Featured Articles
What Is Your Individuality? True Faces of Japan's Ichigei (One-talent) Idols
It has been said that young Japanese people lack individuality. There is also criticism that Japan's uniform, entrance exam-oriented school education only produces stereotyped young people. Nevertheless, we now live in the age of the Internet where everybody can call attention to himself or herself using blogs, SNS and/or YouTube. If you want to draw attention to yourself, however, you should not do the same things that everyone else does. You have to be different from other people. A similar change is seen in the world of idol business. Until recently, idols might have been good enough if they were cute, were good singers or had a good figure. But now, they seem to need something extra. This article introduces two ichigei (one-talent) idols who are now the talk of the town.
Working with Japan
Making the Sale
By Patricia Pringle
High Context and Low Context
Cross-cultural researcher Edward Hall used the terms “high context” and “low context” to describe cultural differences between societies. In high context cultures, people need to take time to develop relationships and get to know one another before doing business. People prefer to get to know someone new on the basis of an introduction from someone they already know. Japan is an example of a high context culture. In low context cultures, business is conducted based on the merits of the proposition at hand rather than through relationships. People are comfortable meeting new people directly, as individuals. The US is an example of a relatively low context culture.
Products Of The Month
Move It
“Hakobunder,” an eco-friendly Cycle Trailer from Aichi Prefecture-based Belair Systems, features a gutterless joint (patent applied for) designed to attach to the seat post of most bicycles. The noise-free joint has been specially designed to guard against lateral tipping over.
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2010 August Contents
2010 August Contents
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CHILDCAREWhat are obstacles to taking paternity leave? Source: DENTSU INC. (Conducted among university students)
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