[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"siteSettings":3,"post-reflective-post,-work-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":33,"group":121,"image":23,"imageUrl":23,"publishedAt":125,"title":126,"visibility":127},"VEJxYI2s45cR9RBv4wAnQJ",{"avatar":23,"description":28,"fullName":28,"name":29,"slug":30},"","Philipp",{"_type":31,"current":32},"slug","2697303021e-y8cy",[34,45,53,57,65,73,81,88,96],{"_key":35,"_type":36,"children":37,"markDefs":43,"style":44},"20283fdf965d","block",[38],{"_key":39,"_type":40,"marks":41,"text":42},"20283fdf965d0","span",[],"Something that surprised me about the concept of power distance was the idea that it depends on the people bottom of the hierarchy. I think this is an interesting way of looking at the acceptance of unequal power in society. Especially when trying to measure this as a metric at any given point. However, I wonder if the focus on the disempowered is best when considering changes in this dynamic. People in positions of power have disproportionate influence on changes in society. Because of this I do not think you can ignore their view on what power distance should be.",[],"normal",{"_key":46,"_type":36,"children":47,"markDefs":52,"style":44},"c8760c90aa06",[48],{"_key":49,"_type":40,"marks":50,"text":51},"c8760c90aa060",[],"One example of this is the use of the less formal “du” instead of the formal use pronoun “sie” in the German language. The “Sie” implies more hierarchy. While I searched to find any good quantitative sources on this, I was not able to. So, the following are mostly my own impressions. “Du” has become increasingly popular even in workplaces. This shift is also encouraged by employers who want a flatter hierarchy in their workplace. While I am already in the process of making unsubstantiated claims: The “sie” is still more common white-collar workplaces while blue-collar workplaces have generally been more informal.",[],{"_key":54,"_type":14,"alt":28,"asset":55},"19b4ac31b057",{"_ref":56,"_type":17},"image-a69fd3c8e14caaf61147026027bb5a589e79af91-1040x426-png",{"_key":58,"_type":36,"children":59,"markDefs":64,"style":44},"b15d47bbd579",[60],{"_key":61,"_type":40,"marks":62,"text":63},"b15d47bbd5790",[],"(The Culture Factor Group 2026)",[],{"_key":66,"_type":36,"children":67,"markDefs":72,"style":44},"0eb1d4b1b513",[68],{"_key":69,"_type":40,"marks":70,"text":71},"0eb1d4b1b5130",[],"Comparing workplace hierarchy in Germany and Japan:",[],{"_key":74,"_type":36,"children":75,"markDefs":80,"style":44},"ca6e280e6956",[76],{"_key":77,"_type":40,"marks":78,"text":79},"ca6e280e69560",[],"The Hofstede metric suggests that Germany has less power distance than Japan. I generally agree with this. Especially with the content shown in class on Japanese work culture. German companies has much looser rules in their workplaces.",[],{"_key":82,"_type":36,"children":83,"markDefs":87,"style":44},"a2fd53d2181a",[84],{"_key":85,"_type":40,"marks":86,"text":28},"a2fd53d2181a0",[],[],{"_key":89,"_type":36,"children":90,"markDefs":95,"style":44},"5e523a85da9e",[91],{"_key":92,"_type":40,"marks":93,"text":94},"5e523a85da9e0",[],"Sources:",[],{"_key":97,"_type":36,"children":98,"markDefs":118,"style":44},"c79fc508559c",[99,103,108,112],{"_key":100,"_type":40,"marks":101,"text":102},"c79fc508559c0",[],"The Culture Factor Group. (2026, October 4). ",{"_key":104,"_type":40,"marks":105,"text":107},"c79fc508559c1",[106],"em","Country comparison tool",{"_key":109,"_type":40,"marks":110,"text":111},"c79fc508559c2",[],". The Culture Factor. ",{"_key":113,"_type":40,"marks":114,"text":117},"c79fc508559c3",[115,116],"2dab20f77347","underline","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theculturefactor.com\u002Fcountry-comparison-tool?countries=germany%2Cjapan",[119],{"_key":115,"_type":120,"href":117},"link",{"name":122,"slug":123},"Intercultural Dimensions & Understanding (Fall 2026)",{"_type":31,"current":124},"intercultural-dimensions-and-understanding-f2026","2026-10-05T12:54:59.519Z","Reflective Post, Work Japan and Germany","private"]