My Experience Living and Working in Japan

I work for a Manila-based subsidiary of a company headquartered in Japan. Temporarily, I’m assigned to work in Japan for a year or so.

My mission is to introduce techniques and work on initiatives to strengthen multi-lateral, cross-cultural management, including the promotion of semi-integration of operations; and broaden my perspective on the interplay of culture and business, and identify levers which can be used to improve management and key relationships.

I have been in Japan for 14 months now. Over this period, I have also flown to Manila several times as I continue to have my role there. As of writing, I’m still in Tokyo awaiting my flight back to Manila.

Living

The company has arranged a fairly modest yet comfortable living setup for me. My apartment is close to two train stations, a commercial area, and an Olympic park — all within ten minutes away by foot. Commuting to work takes only 40 minutes and that already includes walking to and from the station. I’m being provided enough per diem that allows me to regularly eat out and cover other non-essential expenses. From time to time, I cook my own food to better manage my expenses.

Comparing with Manila, scheduling activities is easier because of the predictable transportation time table. With transportation the least of my worries, I can generate more value per unit of time. Running generally is also safer — routes are devoid of obstructions, there aren’t stray dogs, and priority is given to pedestrians. There are people running even past midnight as roads and sidewalks are mostly well lit.

Unlike the Philippines that only has wet and dry seasons, Japan has four — spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Summer in Tokyo feels more humid and uncomfortable than Manila’s. I would always bring extra shirt because commuting to work ends me up all sweaty — there are no tricycles nor pedicabs that can save me from the heat. Winter is the season I like the least. Wearing layers of clothes is too tasking, and the cold would make me want to just hibernate. Spring and autumn are the best. The colors bring me so much joy.

I haven’t really gone around. My routine was built around just going to the office and staying at home. Aside from a few cities in Tokyo, I have only been to Kanagawa where we had a team building activity. Japan, for me, is more of a workplace than a place to go sightseeing. Probably, my frequent business trips have something to do with this association; plus, I’m a boring person. Anyway, five years ago, when I first visited Tokyo, I have already been to most of the landmarks and other touristy places.

I would usually spend my weekend training. Training days led me to some interesting sights and experiences. I rode my bicycle along the Tamagawa river, passing through a tunnel all the way to the Haneda airport. I would often turn around the Imperial Palace for my long runs, coming from Meguro with the Tokyo Tower as my halfway point. Pool days are also fun, though I was once whistled at for swimming too slow. With facilities accessible and some serious discipline (and healthy food), no wonder Japanese people excel at sports.

On Sundays, I would sometimes go to church. It is where I seek refuge when I feel lonely. The atmosphere feels like home. In attendance are lots of Filipinos living and working in Japan; sometimes, the priest is also a Filipino.

Living in Japan has been very convenient and pleasurable experience for me. Basic necessities are well satisfied, and the only thing that I need to think about is how to make the most out of my time. But, like all other societies, there exists inequalities and other issues incongruent to the perfection outsiders, like me, used to believe and see.

Foreign residents are required to carry their IDs all the time. I bring mine wherever I go even when jogging or just going to convenience store few hundred meters away from my place. I would rush back home as soon as I realize that I forgot to bring it. There was one time when two policemen came knocking at my door wanting to check if I have proper documentation. The experience left a mark on me. Regardless of my status, I will always be a stranger only needed to fill in a specific role.

Working

About the team

I belong to a team of four. The team is a core team that is mandated to ensure alignment between autonomous business units, and guarantee adequate and cost-efficient service delivery. A mandate that glues the entire value chain, invisible yet integral, and often overlooked. All of my three teammates had spent time in the US and can converse well in English and can understand western cultural inferences. Communicating with them isn’t a problem.

We work almost independently from each other, aside from regular meetings and momentary coordinations. Each has a special task to work on. During meetings, everyone would strive to use English. Everyone is free to share ideas, thoughts, and opinion. Whenever we have opposing views, we would still arrive at a conclusion — though it may take some time.

Other than work, we didn’t have that much personal interaction. We only went out a handful of times. Work schedules are crammed and most tend to leave the office late and, therefore, it takes a lot to schedule lunch or dinner outs. To say the least, they never let me feel let out.

About my bosses

I have two bosses to whom I report directly. Both are supportive pushing me to become a better manager and a future leader in our company, and are also generous enough to share their experiences with me.

The first one is my boss in the Philippines, who also happens to be a key officer in Japan. He believes that there are things about our business that I would best learn if I’m in Japan — his primary motivation for pursuing my secondment. We would often discuss how the Japanese and Filipino business practices compare, and the role of culture and geopolitics in managing a business. A lot of time is also spent on thinking about how to improve the relationship and alignment between our offices. The breadth and uniqueness of his scope and influence makes him my preferred source of information and support.

The second one is the head of the department that sponsored my stay. He previously managed teams — even an entire company — in South East Asia, particularly in Vietnam and the Philippines. We would often compare and contrast the company’s way vis-a-vis to global practices. During our daily meetings, honesty and transparency are evident, deep diving on certain issues. He showed me how to be more accepting and wise when dealing with uncertainties.

Not everyone in the company is privileged to have the kind of interaction and influence that I have with my bosses. I am able to freely express myself, share my opinion, and discuss my ideas. It is okay to ask questions. We wouldn’t always agree, but I never felt that I needed to step back proving my point. During discussions, ideas bore merit than position. Both were generous in sharing information, helping me to have a long view of our company operations.

About my tasks

Since I still maintain my role in Manila, I have to manage them remotely, relying heavily to my most senior members. Most of the time, they have to adjust greatly to my schedule and priorities. My ties with other the leaders in Manila also help me breeze through my tasks. Their cooperation and support means a lot.

In Japan, notwithstanding my official role, I performed more like an independent contributor. I prepare and share analyses, propose solutions, and manage discussions. There were also a handful of times that I had to liaise cross-border transactions, mediate on conflict, and negotiate on behalf of Manila. Meetings with my bosses were mainly for discussing ideas and problem solving. Some felt like a job interview. I have to always be on my toes, especially when it comes to data and information about our Manila operations — even those well beyond my scope.

My tasks are pretty manageable, almost never requiring me to work for long hours. On most days, I would clock out after logging eight hours of work — but, this, of course, excludes the time I spend outside official work hours.

About the work environment

Preserving harmony and maintaining the group intact is a priority. Despite differences in opinion and some arguably ostensible relationships, they got each other’s back. Those having difficulty with tasks will be given utmost attention and support, or otherwise, will be assigned another task that may be more fitting. Even everyone appears to be busy, one wouldn’t mind providing assistance.

The presence of a language barrier cannot be denied, but having already gained the patience made it less of a problem for me. A lot of employees, if not all, can understand English. But cross-border transactions, more often than not, are coursed through those who can confidently express themselves in English — regardless of the relevance of their expertise on the matter at had — serving as a lifeline to prevent things from getting lost in translation.

Work is less structured than what I’m used to. There isn’t much formalities setup that limits or guides the scope and performance of work. Similarly, the approach to managing projects is loose with the uncertain assignment of responsibility and accountability. Work can get fluid as it gets — something, I believe, is rooted from the company’s entrepreneurial past. Nonetheless, the job still gets done.

Some Final Thoughts

Working and living abroad is not like what most people think. Beyond the opportunity are trade-offs and sacrifices. You have to risk the security and familiarity of home. It can get very lonely when you are sick. Being part of the minority can undermine self-respect, let alone be treated like a second class citizen. You have no choice but to endure all these on your own, all for an opportunity that if only present at home you wouldn’t choose to leave. Working and living abroad requires courage, strength, and self-esteem.

Despite the challenges, my stay has been quite a learning experience, an eye opener. It helped me appreciate the richness of my own culture. I gained a new perspective of the world and the complexities man imposes upon it. Having to endure alone the onset of the pandemic also gave me time to reflect and know more about myself. The grass may always be greener on the other side, but — still — there is no place like home.

Call to action

We, Filipinos, should believe ourselves more. It has always been a high time for us to get rid of the remnants of our colonial past — having our capabilities defined by others who see us less, appreciating more those of others’ than our own, and relying on faith and hope without action.

We can do more — more than what we are told only capable of doing. However, to do that, we must first learn to recognize our own capabilities, work on our strengths, and embrace our uniqueness. No one can do it for us. At the end of the day, the Philippines is our home. It is for us to build, love, and protect.