!! Under construction !! Parties After you arrive in your lab/work place, your colleagues will organise a welcome party. Afterwards, parties will take place pretty much often. So be prepared for karaoke and sake ! ;-) Interaction with colleagues A lot depends on how your co-workers behave towards you. Maybe you'll have to deal with over-shy people, or even persons which are frightenedof foreigners. This doesn't depends on the university or firm, but itreally depends on which group you belong to. So if you know someone who has been in the same place where you will be, it is very important to ask him/her how it was working there (the SJA isn't there for nothing ;-) ). Also bear in mind that almost all decision are made on a consensus basis.Saying that the "group" is something very important in Japan is maybe a cliché, but, even if things are changing, it's still a reality. To do and not to do bring omiyage and do rajioo taisoo if you want ! (!! Sorry, Under construction !!) Working hours You surely have heard that Japanese work an awful lot and thatsome of them eventually dies of karooshi (death by over-work). Thedifferent experiences of foreigners we've heard of shows that thisdoesn't apply to the "gaijin" who is generally allowed to work at his own pace. It has been noticed that the Japanese spends lots of hours at thelab or office, but that they don't put much into these hours. Itseems that "being there" is more important than efficiency. Dress In the academic world, everybody wears whatever is appropriate. In the industry, it... depends. In some firms there is a mandatory uniform.in other, there may be an uniform, but one is not obliged to wear it. Ifone is needed, it will be provided. [ home page SJA ] [ Practical Guide ] [ e-mail ] [ give feedback! ] last updated 10th May 2002