Today’s Japanese Business Slang is “Teiou-gaku”.

Company presidents usually educate his sons in order for him to succeed the company.  The education is called “Teiou-gaku”.

“Teiou-gaku” is sometimes directly taught by his father and sometimes can be MBA.

The opposite vocabulary may be “Tataki-age”

Some guys start to work when they are still young and learn directly from “Genba” without going to the university and climb up the corporate ladder.

Which is your type?

Today’s Business Japanese is “Icchoume ichibannchi”.

This phrase has been used mainly by politicians as “the most important point”.

For example, ” To change Japanese constitution is Icchoume ichibannchi for Liberal Democratic party.”

These days this phrase became to be used by business persons.

You can try to use it. 

For example, “DX is Icchoume ichibanchi for our company this year.”

Japanese Language School in Roppongi, Tokyo

Tsubasa Japanese Language School

Today’s Business Japanese is “Shanai-Renai　（Office Romance）”.

Generally speaking, “Shanai-Renai” is not prohibited in many Japanese companies, but most of the people do not disclose their “Shanai-Renai”.

Because that is gossip and is harmful to their job after break-up.

When “Shanai-Renai” become known by others male employees are usually moved to other departments or branches for fair judgement.

And when “Shanai-Renai” becomes “Shanai-Kekkon (Office marriage)” previously female employees quit the company in many cases, but these days they remain at the same company.

The worst case is “Shanai-Furin (Office Affair)”.  The evaluation becomes worse and in many cases they are moved to local and small branches.

But, still “Shanai-Furin” happens everywhere.  Because we are human beings.

Tsubasa Japanese Language School

Roppongi, Tokyo

Today’s Business Japanese is “President without Representation Right”.

The other day Seven & i holdings group sold Sogo/Seibu department stores to Fortres Investment Management and they announced that the Sogo/Seibu president will remain as “President without Representation Right”.

“President without Representation Right” is not often heard.

”Representation Right” is hold only by Directors and important issues are decided by Board of Directors.

Therefore, “President without Representation Right” can not participate in the decision.

And all he can do is only to implement and carry out what is decided aby Board of Directors.

This is the truth and fact about president who are merged.

Japanese Language School in Roppongi, Tokyo

Today’s Business Japanese is “Kojin-Hoshou　（Personal Warranty）”.

Japanese banks have “Yuutan-Gensoku (Collateral Principle)”.  They have always taken collateral when they lend money from the borrowers.

They intended to relieve their risk in case of bad debt.

In other words, Japanese banks is not able to evaluate whether the incubation goes successful.

In case of small companies, Japanese banks require company owner’s house and property as collateral.  This is so called “Kojin-Hoshou”.

If the company owner fails in their business, they will lose everything including their house and savings and they can not live an ordinary life.

Therefore, it is told to be one of the reasons why there are not many entrepreneurs in Japan.

It is said that Japanese banks lend umbrella when it is sunny and take it away when it rains.

They actually do not play their role to incubate small business and help entrepreneurs.

Tsubasa Japanese Language School

Japanese Language School in Roppongi, Tokyo

Today’s Business Japanese is “Kabunushi-teian (Shareholder Proposal)”.

Many Japanese companies quitted “Kabu no Mochiai (Keeping stocks with each other among group companies)” and accepted foreign institutional investors.  Recently, “Kabunushi-teian” is increasing.

Some examples of “Kabunushi-teian” are “to fire chairman and president because both of them are occupied by the founder’s family and it is not effective” and “To sell traditional Department from huge retailer group”.

Board of Directors no longer run the companies with their own perspective.

However, Japan as a whole society should welcome this heathy corporate governance.

Tsubasa Japanese Language School

2 minutes walk away from Roppongi station

Tokyo

Today’s Business Japanese is “Shachiku”.

“Shachiku” is “Kachiku (Domestic animals) of Kaisha (Company)”, implying that Japanese business persons are “Kachiku (Domestic animals)” of “Kaisha (company)”　because they are fed and tamed in the barn for their entire life.

In the bubble economy period (1980～1990), “Corporate worriers” is used as the same meaning with “Shachiku”.

What an empty and helpless word!

I know some of them work with their own will, but . . .

Today’s　Business Jananese is “Zenin-Yakyuu (All member Baseball)”.

This word is originally used by Japanese politicians in order to make everyone in the same political party face toward the same direction.

From the opposite view point, this vocabulary is used when the members in the same political party face to the different directions.

Mizuho Bank is one of the examples who use this phrase in the modern business situation.

After bubble economy was crushed Daiichi-Kangyou Bank, Fuji Bank, and Nihon Kougyou Bank were merged into Mizuho Bank.

They use “One Mizuho” as their catch copy in the TV commercial.

“One Mizuho” means that the 3 banks still are still work towards different directions.

Mizuho bank is not still one bank.

As a result, they often cause system troubles.

I think that it is difficult to move every member in the same organization to the same direction.

Today’s Business Japanese is “Ne-waza”.

“Ne-waza” is originally comes from Jyudou, meaning ground technique, on the contrast with standing technique.

In Japanese business “Ne-waza” means to be promoted or to get the new job by entertaining and drinking with the business partners or bosses and ,of course, polishing the apples.

Some get promoted by “Ne-waza” and others make a loss only by making efforts justly and legitimately.

It is true all over the world from my experiences.

Today’s Business Japanese is “Kabunushi-Yuutai (Shareholder incentive)”

This program is done inly in Japan.

Many Japanese companies offer some incentives such as discount/free coupon of own products/services to the shareholders twice a year.

For example, Japanese airlines companies such as JAL and ANA offer 50% discount coupon to their shareholders who own over certain number of stocks.

“Kabunushi-Yuutai” was generated from Japanese seasonal customs such as “O-seibo” and O-chuugen”.

“O-Seibo” and “O-Chuugen” is the seasonal presents to those who take care of me.

Thus, Japanese companies started to send seasonal incentives, instead of “O-Chuugen” and “O-Seibo” to their shareholders in June and December, usually.

In addition to it, Japanese shareholders tend to keep stocks in long term to support and cheer for the firms, instead of aiming short-term stock price increase.  I think that such shareholders’ behaviors also fit to “Kabunushi-Yuutai”.