[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"siteSettings":3,"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":36,"group":52,"image":23,"imageUrl":23,"publishedAt":56,"title":57,"visibility":58},"VEJxYI2s45cR9RBv4w265a",{"avatar":28,"description":29,"fullName":32,"name":32,"slug":33},{"_type":14,"alt":29,"asset":30,"caption":29},"",{"_ref":31},"image-bf8a154b0fae7c0aa63763c95789eb067c87a3e5-4284x5712-jpg","Yousef Farid",{"_type":34,"current":35},"slug","2697303024g-v3sm",[37,41],{"_key":38,"_type":39,"html":40},"e56021863df0","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\n\u003Ctitle>Intercultural Dimensions and Understanding\u003C\u002Ftitle>\n\n\u003Cstyle>\n\n* {\n    box-sizing: 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margin: 0 0 10px 0;\n    color: #000000;\n    font-size: 34px;\n    line-height: 1.25;\n    font-weight: 700;\n}\n\n.subtitle {\n    color: #333333;\n    font-size: 17px;\n}\n\n\u002F* COUNTRY SECTION *\u002F\n\n.comparison {\n    display: flex;\n    justify-content: center;\n    align-items: center;\n    gap: 35px;\n    padding: 20px 0;\n    margin-bottom: 40px;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #aaaaaa;\n}\n\n.country {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    gap: 10px;\n    color: #111111;\n    font-size: 17px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n}\n\n.country span {\n    font-size: 29px;\n}\n\n.vs {\n    color: #444444;\n    font-size: 12px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    letter-spacing: 3px;\n}\n\n\u002F* TEXT *\u002F\n\narticle {\n    color: #111111;\n    font-size: 16px;\n}\n\narticle p {\n    color: #111111;\n    margin-top: 0;\n    margin-bottom: 26px;\n}\n\narticle p:first-of-type::first-letter {\n    float: left;\n    font-size: 50px;\n    line-height: 40px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    padding-right: 7px;\n    color: #000000;\n}\n\n\u002F* POWER DISTANCE BOX *\u002F\n\n.concept {\n    background: #e3e3e0;\n    border-left: 5px solid #111111;\n    padding: 24px 28px;\n    margin: 35px 0;\n    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px #c7c7c4;\n}\n\n.concept-title {\n    color: #000000;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    letter-spacing: 2px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    margin-bottom: 10px;\n}\n\n.concept p {\n    color: #111111;\n    margin-bottom: 0;\n}\n\n\u002F* SCORES *\u002F\n\n.scores {\n    margin: 35px 0;\n    padding: 25px 0;\n    border-top: 1px solid #999999;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #999999;\n}\n\n.score-title {\n    color: #222222;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    letter-spacing: 2px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    margin-bottom: 18px;\n}\n\n.score-row {\n    display: grid;\n    grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;\n    gap: 30px;\n}\n\n.score {\n    display: flex;\n    justify-content: space-between;\n    align-items: center;\n    padding: 13px 0;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #d0d0d0;\n    color: #111111;\n}\n\n.score-country {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    gap: 9px;\n    color: #111111;\n    font-weight: bold;\n}\n\n.score-country span {\n    font-size: 23px;\n}\n\n.number {\n    color: #000000;\n    font-size: 25px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n}\n\n\u002F* REFLECTION *\u002F\n\n.reflection {\n    margin-top: 45px;\n    padding-top: 30px;\n    border-top: 2px solid #222222;\n}\n\n.reflection-title {\n    color: #222222;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    letter-spacing: 2px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    margin-bottom: 12px;\n}\n\n.final-thought {\n    color: #000000;\n    font-size: 20px;\n    line-height: 1.6;\n    font-weight: bold;\n}\n\n\u002F* REFERENCES *\u002F\n\n.references {\n    margin-top: 65px;\n    padding-top: 35px;\n    border-top: 2px solid #222222;\n}\n\n.references h2 {\n    margin: 0 0 30px 0;\n    color: #000000;\n    font-size: 25px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n}\n\n.reference {\n    color: #111111;\n    font-size: 14px;\n    line-height: 1.7;\n    margin-bottom: 22px;\n    padding-left: 35px;\n    text-indent: -35px;\n    overflow-wrap: anywhere;\n}\n\n.reference i {\n    color: #111111;\n}\n\n\u002F* FOOTER *\u002F\n\nfooter {\n    margin-top: 55px;\n    padding-top: 20px;\n    border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa;\n    display: flex;\n    justify-content: space-between;\n    align-items: center;\n    color: #333333;\n    font-size: 12px;\n}\n\nfooter .flags {\n    font-size: 19px;\n}\n\n\u002F* MOBILE *\u002F\n\n@media (max-width: 700px) {\n\n    body {\n        padding: 0;\n        background: #ffffff;\n    }\n\n    .page {\n        padding: 35px 25px;\n        box-shadow: none;\n    }\n\n    h1 {\n        font-size: 27px;\n    }\n\n    .comparison {\n        gap: 18px;\n    }\n\n    .score-row {\n        grid-template-columns: 1fr;\n    }\n\n    article {\n        font-size: 15px;\n    }\n\n    .final-thought {\n        font-size: 18px;\n    }\n}\n\n\u002F* PRINT *\u002F\n\n@media print {\n\n    html,\n    body {\n        background: white;\n        padding: 0;\n    }\n\n    .page {\n        max-width: none;\n        box-shadow: none;\n        padding: 25px 45px;\n    }\n\n    .concept,\n    .scores,\n    .references {\n        break-inside: avoid;\n    }\n\n}\n\n\u003C\u002Fstyle>\n\u003C\u002Fhead>\n\n\u003Cbody>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"page\">\n\n\u003Cheader>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"top-line\">\n    \u003Cdiv>05 October 2026\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\"flags\">\n        🇩🇪 🇯🇵\n    \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"course\">\n    Intercultural Dimensions and Understanding\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Ch1>\n    Cultural Differences Between Japan and Germany\n\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"subtitle\">\n    Reflective Post – Lecture 03\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fheader>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"comparison\">\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"country\">\n    \u003Cspan>🇩🇪\u003C\u002Fspan>\n    Germany\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"vs\">\n    VS\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"country\">\n    \u003Cspan>🇯🇵\u003C\u002Fspan>\n    Japan\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Carticle>\n\n\u003Cp>\nI found the last lecture especially interesting because I am currently learning about and experiencing Japanese culture for the very first time. Before coming to Japan, I knew there might be a few differences, but I was not expecting them to be that significant. I also always thought that these were simply differences in behaviour, but after hearing and learning about the concept of Power Distance, I could understand these differences on a deeper cultural level.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"concept\">\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"concept-title\">\nPower Distance\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cp>\nThe main basis of the concept is that there is inequality in every country, but the difference is to what extent people accept and expect an unequal distribution of power. The conclusion of this is that in low Power Distance cultures\u002Fcountries, people are more likely to question authorities, while in high Power Distance cultures\u002Fcountries, people tend to accept clear hierarchies.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\nIn the example of Japan and Germany, after using the Country Comparison Tool, we can clearly see the differences in Power Distance between the two countries. For example, Germany scores 35 in Power Distance, while Japan scores 54. In Germany, I am used to communicating relatively directly with professors and expressing disagreement. In Japan, communication with teachers and people in higher positions often seems more formal and respectful.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"scores\">\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score-title\">\nCountry Comparison\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score-row\">\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score\">\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score-country\">\n\u003Cspan>🇩🇪\u003C\u002Fspan>\nGermany\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"number\">35\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score\">\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score-country\">\n\u003Cspan>🇯🇵\u003C\u002Fspan>\nJapan\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"number\">54\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-top: 18px;\">\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score\">\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score-country\">\n\u003Cspan>🇩🇪\u003C\u002Fspan>\nGermany – Long-Term Orientation\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"number\">57\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score\">\n\u003Cdiv class=\"score-country\">\n\u003Cspan>🇯🇵\u003C\u002Fspan>\nJapan – Long-Term Orientation\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"number\">100\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\nThe largest and most interesting difference, in my opinion, is Long-Term Orientation: Germany scores 57, while Japan scores 100. This explains the strong emphasis on preparation, consistency, and long-term thinking that Japanese people are known for. All in all, this tool reflects my own experiences in Japan really well.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\nHowever, cultural models should never be treated as absolute. After doing my own research, I found out that national cultures change over time and across generations (Beugelsdijk & Welzel, 2018). As it should be, many researchers have questioned Hofstede’s concept and whether all of its dimensions remain equally valid today (Minkov & Kaasa, 2022). For example, Touburg (2016) argued that individuals should not simply be reduced to their national culture.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reflection\">\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reflection-title\">\nPersonal Reflection\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cp>\nAll in all, this lecture changed how I interpret my experiences in Japan and in other countries. The next time, instead of judging behaviour simply as different, I’ll try to understand the deeper meaning behind it.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"final-thought\">\nI think intercultural understanding means not only learning about another culture, but also questioning my own assumptions.\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Farticle>\n\n\n\u003Csection class=\"references\">\n\n\u003Ch2>References\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\nBeugelsdijk, S., & Welzel, C. (2018). Dimensions and dynamics of national culture: Synthesizing Hofstede with Inglehart. \u003Ci>Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 49\u003C\u002Fi>(10), 1469–1505. https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1177\u002F0022022118798505\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\nMinkov, M., & Kaasa, A. (2022). Do dimensions of culture exist objectively? A validation of the revised Minkov-Hofstede model of culture with World Values Survey items and scores for 102 countries. \u003Ci>Journal of International Management, 28\u003C\u002Fi>(4). https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Forg\u002Fscience\u002Farticle\u002Fabs\u002Fpii\u002FS205957941800011X\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\nThe Culture Factor Group. (2026). \u003Ci>Country comparison tool\u003C\u002Fi>. The Culture Factor. https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theculturefactor.com\u002Fcountry-comparison-tool\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\nTouburg, G. (2016). National habitus: An antidote to the resilience of Hofstede’s “national culture”? \u003Ci>Journal of Organizational Change Management, 29\u003C\u002Fi>(1), 81–92. https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1108\u002FJOCM-11-2015-0219\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"reference\">\nKindai University Global Education Center (2026). \u003Ci>Hofstede’s power distance\u003C\u002Fi> [Lecture material]\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fsection>\n\n\n\u003Cfooter>\n\n\u003Cdiv>\nIntercultural Dimensions and Understanding\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"flags\">\n🇩🇪 🇯🇵\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Ffooter>\n\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003C\u002Fbody>\n\u003C\u002Fhtml>",{"_key":42,"_type":43,"children":44,"markDefs":50,"style":51},"c7299e6aef97","block",[45],{"_key":46,"_type":47,"marks":48,"text":49},"c7299e6aef970","span",[],"Start writing your post here...",[],"normal",{"name":53,"slug":54},"Software and Web Skills for Academia (Fall 2026)",{"_type":34,"current":55},"software-and-web-skills-for-academia-fall-2026-","2026-10-05T11:45:17.618Z","Work in Japan 🇯🇵 and Germany 🇩🇪 ","public"]