e-Jan! Work Style
Summer holidays at e-Jan Networks
September usually marks the beginning of fall, but here in Tokyo warm, summery days linger into the latter half of the month. This year’s summer seems particularly long, not only reflective in the temperature but also in e-Jan’s summer holiday system.
舌尖上的西日本之福冈
2016年，入社的第二年，被派到公司的大阪营业所工作。从此，我的在日生活起了翻天覆地的变化。
2007年来日留学，语言学校，大学，研究生，直至入职公司，一直住在日本关东地区的首都圈。随着日语能力的提高，和对一个陌生而又新鲜感十足的环境的探索欲的不断膨胀，我的活动范围也以点连成线，线扩成面的方式迅速扩大。大学时还考下了驾照，由此便更加地一发不可收拾。进入公司前，日本的中部地区，信州地区，首都圈，东北地区，以及北海道几乎都留下了我的足迹。由于公司偶然的一次调动，开启了我对西日本，确切地说是对西日本饮食的探索之旅。
吃了吗？ in Office
私のオフィスでは、多くの中華系スタッフが働いています。
その中には、日本語がとても上手な人もあれば、そうでない人もいます。
今回の「Working Japan Blog」では、一緒に働いている中華系スタッフに声を掛ける際に使える「簡単な中国語」をご紹介します。
富士山荘 (Company trip to the Mr. Fuji manor)
這個週末，跟同事去老闆在富士山附近的別墅度假。早上從都內出發，接著在富士山附近的超市一起採買食材和酒，一行人熱絡地聊著天，可以感受到大家期待的氣氛。
>>Read more
生如夏花 记足立花火大会观后感
说到日本的夏天，可能会想到刨冰、西瓜、和风浴衣（yukata）、海滨浴场、祭典与盂兰盆假期。而另一个颇具日本特色的夏日风景，就是每年自7月开始到9月初为止，在各地举行的花火大会（hanabi taikai）了。
花火，在日语里指烟花。与其他国家在国庆、元旦或是民族传统节日里放烟花有所不同的是，日本的花火大会似乎更单纯为了观赏而存在的。
关于为何日本更多地选择在夏季举行花火大会的说法有很多。有人认为作为岛国的日本，夏日里湿度较高，比起干燥的秋冬两季，燃放烟火更不容易引发火灾；也有认为日本各地在进入初夏后开始开放河川及海岸供人嬉戏，烟花大会是为了庆祝这一年一度的开放河川海岸；而另一种说法，或许更有公信力，在日本夏季常与祭祖、慰藉亡灵相关，因此会有不少祭典，而在进行祭典的同时燃放烟花则是自江户时代（1603-1867）就有的民间习俗。
>>Read more
Learning a third language through a second language
Following the trend of last two posts about speaking English/Japanese more proactively in the workplace, I would like to offer a third perspective on learning a foreign language, specifically on learning a language that is not emphasised as much as English/Japanese.
Strengthening office relations through language
As a foreigner, living in Japan has its difficulties and challenges: notably, working for a local company. Understanding the lifestyle, customs, and culture, including learning the local language, (which comes above all else) are just a few things to keep in mind in trying to fit in.
あなたは何語で仕事しますか？
このWorking Japanブログで初めての日本語投稿になります。
これからは、日本語でもe-Janネットワークスの個性的なカルチャーと日本で働く外国人たちの日常をお伝えしますので、よろしくお願いします。
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今回は、職場で使われている言語についてお話します。
e-Jan Vegetable Market
Recently, e-Jan Network’s Tokyo office started an ‘e-Jan Vegetable Market.
Japan’s rainy season, the early signs of summer
With the rainy season announced last week for western, central, and eastern Japan, summer can be said to have officially begun. While a large part of early summer in Japan is centered around the transition to stay cool in the increasing heat (see the last blog on Cool Biz), Japan’s summer is not merely oppressive heat. Japan’s rainy season brings with it an unstable pattern of unpleasant weather, which some non-Japanese people may be unaccustomed to.
What is 'Cool Biz'?
As the weather gets warmer, a buzzword that crops up in the professional sector of Japan is ‘Cool Biz’.>>Read more
Impressions: Information Security EXPO 2017
Every year, e-Jan Networks presents a booth at Japan’s largest event for information security, Japan IT Week’s Information Security Expo.
>>Read more
入职三周后的一些小“抱怨” (Before and after: working in a Japanese company)
[This post is an essay submission by a guest writer in the company, ‘E.']
The author talked about her experience of doing job-hunting in Japan.
It was definitely not easy for a foreign student to getting an job offer here in Japan; it became even harder when she wanted to have a good work-life balance, rather than simply working for survival.
The author also mentioned how she got to know some small and middle scaled IT enterprises in Japan, and talked about her feelings on her first month working here at e-Jan, and about the culture shock that she received before and after joining a Japanese company.
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Training courses, workshops, and on-the-job training
April is the beginning of the new work year, and therefore a time when many young people enter the workforce. In Japan, many medium to large companies hire college graduates from many different majors and fields of study, and most new employees within the company receive the same basic training. Japan is a country with many social traditions, and since these skills are no longer common knowledge to many young people, these new employees typically undergo training to learn basic social and/or business skills.
Cherry blossom viewing
In Japan, the number one marker of spring time is, of course, the cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossom viewing, hanami, is a popular activity when they are in bloom; because the window of time that the cherry blossoms are in bloom is short, it is important to set plans accordingly so you don’t miss out.
Cultural exchange: Chinese night
At e-Jan Networks, there is a significant number of Mandarin Chinese-speaking employees. As a result, in 2015, the company began sponsoring an annual ‘Chinese Night’, a cultural exchange dinner. >>Read more
Impressions of Japanese working hours
Today's post comes from guest writer 'M.A.', a new employee, on his impressions of Japanese working hours and the stereotypes surrounding them.
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Lunchtime at the workplace
Styles of lunch at the workplace vary from person to person, company to company. While some companies may provide lunch for their employees, many do not; here we’ll explore some of the common lunch options.
Trip to Sumida Aquarium
Today's post comes from guest writer 'R', about a weekend event he organised.
e-Jan Networks provides a subsidy program for weekend events organised and attended by employees. These events provide an opportunity for employees to interact and bond outside of the work environment. The subsidy program also provides an opportunity for the employees planning the event to grow as leaders and organisers.
'R' organised the trip to Sumida Aquarium, and described the event below.
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What is the communication barrier between Foreign and Japanese employees?
[This post is an essay submission by a guest writer in the company, ‘Z.A.']I had a get-away trip with my high school friends (who are now living in Japan) to Nikko, among them are some who have educational backgrounds or working experiences in Europe or the United States.
It was the very first time for most of us to have the chance to have a decent talk with each other since we graduated. As a person who has been staying in Japan for over 6 years, and has no working experience anywhere other than Japan, I am curious about how different the Western corporation culture can be, and how the Japanese one is observed or thought by people outside Japan.
>>Read more