Work - GaijinPot InJapan

Annoying Office Mates

May 15th, 2013By Evee Rayne SummersCategory: Work Tips

In my previous work office, we had a little poster near the pantry of the three wise monkeys. It's supposed to be a reminder for everyone to prevent rumors, problems and petty arguments among the group: hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil. Simple. Direct. Unfort ... » Continue Reading
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First Impressions of Nagasaki

April 4th, 2013By Coco JukuCategory: Uncategorized

Having just completed my first week living in Nagasaki, Japan, I feel exhilarated and exhausted at the same time – talk about sensory overload! Having had a massive interest for all things Japanese ever since elementary school, (everything from manga to martial a ... » Continue Reading
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Spring Cleaning the Teachers

March 28th, 2013By Kenneth GrantCategory: Uncategorized

After a long, dark and cold winter the first signs of spring are in the air. As each day draws out longer and the snow slowly melts away outside of the combini near my house there is a definite feeling of change on the horizon. I know it won’t be long before my frien ... » Continue Reading
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Why Japan is Winning and “Western Management” isn’t.

March 22nd, 2013By David SharpCategory: Uncategorized

“Why was ‘Sunday Trading’ banned in England but never in Scotland?” I remember being completely stumped when the head of the MBA/MSc Programme at Queen Margaret University, Richard Bent, asked our class this question. The history of religion in Scotland and Engla ... » Continue Reading
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It’s Not Too Late To Get A Job In Japan

March 14th, 2013By Katie McGregorCategory: Uncategorized

Ben and I have had an amazing adventure, and I hope some of you will be sharing your own soon. For those of you who are interested, now is the perfect time to find a job in Japan. The next school year starts in April and many people, like Ben and I, will be returnin ... » Continue Reading
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Does “Management” Exist in Corporate Japan?

March 8th, 2013By David SharpCategory: Work

What's the Japanese word for "Project Management"? Well, if you say the English words with a Japanese accent, you are probably pretty close. Like so many technical words of foreign origin, the Japanese simply render an approximation of the term with their "loan w ... » Continue Reading
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Miyazaki School

March 5th, 2013By GaijinPotCategory: Uncategorized

Hi! I am a recently hired English instructor working at Coco Juku's Miyazaki School. I would like to tell you about my experience living and working in this beautiful location! First of all, I have been very impressed with the professionalism and kindness of the ... » Continue Reading
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Starting an English Language School From Home

March 4th, 2013By Jack DeBerryCategory: Uncategorized

In March of 2012, my wife and I made the decision to move to Japan. I was leaving a job in Texas where I had been promoted twice in the previous year and most recently, selected to go to the police academy. I was not sure what type of employment opportunities I wo ... » Continue Reading
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Awkward at Best

February 27th, 2013By Jessica DamerstCategory: Uncategorized

Originally, when arriving at my school, I was like a rock-star. Students would scramble to get a look at me, or hang out of windows to get a "Hello!" Those who had more yaruki (doing spirit) than others, would run up and try to say in broken English various points about ... » Continue Reading
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Making Up Names

February 26th, 2013By GaijinPotCategory: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Travel

Recently, I visited Sapporo for its famous Yuki Matsuri (snow festival). This extravaganza of snow involves block after block of the city’s main drag sculpted with icy precision into giant tableaus that included a scene of a beautiful woman and a farm, a Thai palace, ha ... » Continue Reading
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Jinmyaku (Networking) and Saabisu

January 25th, 2013By David SharpCategory: Culture

To get ahead in Japan, it isn’t who you know – it’s how long you’ve known them! Traditional Japanese values dictate that the length of a relationship almost always correlates with the depth and importance of the relationship, and so the Japanese system of develop ... » Continue Reading
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Things to Consider When Registering Business Entities in Japan

January 15th, 2013By Shinonome GroupCategory: Uncategorized

There is considerable literature written about the procedures involved in incorporating a company in Japan (or registering a Japan branch of a foreign company), but when thinking about set-up there are many unwritten conditions and factors that can also affect sched ... » Continue Reading