[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"siteSettings":3,"post-work-in-japan-and-germany---beren":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":34,"group":110,"image":23,"imageUrl":23,"publishedAt":114,"title":115,"visibility":116},"iZmE6w6BSMCojUl5KmQVeB",{"avatar":23,"description":28,"fullName":29,"name":30,"slug":31},"","Beren Yapici","Beren",{"_type":32,"current":33},"slug","2697303025t-6x0a",[35,46,54,62,70,78,87,95],{"_key":36,"_type":37,"children":38,"markDefs":44,"style":45},"2b2693c72d40","block",[39],{"_key":40,"_type":41,"marks":42,"text":43},"2b2693c72d400","span",[],"Before this lesson, I assumed that a hierarchical workplace simply meant a boss who gives orders. Hofstede's concept of power distance showed me that it is more nuanced. It describes how far less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally (Hofstede, 2014, as cited in Kindai University Global Education Center, 2025).",[],"normal",{"_key":47,"_type":37,"children":48,"markDefs":53,"style":45},"f3982d38c8e4",[49],{"_key":50,"_type":41,"marks":51,"text":52},"f3982d38c8e40",[],"According to the Country Comparison Tool, Germany scores 35 on power distance and Japan 54 (The Culture Factor Group, n.d.). Japan is therefore only borderline hierarchical, but the differences show in daily work life. In Germany, co-determination rights are extensive and management must take them into account. Meetings are direct and participatory, and control is disliked. In Japan, proposals must be confirmed at every layer up to top management, even though no single \"top boss\" simply decides (The Culture Factor Group, n.d.).",[],{"_key":55,"_type":37,"children":56,"markDefs":61,"style":45},"c4d64319dc60",[57],{"_key":58,"_type":41,"marks":59,"text":60},"c4d64319dc600",[],"My own survey answers reflect this. For Question 1, I chose 2, because children should listen to their parents but still feel that their opinion matters. For Questions 3 and 4, I chose 4, because work needs order, structure, and someone who takes responsibility. At first, this seemed to contradict Germany's low score. However, the tool states that German leadership is expected to demonstrate expertise and is best accepted when based on it (The Culture Factor Group, n.d.). So I do not want a boss who is simply above me, but one who is competent and accountable.",[],{"_key":63,"_type":37,"children":64,"markDefs":69,"style":45},"2b5d69d618b8",[65],{"_key":66,"_type":41,"marks":67,"text":68},"2b5d69d618b80",[],"Other dimensions help explain the contrast. Japan scores 92 on uncertainty avoidance (Germany 65), 95 on motivation towards achievement and success (Germany 66), and 100 on long-term orientation (Germany 57) (The Culture Factor Group, n.d.). This fits the lesson's ILO data: about 21% of employees in Japan work 49+ hours per week, compared to about 10% in Germany (Kindai University Global Education Center, 2025).",[],{"_key":71,"_type":37,"children":72,"markDefs":77,"style":45},"8293d8d4a375",[73],{"_key":74,"_type":41,"marks":75,"text":76},"8293d8d4a3750",[],"In conclusion, both cultures value structure, but Germany builds it on expertise and participation, while Japan builds it on consensus and a strong work ethic. As an exchange student, I am learning to see these differences as different solutions to the same problem, not as right or wrong.",[],{"_key":79,"_type":37,"children":80,"markDefs":86,"style":45},"f64def670353",[81],{"_key":82,"_type":41,"marks":83,"text":85},"f64def6703530",[84],"em","References",[],{"_key":88,"_type":37,"children":89,"markDefs":94,"style":45},"55951798d227",[90],{"_key":91,"_type":41,"marks":92,"text":93},"55951798d2270",[],"Kindai University Global Education Center. (2025). Intercultural communication and understanding: Lesson #02, Hofstede model 1\u002F6 (Power distance) [Lecture slides]. Kindai University.",[],{"_key":96,"_type":37,"children":97,"markDefs":107,"style":45},"56860ad4e6f9",[98,102],{"_key":99,"_type":41,"marks":100,"text":101},"56860ad4e6f90",[],"The Culture Factor Group. (n.d.). Country comparison tool: Germany and Japan. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from ",{"_key":103,"_type":41,"marks":104,"text":106},"56860ad4e6f91",[105],"1e1a16cddad6","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theculturefactor.com\u002Fcountry-comparison-tool",[108],{"_key":105,"_type":109,"href":106},"link",{"name":111,"slug":112},"Intercultural Dimensions & Understanding (Fall 2026)",{"_type":32,"current":113},"intercultural-dimensions-and-understanding-f2026","2026-10-05T09:41:52.321Z","Work in Japan and Germany - Beren","private"]