Business Japanese Expressions
Here are some Japanese words and phrases casually used in business conversations at work. The description of each word includes some of my personal views, which I had through bitter experiences etc.; therefore, the meanings may not be precise or lack credibility. Although you can survive in Japan even if you don't know these words, besides, you don't want to know such a negative side of Japanese business culture, it will be useful to know as a piece of knowledge.
落としどころ Otoshidokoro
Compromise, common ground, happy medium
Otoshidokoro is a middle point where to draw a line in a concession between two or more parties having different opinions, claims, etc. Otoshidokoro is often "prepared" before having a resolution, in the course of doing the groundwork to avoid heated discussion and favorably settle a negotiation. This word is often used in conversation at in-house meetings.
一旦持ち帰る Ittan mochi-kaeru
Bringing it back once
This phrase means withholding to answer a client's proposition/request then and there and tell the client replying later. Under the hierarchy system, many Japanese companies "traditionally" take, the workers are not allowed to make decisions by themselves and need to ask their boss for instruction. In the case of receiving a hard-to-accept proposal from clients, they together hold in-house meetings again and again and again, in order to find an Otoshidokoro. This process is so time-consuming. It gives one of the reasons why Japanese companies are slow at taking action.
根回し Nemawashi
Prior negotiations, groundwork, consensus building
Nemawashi is a process of negotiations among stakeholders, often done before having a resolution. The purpose of Nemawashi is to gather support or to get people (executives) on your side so that your proposition can be approved in a favorable way, as schemed, without contention.
出来レース Deki Race
Fixed game, Rigged game
Deki Race is an unfair competition, for which the winner is selected beforehand. Before the competition, the person/party to win is strongly recommended through Nemawashi or negotiations among stakeholders, maybe including judges; then, the competition is conducted just to show the formality. Such Nemawashi is done deftly, in secret, other honest participants can hardly realize it, result in their efforts in vain. It says Deki Race seems to be done for biddings sometimes, but nobody knows for sure. If you find a competition requiring participants to fulfill unreasonable conditions for entry, it may be a Deki Race.
善処 Zensho
Zensho originally means handling a request or favorably solving problems. However, this word's practical use is in a situation where you will not much meet the expectation and say, "It is so hard, but I will try anyway." In some cases, no actual action but saying is made for the try.
忖度する Sontaku suru
Sontaku suru or doing Sontaku is to be considerate and read between the lines. Sontaku induces a person to take action without actual indication from someone such as a boss, by words, both in spoken or written, to fulfill a request from the one who is high in position, having political power, for example.
