A Chat with Dirk DE WINNE

Q1. What was your first encounter with Japan, and what were your initial reactions

I was sent to Tokyo for a 3-week mission to do a preliminary analysis for an accounting system implementation. It was during summer: I remember that it was hot and humid. I was overwhelmed by the number of people – and as I am rather tall, I looked above the crowd, thanks to the Japanese public transport, which, by the way, is very efficient.

Q2. Do you speak Japanese? If yes, how did you learn, and if not, what have been your experiences with Japan without Japanese language skills?

I have some basic language skills acquired through private lessons. Personally, I think that the Japanese language is very much intertwined – and personal experience: more than anywhere else – with sociological context, habits, conventions, etc. I wonder whether one really can acquire thorough Japanese language skills if you haven’t been immersed in daily life for a substantial length of time.  

Q3. Would you like to talk about your motto in life and why you have chosen it?

It is never too late to act

Q4. Over your career, what achievement are you the proudest of? 

I am humbly proud of so many personal e-mails from collaborators and colleagues – sometimes pretty long after I moved to other places – thanking me for my support or personal attention to them. 

Q5. What aspects of Japan/Japanese culture do you like the most? 

The inclusiveness: People think about the well-being of all; nobody is excluded unless the individual steps away from it.

Q6. What changes did you bring into your working style to fit in and be successful in Japan? 

Being pretty blunt, I had to learn to explain, reexplain and then explain again; there were no deadlines to convince, but once these steps were taken and once everybody was convinced, everything was straightforward, and the success was obvious.

Q7. Anything else you wish to mention? 

As an expatriate, one should realize that you are in a privileged position. Japanese tend to be less harsh with foreigners initially; as a foreigner, there are many societal constraints you may not notice, but then if you learn and know how to make your place, people do respect you. I will never forget the love, affection, and respect I received. 

Q8. What wisdom, advice, or tips can you give to people to people who are new to Japan or are planning to come to Japan? 

Forget your beliefs and faiths; this will be a new world you have not been confronted with before, be open, do not judge, adapt, and you will shine. 

Q9. Any tips and advice for Japanese professionals who work in multicultural teams? 

I would say, don’t be shy; speak up. In multicultural teams, western individuals will try to create teams where individuals are winners – the thought process is – “what is in it for me”. On the other hand, the Japanese will create a group wherein nobody is an individual winner. Japanese would always think – “what is in it for the group.” 

Q10. Did you face any challenges in working with your Japanese colleagues, and how did you manage to overcome those? 

There is a lot of resistance to change, and they (not only Japanese, but many people also state this) will express it like: “We are different”. Be as stubborn as the locals. ?

Q11. Micro-management of the tasks is one of the very common points raised about working in Japan. The second is strict quality expectations. What do you say about these? 

I have never felt that people wanted to be micromanaged. I would rather say they might feel insecure if they do not readily see how to execute: let them know the time to market is equally important as perfection – how timely results have to be achieved. Be available for questions and answers when they execute, treat them like autonomous adults, and confirm that quality is true of utmost importance (do not fight that one).