— Why international students often struggle without noticing
In Japan, you’ll hear this word all the time:
“Hourensou” (Report, Inform, Consult).
Many international students think:
“I already do that. What’s the big deal?”
Actually… this misunderstanding causes many evaluation problems.
■ A real story
A graduate student (A-san) was smart, fast, and fluent in Japanese.
Still, his boss wasn’t satisfied.
Why?
👉 He only reported final results.
Boss’s thought:
“I wanted to know the progress.
If there was a problem, I wanted to fix it earlier.”
■ In Japan, sharing the process = trust
In many countries:
👉 Results matter most.
In Japan:
👉 Process + communication = trust and safety.
Hourensou is not micromanagement.
It’s a risk-prevention system for the team.
■ Common misunderstandings
❌ Consult only after a mistake
⭕ Consult when you feel something may go wrong
❌ Report after finishing
⭕ Share progress regularly
❌ Deciding alone looks professional
⭕ Confirming looks reliable in Japan
Without Hourensou, people may think:
👉 “I don’t know what this person is doing.”
■ Simple phrases you can use
No perfect Japanese needed:
“I’ve finished this part so far.”
“I’m choosing between option A and B.”
“Is this direction okay?”
These small messages can change how you’re evaluated.
■ Final message
People who communicate a lot are not weak.
In Japanese companies,
👉 “easy to work with” beats “silent genius.”
Remember that 😊
