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Intercultural communication is the process of exchanging, negotiating, and mediating cultural differences between people from different cultural backgrounds, encompassing language, non-verbal gestures, and spatial relationships. Research on intercultural communication involving Japanese individuals has mainly focused on comparisons between Japanese and Westerners, particularly Americans. As Japan plays a significant role in the global business environment, foreign businesspersons working with Japanese companies may encounter communication gaps due to cultural values, assumptions, business customs, and language differences. In Malaysia, where there are several Japanese companies employing many Malaysians, there is a strong interest in learning the Japanese language and culture. Malaysians are impressed with the work culture of Japanese companies and seek to learn from them, which enhances their chances of working in Japanese companies, both in Malaysia and Japan. Effective communication between Japanese employers and Malaysian employees is crucial for learning from people of different cultures. To gain deeper insights into the intercultural communication in Japanese corporations working environment, this study examines the situations and challenges faced by Japanese employers working with Malaysian employees, and vice versa. The participants consist of Japanese employers and Malaysian employees who interact with Japanese employers in their day-to-day jobs. A qualitative study using focus groups was adopted, and the responses were analyzed using thematic analysis, leading to the emergence of three main themes: working culture, communication ability, and cultural differences. This paper discusses the results based on these themes and presents recommendations to improve intercultural communication in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we argue that one of the variables that may influence perceived inequality in everyday life is cultural differences in relational mobility. We examined this research question across two cross‐cultural studies in Japan (Study 1, N = 196; Study 2, N = 214) and Spain (Study 1, N = 199; Study 2, 199), two countries that differ in their relational mobility levels. In Study 1, we contrasted two competing hypotheses: On the one hand, it could be predicted that individuals in countries with high relational mobility perceive greater inequality due to increased exposure to diverse social networks. On the other hand, it is also plausible that in contexts of high relational mobility, people perceive less inequality as they selectively choose to interact with individuals who share similar social backgrounds. Results supported the former hypotheses and showed that people in a country high in relational mobility (i.e. Spain) tend to perceive more economic inequality (vs. Japan, a country low in relational mobility). Moreover, we found an indirect effect of this cross‐cultural difference through the cultural affordances for meeting new people (i.e. one of the dimensions of relational mobility). In Study 2, we preregistered and replicated these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultural background of users utilizing image search engines has a significant impact on the satisfaction of the search results. Therefore, it is important to analyze and understand the cultural context of images for more accurate image search. In this paper, we investigate how the cultural context of images can affect the performance of image classification. To this end, we first collected various types of images (e.g,. food, temple, etc.) with various cultural contexts (e.g., Korea, Japan, etc.) from web search engines. Afterwards, a deep transfer learning approach using VGG19 and MobileNetV2 pre-trained with ImageNet was adopted to learn the cultural features of the collected images. Through various experiments we show the performance of image classification can be differently affected according to the cultural context of images [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at shedding light on the effects that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as predictors, have on heavy work investment of time and effort and on job engagement. Using a questionnaire survey, this study conducted a moderated-moderation analysis, considering two conditional effects—worker's status (working students vs. non-student employees) and country (Israel vs. Japan)—as potential moderators, since there are clear cultural differences between these countries. Data were gathered from 242 Israeli and 171 Japanese participants. The analyses revealed that worker's status moderates the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on heavy work investment of time and effort and on job engagement and that the moderating effects were conditioned by country differences. Theoretical and practical implications and future research suggestions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the qualitative differences in dissociative experiences among normal college-age subjects in China and Japan. The paper first describes the process used to prepare the Mandarin version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Baseline statistics comparing the two populations of interest are then presented. These results show fundamental differences across these two Asian cultures in terms of the mean DES scores obtained as well as the shape of the overall distribution of these scores. The results of a factor analysis of the DES responses corroborate both gender and cultural differences across the Japanese and Chinese data. Interestingly, the structure of the factors derived shows little relationship to factors from analyses of normal college-age subjects in North America. These contrasting results suggest that the DES can be a useful addition to other instruments and methods for exploring cross-cultural psychological differences, and that prior to clinical use baseline DES norms for each culture need to be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-national study explores the relative contributions of academic and corporate research to subsequent industrial R&D activities within one industry. Japanese university research emerged as less influential than Japanese corporate research. The difference between the relevance of U.S. university and U.S. corporate research was only marginally significant. In both countries, university research appeared to contribute most to domestic firms. These findings accentuate the role that national institutional structures play in influencing a country's university research activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originating in Asia, lesson study is gradually spreading around the globe. As evident from the papers in this issue, we have much to learn as it is implemented in a variety of cultural contexts. In this article we reflect on the goals of lesson study, the organizational supports required to sustain the practice in various contexts, and the benefits that may be derived from making more explicit the connections between lesson study and the wider field of improvement science. Both research and practice can benefit from learning from, and about, the process of importing cultural routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the applicability of Japanese management practices in Britain within a socio-cultural perspective. Using a case study research in a Japanese multinational subsidiary in Britain, the paper argues that some management practices are incompatible with British societal and business cultural characteristics and are therefore not adopted by the Japanese managers working in this country. There are some practices which can more readily be adapted to local conditions and have successfully been implemented in Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between national diversity and team performance. Research on US teams involved in a task of low interdependence (baseball) is replicated with a Japanese sample to investigate possible cross-national differences. The paper also presents a new quantitative measure of diversity. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; This study uses quantitative research based on archival data. Regression modeling is applied to professional sports data from Japan. National diversity of teams is operationalized using a new approach to Blau|!|#39;s Index. Findings |!|#8211; A negative relationship was found between national diversity and team performance in Japan. No significant results were found for age diversity. The results for national diversity are in contrast to research conducted on similar teams in the USA. Practical implications |!|#8211; The findings provide evidence of cross-national differences between US and Japanese teams. Findings are also directly applicable to managers in the growing field of international sports management and sports business. Originality/value |!|#8211; Globalization has resulted in the internationalization of the professional sports industry. This paper is one of the first international studies of professional sports teams that span the East-West divide, to provide insights on international team performances. Findings from this cross-national comparison of US and Japanese teams contribute to organizational research by reinforcing the need to consider national context in diversity research. Educators will find that use of professional sports allows students to easily relate to the findings of the study. Managers are offered direct evidence that team dynamics related to diversity are different between US and Japanese teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a unique new cross-national survey of Japanese and Korean workers, we report the first systematic evidence on the effects on employee voice of High Performance Work Practices (HPWPs) from the two economies that are noted for the wide use of HPWPs. We find for both nations that: (i) workers in firms with HPWPs aimed at creating opportunities for employees to get involved (such as shopfloor committees and small group activities) are indeed more likely to have stronger senses of influence and voice on shopfloor decision making than other workers; (ii) workers whose pay is tied to firm performance are more likely to have a stake in firm performance and hence demand such influence and voice; and (iii) consequently workers in firms with HPWPs are more likely to make frequent suggestions for productivity increase and quality improvement. As such, this paper contributes to a small yet growing new empirical literature that tries to understand the actual process and mechanism through which HPWPs lead to better enterprise performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a survey-based study of perceptions of ethical business practices in 13 countries of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Responses from more than 23,000 managers and employees were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and post-hoc comparisons, aimed at identifying homogenous sets of countries. Anglo countries (US, UK, Australia, and Canada) clustered together, and were joined by India in most cases. Japan and Italy formed a homogenous subset significantly different from all other countries. Countries of continental Europe, China, Mexico, and Brazil formed various mid-range groupings. The paper discusses some salient differences between groups of countries and presents implications for human resource management (HRD) practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how Japanese multinational companies manage corporate social responsibility (CSR). It considers how the concept has come to be framed within Japanese business, which is increasingly globalized and internationally focused, yet continues to exhibit strong cultural specificities. The discussion is based on interviews with managers who deal with CSR issues and strategy on a day-to-day basis from 13 multinational companies. In looking at how CSR practice has been adopted and adapted by Japanese corporations, we can begin to see what implications arise from the fact that CSR is a Western-led concept, so opening up critical questions about the future development and evolution of CSR practice within a global context. In being exposed to the concept of CSR as practiced vigilantly in western countries, Japanese multinational company managers have certainly come to re-evaluate aspects of business likely to need rectifying (with potential concerns being gender inequalities, discrepancies in employee conditions, and issues over human rights and supply chains). Japan can be thought to be lagging behind in its understanding and adoption of CSR, in part because corporations do not necessarily state their policies as formally as might be expected. Yet, by analyzing more deeply the kinds of responses gained from CSR managers in Japan (and by placing their remarks within a broader context of Japanese culture and business practices) a far more subtle and revealing picture becomes apparent, not least a more complex picture of the local/global interaction of the frames of reference of corporate responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature clearly provides support and empirical evidence linking personal values and consumption, and acknowledges cross-cultural differences in these values. Personal values have been shown to be efficient, measurable sets of variables that are less numerous, more centrally held and more closely related to motivations than demographic and psychographic measures. The list of values (LOV) is a widely used scale for the measurement of values in a variety of consumer behaviour contexts. It has been used for the purposes of cross-cultural comparison and in tourism behaviour research. Kahle has suggested the instrument is a viable candidate as a widely accepted measure for cross-cultural comparison of values. This paper examines the reliability and validity of the LOV in the context of Japanese tourism behaviour. Results suggest several problems with the scale in this context, and the paper discusses some philosophical and methodological issues in cross-cultural values research in tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a contrastive approach to speaker-audience interaction in political speeches, specifically, in relation to culture. It begins with a review of seminal and subsequent research based in the UK, which has shown how speakers use rhetorical devices to invite audience responses, typically applause. This is followed by evaluation of political speech research set in other nations – both Eastern (Japan and South Korea) and Western (USA and European), English-speaking and non-English-speaking – investigating how the behaviour of speakers and audiences contrasts across cultures. Proposals include, that whereas speakers in Western nations predominantly use rhetorical devices to invite audience responses implicitly , their counterparts in East Asian nations are more inclined to use explicit invitations. Furthermore, whereas invited booing is a salient feature from observations of American and French political speeches, the same cannot be said of others, particularly Japan, where such behaviour is reportedly absent. Speech-making was once regarded as monologic, but studies reported herein show how political speeches can be considered dialogic, akin to how people in conversations take turns. However, it is shown here that behavioural specifics of this form of dialogue need to be understood in the context of culture. • Review of UK political speech research: speakers use rhetoric to invite applause. • Evaluation of comparable research set in other nations. • Includes Eastern (Japan/South Korea) and Western (European/USA). • How does the behaviour of speakers and audiences contrast across cultures? • Strong evidence for cultural differences in speaker rhetoric and audience responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the experiences of parents raising multicultural children in Japan by obtaining quantitative and qualitative data via an online questionnaire from 158 parents raising multicultural children in Japan. Our findings suggested that society, children, and parents influenced each other in an inextricable manner. While we found variables that differentiated the respondents’ experiences (e.g. children’s appearances, names, and personalities; and parents’ place of origin, language competence, gender, and attitudes), we also found common threads in their experiences (e.g. being “othered,” pressures to conform, language barriers, cultural differences, and benefits). Many wished for a more open and accepting society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to identify problems caused by cultural differences between Japan and China that face supply chain managers by applying Japanese-style supply management practices within supply networks in China and present solutions to this problem. Design/methodology/approach – A single, longitudinal case study conducting two waves of data collection (i.e. interviews and observation) plus the collection of much archival data was performed. It goes beyond the dyad by examining supply management of a Japanese company’s supply chain up to three tiers in China. Findings – The four supply cultural differences between Japan and China, which caused the cultural clashes between JVCo and some of its suppliers were revealed and a model of adaptation of Japanese supply management to the Chinese business system was developed. Adaptation involves creating new supply management practices out of selective adaptation, innovation and change of existing Japanese and Chinese supply management practices rooted in different Japanese, Chinese and Western cultures. A list of organisational factors affecting the adaptation has also been provided. Research limitations/implications – Due to the adoption of a single case study method, caution should be given to generalising the findings to all Japanese firms. Practical implications – The Japanese, Chinese and Western managers were provided with insights on how to mitigate the problems caused by cultural differences within supply relationships in China and some innovative ideas on how managers from all three cultures could blend the elements of the three cultures to form a hybrid culture and reduce cultural clashes. Originality/value – This is one of the few attempts to study the transfer of Japanese supply management practice to China. Organizational theory (i.e. transfer of organizational practice and hybridization) is applied and provides a robust framework to explain the supply management practice. This study also answers the call for a global supplier relationship management paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively evaluate which of the elements of five management practice constructs – management commitment, quality practice, team-based work, training, and sharing and understanding – can significantly lessen the adverse impact of cultural differences on efficient technology transfer. Design/methodology/approach – Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling multigroup analysis are used to analyze structured survey data from 223 Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in Vietnam. Findings – The following are the primary factors that moderate the adverse impact of cultural difference on efficient technology transfer: employees’ understanding of quality; top managements’ communication of clear goals and procedures for technology transfer; the nature of the collaborative teamwork and frequent communication about technical issues among Japanese experts and Vietnamese staff; sending of key Vietnamese technical staff to Japan for technological seminars and on-the-job training while providing them with the appropriate materials and guidelines. Practical implications – Although cultural diversity’s impact on technology transfer may never be problem-free, Japanese and Vietnamese managers should be aware of the effects of differing cultural values and use the appropriate interfaces to minimize cultural problems, maintain a cooperative environment, and transform cultural values into business value. Originality/value – Cross-cultural technology transfer research, from the knowledge-based perspective, has produced interesting findings but has not yet identified which managerial elements effectively reduce the adverse impact of cultural difference on efficient technology transfer. This study addresses that shortcoming through the organizational learning perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why is the Japanese rate of students with disability a fraction of that of the United States? Barring genetic differences between Americans and Japanese, the difference in disability rates must be what Durkheim called a “social fact,” a phenomenon explained by social differences between the two countries. In this paper we focus on the institutional and cultural factors that enter into the Japanese construction of disability of school-aged students. We argue that the lower incidence of disability in Japan is a result of Japan’s strong collectivist and paternalistic orientation and the requisite institutions promulgating those beliefs. The latter play a key role in the translation of general cultural dispositions into concrete policies and behavior on the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to explore the perception of culture held by conference and diplomatic interpreters in post-WWII Japan. Based on oral history research with five Japanese pioneers, interpreters’ perceptions about culture and cultural barriers in communication are studied and then compared with their role perceptions and their actual practice. Although the pioneering conference interpreters perceived their role as more or less invisible, showing little interest in the discussion of culture and cultural mediation, their narratives in life-story interviews demonstrate that they were essential participants in intercultural communication, bridging cultural barriers. Without being aware of their role as cultural mediators, the five interpreters were actively and autonomously involved in intercultural communication as indispensable co-participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes gendered social identity in Japan and the United States, countries with comparable postindustrial economic systems but distinct cultural traditions. Using national surveys (1995), we find gender differences in value orientations to be neither systematic nor consistent. They often disappeared after controlling for demographic and human-capital variables, though not so often for Japan. Other variables proved more important predictors of values than gender, although in different ways in Japan and the United States. We conclude by reassessing the use of the term gender in social research and the cultural meaning of gender relations by addressing the feminist concerns with issues of gender location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This study aims to examine the cross-cultural differences in equity sensitivity between the USA and Japan. Design/methodology/approach - A sample of 390 Americans and 202 Japanese were surveyed to determine their equity sensitivities and how each group would likely respond to under-payment scenarios. Findings - The findings support the notion that the Japanese are in fact more entitled in their equity orientation than Americans. Furthermore, the Japanese were also significantly more likely to respond with overt actions to reduce their feelings of inequity. Research limitations/implications - Foremost among these limitations is the fact that the situation presented to the subjects was hypothetical rather than real. Since it would be considered unethical to manipulate subjects in real work settings a first person scenario approach was utilized consistent with other equity theory literature. While the scenario was easily identifiable by the student subjects, it is unknown if the findings from this research would apply to adults working in real world organizations. Practical implications - The results may have important implications for international human resource strategies and practices. Equity sensitivity may affect perceived value of rewards (compensation), promotion (selection), and motivation (performance management) all of which are critical issues in the effective management of human resources. This study illustrates that cross-cultural differences exist in regard to equity sensitivity and these differences may affect the efficacy of human resource strategies in global organizations. Originality/value - This paper offers a significant contribution to the literature on equity sensitivity by testing the theory in a cross-cultural setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of saccadic eye movements and emotions on real and animated faces to enhance a detailed perception of facial information. Considering the cross-cultural differences in facial features, animated faces also influence visual preferences due to their unique visual appeal. Since there are differences in facial features across cultures, animated faces can also impact visual preferences due to their unique visual appeal. This study involved 60 participants and utilized four stimulus conditions, including real and animated faces from America and Japan. A five-point Likert scale was employed to measure participants' subjective emotional pleasure and arousal levels, while eye-tracking equipment was used to analyze participants' saccadic eye movements. The results revealed that, in comparison to Japanese real faces (JT), American real faces (AT) exhibited significantly greater average saccadic distances (AT: 113.03 ± 46.26, JT: 110.78 ± 45.55, p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the average saccadic distance between Japanese and American animated faces (109.88 ± 45.73 and 110.85 ± 45.31, respectively). Additionally, evaluating the mediating role of pleasure and arousal levels among these facial stimuli did not impact saccadic behavior. Our observations suggest that cultural factors wield a pronounced impact on saccadic behavior within real-life scenarios. However, these cultural nuances appear to attenuate in virtual and abstract animated environments. This study's findings shed new light on the dynamic relationship between saccadic eye movements, emotions, and cultural dimensions, unraveling complexities in facial perception across diverse cultural landscapes. The implications of our research extend to animation, serving as a catalyst for further exploration in this burgeoning field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the widening trade gap between Japan and the U.S.A. and the increasing numbers of missions visiting Japan aimed at a better understanding of the Japanese market and Japanese business, topics such as 'Just in Time' and TQC have received the most prominence, along with discussions of Japanese-style management and labor relations. The weakness of most discussions has been their inability to set these into the context of the highly complex Japanese value-system that runs through both business and society. Once understood, it becomes apparent that there is a system of values and value-related strategies at work that have a re-inforcing effect in the directions of co-operation and efficiency. The paper will identify a number of these and indicate their areas of influence. Four are discussed: (1) the formation of corporate philosophy (2) management philosophy (3) corporate work ethic (4) supplier/customer relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of mobile Internet users has been growing rapidly worldwide. Access to the Internet via mobile cellular networks has also grown rapidly. The effects of different culture of mobile Internet would be interesting to be investigated. The research objective is to investigate the usage pattern differences of mobile Internet users in Indonesia and Japan and to interpret them within the framework of a value structure. The data collection technique used in this study was the survey method. The same questionnaire written in mother language of each country was given to respondents in Japan and Indonesia directly. The result shows that value structures (functional value, emotional value, social value, and monetary value) simultaneously affect the satisfaction of mobile Internet usage of Indonesian respondents, which affect the satisfaction of Japanese respondents. Social value did not significantly affect the satisfaction of mobile Internet usage of Japanese respondents. The implications of cross-cultural differences of mobile Internet will be discussed in this paper. This paper will be ended with discussion, conclusion with practical implications and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate sensory hypersensitivity among university students. A 27-item questionnaire contained statements of modality-specific sensitivity (visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile). A total of 65 Japanese undergraduate students and 31 Chinese master's students majoring in design were enrolled in the study. The results showed that (i) Design major students in the two countries reported a similar tendency of modality-specific sensitivity, and they all mostly involved visual hypersensitivity. (ii) Chinese students reported sensory hypersensitivity problems more frequently than Japanese students in all five domains. (iii) More Chinese students preferred coping with the sensory hypersensitivity by avoidance than Japanese students, whereas more Japanese students preferred coping with it by bearing. Our study suggests that the prevalence of and coping strategies for sensory hypersensitivity differs between the countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the role of art in facilitating intercultural communication through a project in which undergraduate students from the United States and Japan co-created a digital collage of shared living spaces. Through the creation of personal dioramas and a collaborative collage, students shared personal stories and objects that were meaningful to their identity formation. Our research found that incorporating personal memories and cultural objects into art-making was an effective way of evoking a sense of insideness with a place and bridging cultural differences. The collage was a learning space where students negotiated differences and worked together to create a more inclusive place through vicarious insideness. This study highlights the potential for using art to facilitate intercultural communication and engage a sense of insideness in unfamiliar places among individuals from different cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies aimed to examine cultural differences in social support provision, with or without solicitation, in Japan and the United States (US). In Study 1, we replicated a previous study with Japanese university students. We found that the Japanese participants did not provide social support when it was not solicited, as compared with when it was solicited. Furthermore, in Study 2, participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding a hypothetical stressful situation experienced by a close other and to indicate their willingness to provide support. We confirmed our hypothesis that Japanese participants hesitate to provide unsolicited support to close others (such as family members or close friends), even when they recognize that the close others are in need, whereas the American participants do not hesitate to provide such support. Contrastingly, regarding solicited support, the Japanese and Americans were equally ready to provide support, as hypothesized. The cultural difference in social support resides in the provision of unsolicited support. These results suggest that differences in culturally appropriate responses to needy people are responsible for the difference in the provision of unsolicited vs. solicited social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: How does algorithmic information processing affect the thoughts and behavior of artificial intelligence (AI) users? In this study, the authors address this question by focusing on algorithm-based chatbots and examine the influence of culture on algorithms as a form of digital intermediation. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a study comparing the United States (US) and Japan to examine how users in the two countries perceive the features of chatbot services and how the perceived features affect user trust and emotion. Findings: Clear differences emerged after comparing algorithmic information processes involved in using and interacting with chatbots. Major attitudes toward chatbots are similar between the two cultures, although the weights placed on qualities differ. Japanese users put more weight on the functional qualities of chatbots, and US users place greater emphasis on non-functional qualities of algorithms in chatbots. US users appear more likely to anthropomorphize and accept explanations of algorithmic features than Japanese users. Research limitations/implications: Different patterns of chatbot news adoption reveal that the acceptance of chatbots involves a cultural dimension as the algorithms reflect the values and interests of their constituencies. How users perceive chatbots and how they consume and interact with the chatbots depends on the cultural context in which the experience is situated. Originality/value: A comparative juxtaposition of cultural-algorithmic interactions offers a useful way to examine how cultural values influence user behaviors and identify factors that influence attitude and user acceptance. Results imply that chatbots can be a cultural artifact, and chatbot journalism (CJ) can be a socially contextualized practice that is driven by the user's input and behavior, which are reflections of cultural values and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesson study developed organically in Japan over a period of 140 years, whereas in Indonesia, lesson study was introduced as a top-down initiative. This research explores beyond general cultural differences by illustrating how the daily concerns of teachers and their social interactions differ in Japan and in the case of an Indonesian school, the situation in the latter influencing how the Indonesian teachers engage in lesson study. This paper demonstrates through this comparison of contexts in two countries, how the approaches to teaching and professional development are influenced by sociocultural factors that are embedded in the teachers' lives, which are often beyond the scope of professional development programs. The differences in responsibilities of teachers, the nature of collegiality, and the pedagogic strategies of mathematics teachers are discussed in order to illustrate the engagement and challenges of lesson study in an Indonesian school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American and Japanese laws, customs, and practices in end-of-life decision-making differ significantly. We present a case with which one of the authors was involved to illustrate some of the key legal and cultural differences in the declaration of brain death, limiting and withdrawing life-prolonging interventions, and healthcare ethics consultation practices. The analysis presented facilitates understanding of similarities and differences between Japanese and American healthcare ethics specifically in regards to end-of-life care. Further, the analysis provides insights that can aid in developing policies and practices in regions where multiple cultures coexist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of scientist Edward Divers' various career experiences at the Royal College of Chemistry (RCC) in London, England, Queen's College Galway (QCG) in Ireland, and as a chemistry teacher at colleges in Tokyo, Japan on his career as a whole. The author argues that Galway's career and pedagogical ideas were strongly influenced by his time in Ireland and Japan, and highlights Galway as a case study of cross-national history of science education.

Abstract: Despite its strong impact in domestic settings on job performance, organizational commitment, stress, and turnover intentions, job satisfaction has received little attention in the literature on expatriates. This paper analyzes the predictors of job satisfaction that may arise in an expatriate context. Drawing on the cultural distance perspective, we propose that the national cultural distance, supervisor''s nationality, host-country language proficiency, expatriate type, and company nationality are important determinants of expatriate job satisfaction. Survey results from 148 expatriates in Japan demonstrate that national cultural distance, supervisor''s nationality, and expatriate type have a statistically significant influence on expatriate job satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications are provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

At the strategic level, international differences have proved important, especially during international collaborations. Since Dore's classic "British Factory: Japanese Factory," comparative values, behavior, and institutional settings have been extensively investigated, though attention has only recently switched to emerging markets such as that of Russia, which was not covered by Hofstede's comparative values study. Harvard's matched comparison of Soviet and U.S. decision making by Lawrence and Vlachoutsicos (around 1988) provided a classic study portraying behavioral differences just prior to transition. Coincidentally, my matched comparisons between the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and Japan involved the same U.S. company investigated by Harvard, aiding comparisons in all five countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human judgment of wrongdoing underlies all social control processes. Substantively, we argue that a universal model of how humans make such judgments must allow for assessing both deeds of the actor being judged and role-related social obligations governing what the actor should have done. Structurally, such a model can incorporate cross-cultural differences in terms of differential weights placed on these factors. The model was tested in sample surveys of Yokohama and Kanazawa, Japan, using responses to experimentally varied hypothetical vignettes. It was predicted that the Japanese would replicate previous findings for American respondents (in Detroit), but would at the same time differ significantly in their weighting of deed-related versus role-related variations in vignettes as determinants of an actor's responsibility. The bulk of results originally obtained in Detroit were in fact replicated in both Yokohama and Kanazawa. Predicted cultural differences were also confirmed in comparisons of each Japanese survey with the prior American one; Japanese placed greater emphasis on an actor's role position and an act's social context, relative to an American emphasis on aspects of an actor's deed per se. Further practical implications of these cultural differences for our legal system are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ranked first and second in size, the highly competitive national markets for life insurance in the United States and Japan have both experienced periods of serious ethical misconduct in the marketing and management of insurance products, resulting in an erosion of public trust in the industry. A comparison of the findings of surveys of leading U.S. and Japanese sales professionals revealed differences in the extent to which 21 common ethical issues presented difficulties in the two life insurance markets. These differences can be attributed, at least in part, to the influence of markedly differing cultures on business conduct in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses the theoretical frameworks of institutional theory and comparative capitalism to demonstrate how cross‐cultural differences in national institutional frameworks are related to differences in the meaning and the nature of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and, as a result, how they create different incentives and opportunities for companies to engage in stakeholder management activities. More specifically, we draw upon the framework of "explicit" and "implicit" CSRs to investigate whether and how stakeholder management practices and programs differ between the United States and Japan. We first develop and validate a Stakeholder Engagement Activities (SEAs) scale, designed assess differences in the approach (explicit or implicit) that companies use to address a variety of common SEAs. Then we analyze data and present the results of surveys collected from 227 companies in the United States and Japan. We find that although the SEAs of American companies are characterized by strong "explicit CSR," in contrast, the SEAs of Japanese companies exhibit strong "implicit CSR." In the discussion that follows, we attribute these distinctions in the SEAs to differences in the configuration of political, economic, and market mechanisms in each country. The findings of this study contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the differences in prevailing CSR practices of American and Japanese companies than noted by previous researchers. From a practitioner's perspective, the findings of this study reveal that despite the global nature of CSR, stakeholder management practices are both interpreted and operationalized differently due to differences in national institutional frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although evidence points to the existence of cultural differences in creativity, the mechanisms that underlie these differences are largely unknown. The twofold model of creativity posits two recursive stages: a generation phase and an evaluation phase. Considering that recent studies suggest that the left inferior frontal gyrus) L-IFG(may inhibit creativity during the evaluation phase, we hypothesized that manipulating IFG activity would affect participants' level of creativity. We further predicted that the IFG may be "hyperactive" in a culture that typically discourages uniqueness (e.g., Japan) as compared to a Western culture (e.g., Israel); therefore the effect of inhibiting the L-IFG was expected to be higher in Japanese. To support this hypothesis we altered L-IFG activation using tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) in 30 Japanese and 30 Israeli participants and examined the effect of anodal and cathodal stimulation on divergent thinking (DT). Regardless of culture, cathodal stimulation increased creativity compared to sham, while anodal stimulation diminished creativity. Although cultural differences were found in DT scores, stimulation had no differential effect between the cultures. Taken together, the results confirm that the L-IFG plays a key role in creativity across cultures. The null findings regarding the expected interaction between stimulation and culture are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance to cross-cultural consumer research of an encompassing yet intricate approach to evaluating the role of culture has been broadly recognized. This article charts a procedure for operationalizing the descriptive term "cultural categories" for this purpose. By analyzing the acceptance, use, and meaning-attachment patterns of selected goods or services In a given environment, culture-exclusive (and nonexclusive) categories can be discerned and labeled. Explanation and illustration of this approach are drawn from a field investigation conducted in western Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is Japanese-style management, which is probably best described as a participative management style, anything more than the participative management techniques already well described in the U.S. management literature? Hall and Leidecker explore this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural differences between Japanese and American managers are frequently cited as a major cause of problems in Japanese-American joint ventures. Further clarification of this widespread belief is obtained by focusing upon the epistemological foundation of each culture. Problems are discussed which affect selection of partners, negotiation of contract, and daily operation of the venture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-style research is well accepted in the United States as a useful component of the advertising research inventory. Japanese advertising researchers have come to an opposite conclusion; that is, that life-style research is inherently less useful in Japan than in the United States because of the homogeneous population of Japan and the explanatory power of age and sex demographic variables. This article explores the Japanese conclusion. Two life-style studies, one conducted in Japan and one conducted in the U.S., are compared. The comparison reveals that age is related to a traditional orientation among Japanese women, that there are greater life-style differences across age classes in Japan than in the U.S., and that there are interesting differences between the two cultures. These findings are consistent with the argument that demographic variables such as age are effective at explaining life-style differences in Japan. However, it is noted that the explanatory power of the age variable will probably decline over time and perhaps as a result life-style research will become more useful than it now appears to be in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Purpose Process Curriculum Framework (PPCF) for physical education. Cross-cultural differences in the purpose and meaning of physical activity are examined. The study examined the results of questionnaires completed by physical education teachers in the United States, England, and Japan. Similarities in purposes for physical activity were found between cultures, including physical, mental, social, and emotional benefits. Differences in responses between cultures are discussed.

There is a striking disjunction between the views of many academics who believe the quality movement has sunk without a trace and practitioners who believe that they basically mastered the secrets of quality improvement. This article traces the path by which large American manufacturing firms came to terms with the Japanese quality challenge of the early 1980s. It explores both the barriers that delayed effective responses as well as the nature of the emergent infrastructure that eventually facilitated sustained quality improvement. The legacy of the quality movement is more than its detractors allow but less than its zealots proclaimed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging Japanese commercial aircraft industry has recently attracted considerable attention. This article assesses the development of the Japanese aircraft industry during the postwar era, comparing industrial development and government policy in the Japanese aircraft industry with that of the postwar U.S. commercial aircraft industry. The current reliance by the Japanese industry on collaboration with U.S. and European firms in the development and manufacture of aircraft and engines distinguishes this industry from previous Japanese export industries and raises some broader conceptual issues as well. While the Japanese commercial aircraft industry will continue to grow in the coming decades, it is unlikely to represent a major competitive threat to the supremacy of American and European prime subcontractors in airframes and engines. However, the position of subcontractors and producers of components for aircraft and engines in America and Europe is likely to be less secure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a common error to try to translate the concepts and basis for the Japanese government-business relationship into English-speaking terms and Anglo-American institutions. This article analyzes the unique history and functions of the Japanese institutions of government and business and examines the ways in which their interrelationship has been critical to Japan's remarkable economic achievements in the past thirty years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan has derived a reputation as a market that is extremely difficult to enter. However, this belief tends to promote neglect of the study other factors--important among which is that of the competitive styles of Japanese companies. An issue that is particularly germane is that of product strategy. This article reports on research that was performed among a sample of foreign consumer products' companies in Japan. The article explores the theme that effective product strategy in Japan requires cultural sensitivity, as well as an ability to cope with the aggressive, technical led approaches of Japanese companies that comprise the competitive set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]