Is saving face worth it? Why old cultural practices hinder engagement in Japanese boardrooms

Deep Dive into Japanese equities

clock • 3 min read

Investors often feel communication with Japanese companies can be difficult due to cultural and language differences, often highlighting the following as hindering effective engagement: complicated corporate governance systems; a mystified corporate culture that includes a strong emphasis on hierarchy, politeness and manners; and a dislike of giving and receiving honest feedback due to an emphasis on "saving face".

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