e-Jan! Work Style
成人の日(Coming-of-age Day)
今週1月8日は、日本の祝日「成人の日」でした。
日本では大人になる年齢（成人年齢）と20歳と定義しています。
「成人の日」は、その年（※）に20歳になる人をお祝いする日です。
（※日本の学校の年度期間に合わせ、原則、「成人の日」の前年の4月から翌年3月までの間に生まれた人が対象となります。）
This past Monday, 8 January was Japan’s Coming-of-age Day.
In Japan, adults come of age at 20 years old.
‘Coming-of-age Day’ celebrates everyone who comes of age during the year*.
(*The year is in line with Japan’s school year, which begins April of the year before the Coming-of-age Day and ends the following March.)
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日本では大人になる年齢（成人年齢）と20歳と定義しています。
「成人の日」は、その年（※）に20歳になる人をお祝いする日です。
（※日本の学校の年度期間に合わせ、原則、「成人の日」の前年の4月から翌年3月までの間に生まれた人が対象となります。）
This past Monday, 8 January was Japan’s Coming-of-age Day.
In Japan, adults come of age at 20 years old.
‘Coming-of-age Day’ celebrates everyone who comes of age during the year*.
(*The year is in line with Japan’s school year, which begins April of the year before the Coming-of-age Day and ends the following March.)
正月飾り (New Years decorations)
新年、明けましておめでとうございます。
Happy New Year!
今回のWorking Japan blogでは日本の正月文化の一つ「正月飾り（しょうがつかざり）」についてご紹介します。
This Working Japan blog will cover one aspect of Japan’s New Year traditions: ‘New Years decorations’.
正月飾りは、正月を迎えるに際しての飾り物です。
色々な種類がありますが、家の玄関を飾る代表的な正月飾りを２つご紹介します。
New Years decorations are set up to welcome in the new year.
There are many different kinds, but this time I’ll be introducing two kinds.
>>Read more
Happy New Year!
今回のWorking Japan blogでは日本の正月文化の一つ「正月飾り（しょうがつかざり）」についてご紹介します。
This Working Japan blog will cover one aspect of Japan’s New Year traditions: ‘New Years decorations’.
正月飾りは、正月を迎えるに際しての飾り物です。
色々な種類がありますが、家の玄関を飾る代表的な正月飾りを２つご紹介します。
New Years decorations are set up to welcome in the new year.
There are many different kinds, but this time I’ll be introducing two kinds.
Christmas in Japan
Christmas is obviously a major seasonal, cultural, and retail event for many Christian-majority countries. Japan does not designate Christmas as a public holiday, as some countries do, but Christmas has transcended its theological roots and become a purely social holiday. And while people do not get the day off from work, many people celebrate Christmas or get into the spirit through decorations and activities.
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牛久大仏 (Ushiku Daibutsu)
This week’s post is by a guest writer, a Japanese employee ‘Y.T.’, and translated into English by ‘N.M.’. The post is an introduction to the Ushiku Daibutsu, a famous Buddha statue in ‘Y.T.’’s home prefecture.
Enjoy!
>>Read more
Enjoy!
In search for a new domicile: getting an apartment
Moving to a new area is a thrilling adventure and at the same time an intimidating change, especially here in Japan. Thinking about the location, transportation, budget, etc. is stressful on so many levels, but beyond the stress of logistics, the start of something new brings with it conflicting feelings of eagerness and anxiety. Whirlwind of decision-making can be an emotional rollercoaster, but extremely exciting.
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日本人駐在員が語る：日本とアジア圏の大きなビジネスカルチャーの違い
シンガポールなど、東南アジアの日系企業に赴任する日本人駐在員が第一に驚くのが「ローカルスタッフが定時で退社する」ことでしょう。
※ローカルスタッフ：本国から派遣された駐在員ではなくその国で現地採用されたスタッフ
文字通りLocally Hiredされているというだけで、差別的な意味はありません
午後5時30分が定時であれば、5時35分にはほぼ全員のローカルスタッフはオフィスからいなくなります。
日本人だけが遅くまで残っているというのはよくある話であり、日本人にとっては違和感がありますがそこには文化的背景があります。
いくつか理由を挙げてみましょう。
>>Read more
※ローカルスタッフ：本国から派遣された駐在員ではなくその国で現地採用されたスタッフ
文字通りLocally Hiredされているというだけで、差別的な意味はありません
午後5時30分が定時であれば、5時35分にはほぼ全員のローカルスタッフはオフィスからいなくなります。
日本人だけが遅くまで残っているというのはよくある話であり、日本人にとっては違和感がありますがそこには文化的背景があります。
いくつか理由を挙げてみましょう。
Tori-no-Ichi festival
In November, e-Jan employees visited Hanazono Shrine for the Tori-no-Ichi festival. Over the years, this has become an e-Jan tradition to give thanks to wish for prosperity in the coming year.
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e-Jan Networks entrance board
When visitors enter the e-Jan Networks headquarters in Japan, visitors are greeted by an entrance board with a chalk art illustration. The chalk art is drawn by artists within the company, and is changed monthly.
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Essential steps for moving in
So you have put down that deposit, paid your upfront rents and are all excited about moving into your new place. Yay! Phew! One of life’s greatest challenges accomplished; you’ve moved to a new country, found a job and settled down.
You thought all the hurdles were now behind you, since you finally have your own place. However, there are some “small things” that Japanese do when moving to a new place that might stumble or annoy new foreigners here.
This short write up attempts to save you the embarrassing moments and awkward situations, and to help foster a good neighbourhood relationship with your neighbours.
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You thought all the hurdles were now behind you, since you finally have your own place. However, there are some “small things” that Japanese do when moving to a new place that might stumble or annoy new foreigners here.
This short write up attempts to save you the embarrassing moments and awkward situations, and to help foster a good neighbourhood relationship with your neighbours.
Are liberal arts useless in the IT industry?
I hope no one is offended by the click-baiting title, but isn’t it what people usually ask from the bottom of their heart? Many programmers are from Taiwan at e-Jan, and one of them told me that one must have a science degree in order to become a developer in Taiwan. During the job interview for a position of developer, the interviewer expressed concern because I studied economics (which is a liberal art) in university.
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English Night Out
Previously, this blog featured a post on e-Jan’s Chinese Night.
This time, our guest writer J.O., an English teacher at e-Jan, has contributed the following post for this week!
(Edits have been made for clarity.)
- N.M.
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One of the many positive things about working here is that there are often some popular events after work which are scheduled to promote multi-cultural interaction as well as give employees a chance to practice social communication.
>>Read more
This time, our guest writer J.O., an English teacher at e-Jan, has contributed the following post for this week!
(Edits have been made for clarity.)
- N.M.
-----------------------
One of the many positive things about working here is that there are often some popular events after work which are scheduled to promote multi-cultural interaction as well as give employees a chance to practice social communication.
Self-expression at e-Jan Networks
In my opinion, having opportunities to express yourself at your company is really important especially when it comes to international companies. At e-Jan Networks, we have some interesting ways to express ourselves. So, I would like to introduce some of those self-expressing opportunities at e-Jan Networks.
>>Read more