After quitting a very toxic Japanese company, I found a job in a more "international" and "relaxed" environment. While things have definitely improved in many ways, I still find it interesting that, no matter where I go, some aspects of working with Japanese colleagues remain the same. For example, they might say things like "何かわからないことがあれば、聞いてね", but when I genuinely ask about things I don't know, they can become passive-aggressive, saying things like "You should figure it out on your own." Some of my colleagues will even purposefully ignore me when we pass each other in the hallway.
I've been living here for four years now, so I've accepted most of it, but it still frustrates me at times, especially when it affects our work. I'm just trying to stay civil to avoid unnecessary difficulties at the company.
Is anyone else still having a hard time with this? I’m interested in hearing your stories
Edit: Thank you all for the responses. I think it's also my fault to make it seem like all Japanese are like this. NO! I don't think so. Not all. I also don't put all the blame on them. I might have my own mistakes, but it's just that, some of Japanese colleagues at my previous and even current workplace, are behaving like this. As I said, I accepted it.
by marsjourney