Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
「Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan" in the five countries (regions) ofDifferences in Lifestyle, Work Rules, and CultureI compared them.
Vietnam, Nepal, and Indonesia—that's just my impression, lol.
Mr. Chappy found the Philippines online.
Despite cultural differences, I’d like you to have a solid understanding of Japanese culture as long as you’re working in Japan.
I wonder if it might be difficult to live in Japan while maintaining one’s own culture.
What do you all think?
🌏 [Comparison of Rules and Cultures by Country] Differences Between Technical Intern Trainees and Japanese People
| Field | Japanese 🇯🇵 | Vietnam 🇻🇳 | Nepal 🇳🇵 | Indonesia 🇮🇩 | Philippines 🇵🇭 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⏰ Sense of Time | Extremely strict. A culture of “being five minutes early.” | I am punctual, but I may have to take sudden time off due to family circumstances. | They're often late and tend to make excuses | I tend to run late for church services and commuting | Does things at their own pace. Tends to take being late lightly. |
| 🙇 Etiquette and Hierarchy | A strong seniority-based hierarchy and a culture of honorific speech | Respectful toward superiors, yet modest | Values older partners; has a gentle demeanor | Strong respect for age and religion | Friendly, with a relaxed hierarchy |
| 📱 Cell Phone Etiquette | It’s standard practice to keep phones on silent mode and refrain from personal use while on duty. | Many people use it for personal purposes | May be used without prior notice | People who end up listening to music or watching videos | I tend to use social media and make phone calls even while I'm working |
| 🚭 Smoking | Respect the smoking areas. Strictly follow the rules. | Please Refrain from Smoking and Littering on the Street | I'll follow instructions if told to | Smokes a lot and is quite addicted | Some people smoke in secret, so caution is needed |
| 🙏 Religion and Customs | Not bound by any specific religion and maintaining a separation between public and private life | Buddhist and Ancestor Worship Events Held According to the Lunar Calendar | Predominantly Hindu. Emphasis on religious ceremonies. | Islam. Considerations regarding prayer, Ramadan, etc. | Christianity. Emphasis on Sunday Mass and Christmas |
| 🛁 Bathing and Laundry | I take a bath and do laundry every day. I’m particular about my bath. | Shower culture. I'm not good at operating washing machines. | I'm not a fan of bathtubs. I prefer washing my hands. | I sometimes worry about body odor even when I don't shower very often | I'm particular about water pressure and water quality. I like fabric softener (for the scent). |
| 🍚 Food Culture | Rice-based. The flavor tends to be mild. | I like rice and strong flavors. I use a lot of fish sauce and garlic (which has a strong smell). | Curry, pickles, and spicy foods (the smell of curry) | Halal-focused cuisine. No pork or alcohol (spicy). | There's a lot of fried food. The fast-food culture is also quite strong. |
| 🏠 Dorm Life & Cleaning | The basics are cleaning, sorting trash, and living quietly. | Even people who don't clean or have trouble sorting their trash end up with greasy rooms. | I tend to make a mess and have trouble keeping my room tidy | Low awareness of mold and odors | Many people don't mind making a mess. |
| 💬 Japanese Language Skills | --- (Sometimes there are idiots, lol) | Has poor reading comprehension and tends to stay quiet | Communication is primarily verbal. Gives vague responses (has a high level of Japanese proficiency). | Struggles with polite language and ambiguous expressions (has a high level of Japanese proficiency) | I talk a lot, but sometimes what I say is pretty shallow (my Japanese is a bit off, lol). |
| 📒 Reporting, Communication, and Consultation | A culture that places the highest priority on this. Remaining silent is grounds for reprimand. | I stay silent because I'm afraid of getting scolded (I don't want to take responsibility; I want to blame others) | Tends to hide problems (doesn't want to take responsibility) | Vague expressions that avoid being specific (tendency to blame others) | They talk, but tend to lack specifics |
✅ Key Points for On-Site Supervisors
-
What Japanese people take for granted isn't understood by foreignersThis happens often (it hardly gets across at all)
→ It is effective to put rules in writing, post them, and translate them (e.g., trash disposal, bathing, schedules) -
In some countries, people view “reporting” as “getting scolded.”
→ It’s important to create an environment where it’s easy to report mistakes -
Differences in “Religion, Food Culture, and Lifestyle” Can Be Overcome Through Respect and Adaptability
→ Consideration for halal food, Buddhist altars, churches, and the like directly builds trust—though some people are flexible enough to say it’s not a problem if you’re in a different country lol (Sake and beef are delicious) - Some people yell on the job, but if your message isn't getting across, yelling is pointless—so let's avoid yelling and instead explain things clearly and calmly!
In the future, the number of foreign workers in Japan will increase significantly.
I hope that, while taking our cultural differences into account, they will embrace Japanese culture.
And I really hope they’ll master Japanese technology and put it to good use in their own countries!
See you later.
