In the States, I was much more used to the biweekly payroll style, but here in Japan, jobs often pay monthly. It took me some time to learn how to budget on a monthly salary, but after three years, it's completely a non-issue! I actually like the one lump-sum because you have everything you  just made upfront, so there's more flexibility in budgeting. A tip of advice though if you're planning on moving and working in Japan: expect to go your first month at a job without being paid! If you start working on January 1st, and payday is on the 25th, don't expect anything on that day (Some jobs can pay out that soon, but don't bank on it). You'll have to make it to February 25th to get your January pay. Likewise, expect one last paycheck a month after you leave.

I used to loathe getting the W-2's from my jobs in the States, especially when I was a broke college student working nearly four different part-time jobs. In addition to that, paying students loans, deducting health expenses, figuring out if you qualify for this credit or deduction and then doing the same on the city and state level was just a huge yearly event, and I don't even know what I'd do now that I have a child. Well, never fear in Japan! If you work full-time for a company (Doesn't apply to freelance or part-time), your company handles all of your taxes! I just have to fill in this document stating how many dependents I have, etc., and boom my taxes are done! I do miss getting a tax-refund, but at least I don't have to mentally prepare myself for the hair pulling and nail biting while I figure out if I'm using the correct form or not.

The Japanese used to do a lot of things close to the floor, such as sit, socialize, and eat, so it's imperative the floor be kept as clean as possible. Therefore, it is custom in Japan to take off your shoes when entering a Japanese home, but the same applies to some offices! You'll often see a genkan (vestibule) lined with shoes and there may be slippers available or you bring your own shoes. Both jobs I've worked for in Japan adopt this method, and I think the same applies to public schools if you plan to work as an English teacher in Japan. I also take my shoes off when entering my daughter's daycare. It was so hard for me in the beginning to remember to bring my indoor shoes () or take them with me when visiting other workplaces. Also, I was surprised that when I went to the real estate office, I was expected to take off my shoes too! After three years, I've wholeheartedly adopted this style, and will be making my home in America a "No Outdoor Shoe" zone!

Ho-ren-so stands for  hokoku (report), renraku (communicate), soudan (consult/discuss). These are the basis of Japanese business communication. In America, you often see key phrases, such as "self-starter", "takes initiative", "quick thinking", etc. In the States, employees are often rewarded for making decisions on their own without help from others. Well, that is not the case in Japan. Everything should be reported and communicated with the relevant people (such as bosses and supervisors) and then discussed with them before making a decision. Japan is a collectivist society, and collective decision and problem solving is very fundamental. In America, relying to much on others may make you look weak or ineffective. However, in Japan, keeping close contact with your colleagues may allow you to be rewarded with greater authority and trust. 

If you happen to have ever applied for an apartment in Japan, you may have been asked to provide a guarantor. A guarantor is pretty much equivalent to a co-signer in America. In the case of an apartment, the person who acts as your guarantor is someone who will pay the rent owed in the case that you do not pay. So far, that makes sense since we do it for cars, loans, etc. in America as well. However, I was shocked when my employer asked for a guarantor upon being hired. I needed to find someone to sign a document that states that they will be responsible for any damages I may incur to the company! I was really shocked and frustrated because no one should have to be responsible for my mistakes/problems, but you'll understand that many things are connected here in Japan. That is why shame is a big proponent of Japanese culture. In America, maybe only the person involved will be effected, but here in Japan, the family will also be shamed or embarrassed.  Employers may also call the parents of job applicants to ask permission to hire their child. 

Paid transportation is a nice perk of working in Japan. Although this may apply only to full-time employees, it's pretty nice to be able to travel anywhere in between your home and workplace for free. In America, I could get reimbursed if I was driving to multiple job locations, but having fully paid transportation was very rare in the States! 

I guess this relates back to ho-ren-so, but I've never seen so many people involved in one task until I came to Japan. Everyone has to have a job, be involved, and do something. Nothing is trivial. I went to get my vaccination and it was at a mass testing site. There was someone to usher me in, another to guide me to the line, another person monitoring the line, someone to check documents, another to push the elevator button, another to guide me to the room, and another to guide me to the dr. and then another to guide me to the nurse who gave the shot, and another to give me the brochure about side effects and then there were about 4 more people involved after that. Geez! And I see this happening everywhere. It does make things more efficient, but I didn't realize just how many hats Americans wear! In the workplace, this means you may be relegated to tasks that might not be in your job description quite often. This also means you'll be expected to do such tasks in the name of teamwork.

One perk of being a boss a job in America is getting your very own office. That's often not the case in Japan. Your boss's desk may be right next to or across from your own (This is the case for me!). Remember ho-ren-so? With an open office layout, employees can easily report and discuss, managers can easily observe and monitor, and the Japanese enjoys group orientated interaction more than the isolating and individualistic style of offices and cubicles found in America. Don't worry about privacy either. Due to ho-ren-so, people know your business anyway! Furthermore, there is a physical lack of space in Japan, which makes individual, spacious offices, a luxury.