Nipponica

Overseas assignments are often seen as prestigious and a fast track to promotion, but a recent survey found that more than 90% of companies have experienced cases where expatriates returned to Japan before completing their term abroad.

The most common reason for early returns was "failures in adapting to local culture," according to a September survey by Bizmates Inc., a Tokyo-based provider of programs including business-focused online English conversation services. The survey targeted 400 human resource development managers at companies with 500 or more employees that offer overseas postings. While pre-assignment training typically focuses on safety and language skills, the survey noted a "potential mismatch between training content and actual needs."

Interesting to see the opposite view of a Japanese person working abroad and the struggles they face. Perhaps this will help increase mutual understanding of how foreign workers in Japan feel. Or, more likely, perhaps not.