This is a real story from A-san, a former international student working in a Japanese company.
A-san spoke good Japanese and actively joined meetings.
One day, the boss said: “Then, please take care of that matter.”
A-san thought: “No problem! I already mentioned it in yesterday`s meeting.”
— A few days later.
Boss: “So, how is it going?”
A-san: “I said it in the meeting, didn’t I?”
Boss: “Hmm…I don’t remember the final decision.”
Confusion.
❌ The problem was NOT Japanese ability
A-san:
✔ Spoke up
✔ Had a good idea
But in Japanese companies, speaking is not enough.
What really matters in Japan:
Is the conclusion clear?
Who does what by when?
Does the other person feel certain and reassured?
A-san thought it was “shared.”
The boss thought it was “still undecided.”
The sentence that changed everything:
From then on, A-san said: “So, I will handle △△ by ○○ date. Is that okay?”
Just one sentence.
The boss replied: “Yes, please do.”
In Japanese workplaces…
💡 It’s not about “Did you say it?”
💡 It’s about “Did they clearly understand it?”
That’s how trust is built.
✅ Final Tip
In Japan, “I thought I said it” often means you didn’t say it clearly enough.
Add a clear conclusion + confirmation,
and your workplace life will become much smoother.
