Expatriates in Japanese Firms: Experiences and Expectations of Workers from China and Vietnam

Focusing on the experiences of foreign employees working in Japanese firms, this book identifies the trends and realities facing both expatriates and firms in the current landscape of the Japanese labour market.

By utilising interview data from both expatriates and Japanese HR staff this study identifies that self-initiated expatriates often don't remain in Japanese firms for long and highlights the main factors that influenced their decisions to leave; including difficulty adjusting to Japans lifetime employment system, seniority-based pay, and the prevalence of unpaid overtime. The book reveals that whilst Japanese firms are adjusting to improve the retention of foreign employees, there remains a clear expectation gap between both sides. Moreover, it outlines further potential adjustments that could be implemented to reduce the turnover rate of expatriates and create a more harmonious workplace for both expatriates and local employees, an urgent challenge for Japan as it faces labour shortages.

Featuring an in-depth exploration of first-hand experiences from direct testimonies of expatriates in Japanese firms, this book will be a valuable resource to academics and students of Japanese studies, human resource management and organisation studies.