When trying to picture a Japanese city like Tokyo and its inhabitants, one of the first things that comes to mind is a crowd of straight-backed people with stern faces.

If you’ve researched living and working in Japan much at all, you’re sure to have come across the terms honne 本音 (true feelings) and tatemae 建前 (façade). The terms seem to haunt people’s interactions, with some foreigners describing the concepts as the ultimate barrier to understanding.

From time to time, we ask expat engineers about their experience in working and living in Japan. This time Anastasia, a civil engineer from Russia, tells why she decided on moving here and how is it to live and work in Japan.

Different countries have different work cultures and career paths as the nations are different from the very basics, such as culture and language.

In this part of our miniseries, Matthew, an American web developer tells us about the aspects of living and working in Japan.

However teaching is an occupation where one supposed teach, but it also serves as an opportunity learn about the mentality of the people you teach.

Drinking parties with coworkers are called “nomikai” in Japan and they perform a very important social function within the company, reinforcing team spirit, and enabling colleagues to get to know each other in a more relaxed environment.