Adapting to a completely different work culture can be a huge learning curve — and Japan is no exception. After nearly five years of working as an OL (“office lady”), I’ve definitely made my fair share of mistakes along the way. Some were cultural misunderstandings, some were habits I carried over from the U.S., and some were simple “I had no idea this was a rule” moments.

So today, I’m sharing five common mistakes to avoid when working in a Japanese company, based on real experiences, embarrassing moments, and lessons learned the hard way.

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1. Being Late

Let’s start with the big one: don’t be late. Ever.

Punctuality is extremely important in Japan, especially in the workplace. “Fashionably late” doesn’t exist here (unless you’re the CEO), and showing up right on time is actually considered late.

You’re expected to arrive 5–10 minutes early so you’re ready to start right at your shift time.
At my first company, I even had to arrive 20 minutes early for radio exercises.

Being late, even by a few minutes, sends a strong negative message — so this is one rule you don’t want to break.

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2. Not Knowing “Ho-Ren-So”

No, it has nothing to do with spinach.
Ho-Ren-So stands for:

• Houkoku – Report
• Renraku – Inform
• Soudan – Consult

It’s basically the foundation of Japanese workplace communication.

For many Western workers, this can feel like micromanagement or “babysitting.” But in Japan, keeping your boss informed at every stage of a task is essential to maintaining trust and avoiding misunderstandings.

Not every company follows Ho-Ren-So strictly, and the intensity varies, but understanding it will save you so much frustration.

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3. Not Helping Clean the Office

Surprise!
In many Japanese companies, employees clean the office themselves — not a janitorial staff.

If you’ve heard about Japanese schoolchildren cleaning their classrooms, that same concept often carries into the workplace. In smaller companies especially, everyone takes turns doing small tasks like:

• Emptying trash bins
• Vacuuming
• Wiping down desks
• Cleaning the break room or sink

More traditional workplaces may put most cleaning duties on women (which is its own conversation…), but modern offices usually share responsibilities.

As a foreigner, coworkers might hesitate to ask you to help because they don’t want to appear rude. Offering to help first goes a long way — and people genuinely appreciate it.

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4. Not Taking Notes

I fought this one for years.

I was the student who never took notes, barely paid attention, and still passed my classes. But that doesn’t fly in a Japanese office. I quickly learned that:

• Verbal instructions are often given quickly
• Tasks may be added casually throughout the day
• And bosses expect you to remember every detail

My first company nagged me constantly to take notes, and honestly… they were right.
A notebook became my best friend. It saved me from forgetting small tasks and showed my coworkers that I was listening and engaged.

Also? Going into a meeting without a notebook is a huge faux pas. Always bring one — even if you’re pretty sure you won’t need it.

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5. Forgetting Proper Greetings

Greetings (aisatsu) are huge in Japanese daily life — and even more so in the workplace. Forgetting them can make you seem rude or disconnected.

Here are the essential ones:

• おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) – Good morning
• お先に失礼します (Osaki ni shitsureishimasu) – Polite way to say “Excuse me for leaving first”
• お疲れ様です (Otsukaresama desu) – The MVP of workplace greetings

If there’s one phrase you must master, it’s Otsukaresama desu. You say it:

• When you greet coworkers during the day
• On the phone with coworkers
• When passing them in the hallway
• When entering another department
• When leaving for the night

But! Do not say this to customers or people outside your company — that’s a different phrase altogether.

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Final Thoughts

These habits may feel unfamiliar at first, but learning them will make your work life in Japan a lot smoother — and help you feel more integrated into the office culture.

Go to Part 6 | Go to Part 8

*Revised November 2025 for grammar and context