Ratio

Japan Company Handbook, Spring 2012

70%

55%

48%

47%

34%

A glass of wine

A half emptied glass or a half filled glass?

Panasonic Corp.

Sales turnover Y8,692.672 billion

Group companies 634

Employees 366,937

(221,425 overseas)

Overseas sales (%) 48% (2010)

55% (2013)

15 As of March in 2011

Trade volume (Export)

Countries @US1 Billion Share

1 China 1,578 10.4%

2 USA 1,278 8.4%

3 Germany 1,269 8.3%

4 Japan 770 5.1%

5 France 521 3.4%

Mexico 299 2.0%

Brazil 202 1.3%

Trade volume (Import)

Countries @US1 Billion Share

1 USA 1,970 12.8%

2 China 1,395 9.1%

3 Germany 1,067 6.9%

4 Japan 694 4.5%

5 France 606 3.9%

Mexico 332 2.2%

Brazil 200 1.3%

Kaisha have rather long lives

Foreign companies in

Fortune 500 Average life expectancy

40 to 50 years：

1/3 of the companies listed in the 1970 Fortune 500 had vanished by 1983.

Kaisha foundation ranking

1st Kongo Gumi in 578 2nd Hoshi in 718 3rd Surugaya in 1461 4th Matsui Kensetsu in 1586 5th Sumitomo Metal in 1590 Of surviving Japanese companies, 11 started in the 17th century 9 started in the 18th century 75 started in the 19th century

Followers of religions

Shinto group 107 million 51.1%

Others 10 million 4.7%

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Step one: Know yourself

Step two: Know the other side

Step three: Shift the style

Key to success in cross-cultural business communication

Know yourself and your enemies, and you easily will win a hundred battles.

Five rules for differences

• Be ready for differences;

• Recognize differences;

• Understand differences;

• Appreciate differences; and

• Enjoy differences.

You can make your dream come true!

“ALL our dreams can come true—if we have the

challenge to pursue them.” Walt Disney

Kameda's five rules to make your dream come true

1. Have a dream;

2. Believe you can make your dream come true;

3. Speak it out to other people;

4. Try your best and work hard to realize your dream; and

5. Never, never, and never give it up.