Overcoming cultural differences between Taiwan and Japan

Overcoming cultural differences between Taiwan and Japan

2024-11-29

Taiwanese travelers love visiting Japan. But stopping by for a holiday is very different from working and living there. Few people know the difference as well as Chen Wu-fu, the former chair of the Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. After working in Japan for 30 years Chen says that, though difficulties are hard to overcome at first, success can be achieved. Thanks to his unrelenting efforts, Chen started holding a Taiwanese festival at Tokyo Tower, and introduced tropical fruits from Taiwan to Japanese supermarkets. During his time in Japan, he’s seen a beautiful friendship develop between the two countries.

Chen Wu-fu
Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chair
Of every 10 students that go to study in Japan, only one stays in the country. That’s because they can’t adapt to the lifestyle.

Having worked in Japan for 30 years, Chen Wu-fu recounts the hardships of trying to make a living in a foreign land. He shared his experiences on a FTV program, going into the differences of living in Taiwan and Japan. Next to him, Riria Infinity from Japan nods in agreement.

Riria Infinity
Japanese immigrant
In the workplace, Japanese employees have to be very careful about hierarchy. Maybe that’s reflected in having to come to work early. Work hours are for work, so you might have to come in half an hour or even one hour early to prepare for the work day.

Japan’s work culture is very different from Taiwan’s. Chen says that it took him many years of daily grind in order to become established in Japanese business circles. As the former chair of the Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he brought together the power of Taiwanese business people in Tokyo to hold the Tokyo Tower Taiwan Festival. The event aims to help overseas Taiwanese cope with homesickness while promoting Taiwan abroad. He’s also helped Taiwanese fruits, such as pineapples, bananas and sugar apples make their way to Japanese supermarkets, resulting in an additional 10,000 tons of pineapple sales ever year.

Chen Wu-fu
Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chair
It was very difficult to break into the Japanese market due to price differences. But thanks to the growing friendship between Taiwan and Japan in recent years, Japanese people have been willing to pay premium prices for Taiwanese pineapples in order to support local farmers. You can truly see who your friends are in times of hardship.

Riria Infinity
Japanese immigrant
Since Taiwan helped Japan so much in the past, my friends and relatives in Tokyo are willing to buy pricier produce from Taiwan. Once you eat Taiwanese pineapple, you’ll never forget it.

Ruan Jhao-syong
Overseas Community Affairs Council deputy minister
Through this kind of soft power, we can get more people to understand Taiwan, which in turn influences mainstream opinion in their society. This is something we should keep on doing, as it is a very important way of marketing Taiwan.

Taiwan’s delicious bites, culture, and soft power are opening up endless possibilities internationally. The close ties between Taiwan and Japan prove that sincerity can blossom into strong friendships.

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