So, What is Hansei Actually?

Summary

The video script discusses the Japanese concept of Hansei, a practice of reflection and regret used when things go wrong. Rochelle Kopp, founder of Japan Intercultural Consulting, explains that Hansei involves acknowledging mistakes, taking responsibility, analyzing what happened, and planning to prevent future occurrences. The lack of Hansei is a common complaint from Japanese working with non-Japanese, who often focus on external reasons rather than taking responsibility. Kopp emphasizes the importance of understanding and applying Hansei in cross-cultural business interactions with Japanese colleagues.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ A typhoon led to the sinking of an American cargo ship carrying Japanese products, causing a dispute between the two companies.
• 🤝 The Japanese company demanded an apology from the shipping firm, but the firm refused, citing the typhoon as an 'Act of God'.
• 🇯🇵 The concept of 'Hansei' is a crucial part of Japanese culture, involving reflection, regret, and improvement after a negative event.
• 🔍 Hansei is used to look back on events, consider how they could have been done better, and what actions can prevent future occurrences.
• 🚨 A lack of Hansei can lead to negative interactions in Japanese business culture, as it is seen as avoiding responsibility and making excuses.
• 📈 The story of an American sales manager reflects the cultural clash between the American and Japanese approaches to failure and responsibility.
• 🇺🇸 Americans tend to focus on external factors when explaining failures, whereas the Japanese expect an internal reflection and commitment to improvement.
• 🗣️ In Japan, an apology is expected, followed by an honest analysis of what went wrong and a plan to prevent future issues.
• 📚 Rochelle Kopp, founder of Japan Intercultural Consulting, explains Hansei and its importance in Japanese business interactions.
• 📈 Understanding and practicing Hansei can lead to more positive experiences when working with Japanese colleagues.
• 🔗 Resources for learning more about Japanese business culture, including Rochelle's book and Japan Intercultural's website, are available for those interested.

Q & A

What was the situation involving the American cargo ship and the Japanese company?

The American cargo ship was transporting products from a Japanese company to the USA when it sank due to a typhoon. The Japanese company sought a formal apology from the shipping firm, which refused, citing the typhoon as an 'Act of God'.

What is the Japanese concept of Hansei?

Hansei is a Japanese term that translates roughly to 'to reflect' or 'to regret'. It is used when reviewing situations that did not go well, with the aim of identifying how things could have been done better and what steps can be taken to prevent similar issues in the future.

How did the American sales manager's response to poor sales figures anger his Japanese boss?

The American sales manager focused on external reasons for the poor sales, such as lack of budget for advertising and product mix issues, instead of taking responsibility or suggesting improvements. This lack of Hansei, or reflection and taking responsibility, was not acceptable to his Japanese boss.

What are the three steps of Hansei?

The three steps of Hansei are: 1) Apologize and take responsibility for the situation, 2) Reflect on why it happened and provide an honest analysis, and 3) Discuss plans to prevent the same issue from recurring in the future.

How does the concept of Hansei differ between Japanese and American cultural perspectives?

In Japanese culture, Hansei involves taking responsibility and reflecting on one's actions to prevent future mistakes. In contrast, Americans tend to focus on external factors and may not apologize for things that are not entirely their fault.

What was Rochelle Kopp's advice for working with Japanese colleagues when something goes wrong?

Rochelle Kopp advised that when working with Japanese colleagues, one should apologize, honestly discuss what happened without focusing on external reasons, and present a plan to ensure the issue doesn't happen again, following the steps of Hansei.

What is the Japanese term for preventing a re-occurrence of an issue?

The Japanese term for preventing a re-occurrence of an issue is 'Saihatsu Boshi'.

How did the lack of Hansei affect interactions between Japanese and non-Japanese in the workplace?

The lack of Hansei led to misunderstandings and frustration, as Japanese individuals felt that non-Japanese made too many excuses, shifted blame, and did not apologize or take responsibility for issues.

What is Rochelle Kopp's bestselling book in Japanese about?

Rochelle Kopp's bestselling book in Japanese is titled 'How to Deal with Americans Who Don't Hansei', addressing the cultural differences and challenges faced by Japanese individuals working with Americans who do not practice Hansei.

Where can one find more information on Japanese business practices and intercultural communication?

For more information on Japanese business practices and intercultural communication, one can visit japanintercultural.com, which offers articles, e-learning courses, and other resources.

How can one stay updated with Rochelle Kopp's discussions on Japanese business terms?

By subscribing to the channel where the transcript was sourced from, one can receive updates on future videos in the series on Japanese business words and gain access to a more extended discussion on Hansei.

What benefits does the monthly newsletter from Japan Intercultural offer?

The monthly newsletter from Japan Intercultural provides a variety of materials on Japanese business, as well as discounts on training, enhancing the understanding and knowledge of those working with or interested in Japanese business practices.