[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"siteSettings":3,"post-l03-reflective-post-work-in-japan-and-germany":24},{"data":4,"sourceMap":-1},{"headerPages":5,"settings":9},[6],{"slug":7,"title":8},"about","About",{"contactEmail":10,"faviconUrl":11,"heroDescription":12,"heroImage":13,"heroTitle":18,"ogImageUrl":19,"seoDescription":20,"seoTitle":21,"siteAuthor":22,"siteName":21,"socialLinks":23},"matsushita_sei@kindai.ac.jp","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fzbxc2ul2\u002Fproduction\u002Fbd8e5c871dc32af558af4cdabe8efda12a8066c1-32x32.png","Share your stories, thoughts, and insights while studying at Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.",{"_type":14,"asset":15},"image",{"_ref":16,"_type":17},"image-e5476b326a4484e8c912f842b742f8be4de00edf-2993x1995-jpg","reference","Go Global.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fzbxc2ul2\u002Fproduction\u002Fc032be9c0b341a63d784449e3db69c83fdb2b4c0-2848x1504.jpg","This is an English-language media platform run by students and staff at Kindai University in Osaka, Japan. Here, exchange students and local students share stories, reflections, and insights about campus life and their experiences in Japan.","Kindai Global Media","Global Education Center, Kindai University",null,{"data":25,"sourceMap":-1},{"_id":26,"author":27,"body":37,"group":52,"image":56,"imageUrl":59,"publishedAt":60,"title":61,"visibility":62},"246b91b6-adb3-42ae-bf82-b9f1760fc7af",{"avatar":28,"description":29,"fullName":32,"name":33,"slug":34},{"_type":14,"alt":29,"asset":30,"caption":29},"",{"_ref":31},"image-b55494ed4a235ceb4fa6ef1794c5c4599e4ce7db-676x650-png","Dilay Solmaz","Dilay",{"_type":35,"current":36},"slug","2697304002e-Dilay-Solmaz",[38,42],{"_key":39,"_type":40,"html":41},"27dcc446d8d2","htmlEmbed","\u003C!DOCTYPE html>\n\u003Chtml lang=\"en\">\n\u003Chead>\n    \u003Cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n    \u003Cmeta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\n    \u003Ctitle>Germany & Japan – Cultural Comparison\u003C\u002Ftitle>\n    \u003Cstyle>\n     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font-size: 25px;\n            font-weight: 600;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        p {\n            margin: 0 0 18px 0;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* INTRODUCTION *\u002F\n        .intro {\n            padding-bottom: 35px;\n            border-bottom: 1px solid #dedbd2;\n            position: relative;\n        }\n        .intro::after {\n            content: \"⌇\";\n            display: block;\n            text-align: center;\n            margin-top: 25px;\n            font-size: 18px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* COUNTRY COMPARISON *\u002F\n        .countries {\n            display: grid;\n            grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;\n            gap: 60px;\n            padding-bottom: 45px;\n            border-bottom: 1px solid #dedbd2;\n        }\n        .country h2 {\n            margin-bottom: 8px;\n        }\n        .country-score {\n            font-size: 19px;\n            font-weight: 600;\n            margin-bottom: 22px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        .country-score span {\n            font-weight: 400;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* COUNTRY NAME *\u002F\n        .country-name {\n            display: flex;\n            align-items: center;\n            gap: 10px;\n        }\n        .country-name span {\n            font-size: 25px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* SMALL DECORATION *\u002F\n        .country-name::after {\n            content: \"✦\";\n            font-size: 10px;\n            margin-left: 2px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* PERSONAL VIEW *\u002F\n        .my-view {\n            margin-top: 25px;\n            padding-left: 18px;\n            border-left: 3px solid #aaa69b;\n        }\n        .my-view strong {\n            font-weight: 600;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* COMPARISON *\u002F\n        .comparison {\n            padding-bottom: 45px;\n            border-bottom: 1px solid #dedbd2;\n        }\n        .key-takeaway {\n            margin-top: 28px;\n            padding: 18px 0;\n            border-top: 1px solid #cccccc;\n            border-bottom: 1px solid #cccccc;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        .key-takeaway strong {\n            font-weight: 600;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* REFERENCES *\u002F\n        .references {\n            font-size: 14px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        .references h2 {\n            font-size: 23px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        .reference {\n            margin-bottom: 18px;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        .reference em {\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* FOOTER *\u002F\n        footer {\n            text-align: center;\n            padding: 35px 20px;\n            background: #f7f5ef;\n            border-top: 1px solid #dedbd2;\n            color: #000000 !important;\n            font-size: 14px;\n        }\n        footer * {\n            color: #000000 !important;\n        }\n        \u002F* MOBILE *\u002F\n        @media (max-width: 700px) {\n            header {\n                padding: 55px 20px 40px;\n            }\n            header h1 {\n                font-size: 30px;\n            }\n            main {\n                padding: 40px 20px;\n            }\n            .countries {\n                grid-template-columns: 1fr;\n                gap: 45px;\n            }\n            header::before {\n                left: 10%;\n            }\n            header::after {\n                right: 10%;\n            }\n        }\n    \u003C\u002Fstyle>\n\u003C\u002Fhead>\n\u003Cbody>\n    \u003C!-- HEADER -->\n    \u003Cheader>\n        \u003Cdiv class=\"flags\">\n            🇩🇪   ×   🇯🇵\n        \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n        \u003Ch1>\n            Germany & Japan\n        \u003C\u002Fh1>\n        \u003Cp>\n            A Cultural Comparison · Lecture L03\n        \u003C\u002Fp>\n    \u003C\u002Fheader>\n    \u003C!-- CONTENT -->\n    \u003Cmain>\n        \u003C!-- INTRODUCTION -->\n        \u003Csection class=\"intro\">\n            \u003Ch2>\n                Introduction\n            \u003C\u002Fh2>\n            \u003Cp>\n                I decided to compare the last lecture (L03) on Japan and my home country,\n                Germany.\n            \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003Cp>\n                In this lecture, we discussed Hofstede’s concept of Power Distance,\n                which describes how much less powerful members of a society accept and\n                expect unequal power distribution (The Culture Factor, n.d.).\n            \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003Cp>\n                Across cultures and countries, power distance between organizations,\n                families, and other groups may differ (Westerman et al., 2007).\n            \u003C\u002Fp>\n        \u003C\u002Fsection>\n        \u003C!-- COUNTRIES -->\n        \u003Csection class=\"countries\">\n            \u003C!-- GERMANY -->\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"country\">\n                \u003Cdiv class=\"country-name\">\n                    \u003Cspan>🇩🇪\u003C\u002Fspan>\n                    \u003Ch2>\n                        Germany\n                    \u003C\u002Fh2>\n                \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n                \u003Cdiv class=\"country-score\">\n                    Power Distance Score: \u003Cspan>35\u003C\u002Fspan>\n                \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    Germany has a Power Distance score of 35, indicating lower\n                    hierarchies and flatter organizational structures. Individuals also\n                    tend to expect to be treated more fairly and more equally because\n                    Germany leans more towards individualism, which means that people are\n                    more focused on personal achievements, their own rights, and their\n                    personal opinions (Green Technologies GmbH, n.d.; The Culture Factor, n.d.).\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    You could say that Germany’s culture scores moderately on\n                    indulgence. There are a lot of rules that are followed, but\n                    innovation, new ideas, and opinions are also encouraged\n                    (The Culture Factor, n.d.).\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n                \u003Cdiv class=\"my-view\">\n                    \u003Cstrong>\n                        My view\n                    \u003C\u002Fstrong>\n                    \u003Cp>\n                        I think that Germany has a good balance between enjoyment and\n                        restraint since individual expression and self-fulfillment are\n                        valued, but within societal norms.\n                    \u003C\u002Fp>\n                \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003C!-- JAPAN -->\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"country\">\n                \u003Cdiv class=\"country-name\">\n                    \u003Cspan>🇯🇵\u003C\u002Fspan>\n                    \u003Ch2>\n                        Japan\n                    \u003C\u002Fh2>\n                \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n                \u003Cdiv class=\"country-score\">\n                    Power Distance Score: \u003Cspan>54\u003C\u002Fspan>\n                \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    Now let’s look at Japan, which scores 54 on the Power Distance\n                    Score (The Culture Factor, n.d.).\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    First of all, Japan has a higher score than Germany, which indicates\n                    that hierarchical structures and respect for authority are important\n                    aspects in Japanese society and culture (Sari, 2025; The Culture Factor, n.d.).\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    Other than Germany, Japan leans more towards collectivism, which\n                    describes group harmony and loyalty between group members, so\n                    relationships between individuals stand above personal interests\n                    (The Culture Factor, n.d.).\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    There is also a focus on self-control, modesty, and restraint.\n                    Social norms and maintaining harmony often take precedence over\n                    individual desires, particularly in Japanese social and working\n                    environments (Sari, 2025).\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n        \u003C\u002Fsection>\n        \u003C!-- COMPARISON -->\n        \u003Csection class=\"comparison\">\n            \u003Ch2>\n                Germany vs. Japan\n            \u003C\u002Fh2>\n            \u003Cp>\n                Overall, the comparison shows that Germany and Japan have different\n                cultural approaches to power distance, individualism, and social\n                behavior.\n            \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003Cp>\n                Germany tends to have flatter structures and places more emphasis on\n                individual opinions and personal freedom, while Japan places more\n                importance on hierarchy, group harmony, and social expectations\n                (The Culture Factor, n.d.; Sari, 2025).\n            \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003Cp>\n                These differences can also influence communication and relationships\n                in organizations. Understanding these cultural differences is important\n                when working with people from another country because behaviors that seem\n                normal in one culture may be understood differently in another\n                (Westerman et al., 2007).\n            \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"key-takeaway\">\n                \u003Cstrong>\n                    ✦ Key Takeaway\n                \u003C\u002Fstrong>\n                \u003Cp>\n                    Germany generally emphasizes individual opinions and flatter\n                    structures, while Japan places more importance on hierarchy,\n                    group harmony, and social expectations.\n                \u003C\u002Fp>\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n        \u003C\u002Fsection>\n        \u003C!-- REFERENCES -->\n        \u003Csection class=\"references\">\n            \u003Ch2>\n                References\n            \u003C\u002Fh2>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\n                Clearly Cultural. (n.d.).\n                \u003Cem>Power distance index.\u003C\u002Fem>\n                \u003Cbr>\n                https:\u002F\u002Fclearlycultural.com\u002Fgeert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions\u002Fpower-distance-index\u002F\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\n                Global Corporate Workplaces. (n.d.).\n                \u003Cem>Culture and values.\u003C\u002Fem>\n                ebrary.\n                \u003Cbr>\n                https:\u002F\u002Febrary.net\u002F85905\u002Feconomics\u002Fculture_values\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\n                Green Technologies GmbH. (n.d.).\n                \u003Cem>Hofstede’s five dimensions in Germany.\u003C\u002Fem>\n                \u003Cbr>\n                https:\u002F\u002Fgreentechnologiesgmbh.weebly.com\u002Fhofstedersquos-five-dimensions-in-germany.html\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\n                Sari, I. P. (2025).\n                Japanese work culture from Hofstede’s perspective:\n                An analysis of workers’ experiences through social media channels.\n                \u003Cem>Penelitian Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial, 2\u003C\u002Fem>(2), 146–160.\n                \u003Cbr>\n                https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.61511\u002Fpips.v2i02.2025.2270\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\n                The Culture Factor. (n.d.).\n                \u003Cem>Country comparison tool: Germany and Japan.\u003C\u002Fem>\n                \u003Cbr>\n                https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theculturefactor.com\u002Fcountry-comparison-tool?countries=germany%2Cjapan\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n            \u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\n                Westerman, J., Beekun, R. I., Stedham, Y., & Yamamura, J. H. (2007).\n                Peers versus national culture: An analysis of antecedents to ethical\n                decision-making.\n                \u003Cem>Journal of Business Ethics, 75\u003C\u002Fem>(3), 239–252.\n                \u003Cbr>\n                https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1007\u002Fs10551-006-9254-9\n            \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n        \u003C\u002Fsection>\n    \u003C\u002Fmain>\n    \u003C!-- FOOTER -->\n    \u003Cfooter>\n        🇩🇪 Germany × 🇯🇵 Japan\n        \u003Cbr>\n        Cultural Comparison · L03\n    \u003C\u002Ffooter>\n\u003C\u002Fbody>\n\u003C\u002Fhtml>",{"_key":43,"_type":44,"children":45,"markDefs":50,"style":51},"92f69b565d14","block",[46],{"_key":47,"_type":48,"marks":49,"text":29},"92f69b565d140","span",[],[],"normal",{"name":53,"slug":54},"Intercultural Dimensions & Understanding (Fall 2026)",{"_type":35,"current":55},"intercultural-dimensions-and-understanding-f2026",{"_type":14,"alt":29,"asset":57,"caption":29},{"_ref":58},"image-b0dd080d541cab2955fd09596a438851b1dabec8-588x441-jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fzbxc2ul2\u002Fproduction\u002Fb0dd080d541cab2955fd09596a438851b1dabec8-588x441.jpg","2026-10-05T11:06:32.925Z","Similarities and Differences of work in Japan and Germany","private"]