Hey I'm now working with quite a few japanese and wanted to check back with you on their culture. Would it be true to say that trust is hardwon with Japanese, more so than other countries? I'm finding myself acting as a bridge between my japanese and American colleagues - they can't understand each other. Would you also agree that the Japanese mindset to solve a problem is to consider all the situation in entirety, before they will commit to a solution, rather than to move forward with part of the information? My american colleague is trying to understand why a japanese colleague seems unwilling to trust that we will make the best decision, and wants all the information to be laid out as well

    Trust takes a long time to build and Japanese base the game on mutual trust rather than clearly spelt out rules. Decisions are made by spending lengthy amounts of time through long meetings in which people communicate their total sum of feelings rather than personal opinions.

    Once trust is established, people move on without questioning minor details, but that can sometimes result in unclear objectives with which results can e measured against.

    Americans think in layers, Chinese think in units, Japanese think in clutters.

    Americans can for eg just consider the design side or just the environmental side of things

    Japanese think as far as their personal abilities allow them to

    Get your American colleagues to drink with your Japanese colleagues.

    It helps build an impression of mutual trust.

    Americans build know-how into formal systems, Japanese build it into the company culture. Get your american colleagues to communicate their passion not just their proposal.

    For Americans, a solution is as good as its possibilities, for Japanese a solution is only as good as its implementation.

    Quite enlightening. No wonder Japanese make such good designers but not so good innovators.