# Expatriate Training for Japan > Pre-departure and first-year training for European staff being posted to Japan. Includes optional spouse orientation. Delivered by Takashi Kawatani (35+… - **Source:** https://www.silkdrive.com/training/expatriate-japan - **Cluster:** cross-cultural training Takashi Kawatani, lead trainer for Silkdrive expatriate training for Japan Expatriate Training 1:1 pre-departure preparation plus first-year coaching for staff being posted to Japan. Optional parallel orientation for the accompanying spouse or partner. Delivered by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute, 35+ years) and Silkdrive. [Book a Discovery Call](/book-a-call) [See the Programme Phases](/training/expatriate-japan#phases) Teams trained by Kawatani-sensei across 35+ years include - Toyota, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - Sony, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - Panasonic, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - Nokia, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - Mitsubishi Electric, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - MUFG Bank, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - NEC, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - Fujitsu, teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - All Nippon Airways (ANA), teams trained by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute) - - - - - - - - - Takashi Kawatani, President of Diversity Management Institute Silkdrive is the preferred European delivery partner of Diversity Management Institute (Tokyo). Takashi Kawatani-sensei leads the Japan-side curriculum and trains directly; Silkdrive scopes engagements, contributes European-side context, and runs delivery. Co-delivery in Europe began in 2023. [More on the partnership →](/about-us#partnership) Programme phases ## Four phases across the first year of a Japanese posting Programmes scoped per assignment: every phase can stand alone or run as part of a connected first-year arc. Coaching cadence adjusts to how the posting is actually unfolding. Pre-departure ### What to learn before you go The business culture framework, communication patterns, and decision-making norms covered before the move. Helps the expat and the line manager set realistic Year-1 expectations and avoid the most common early mistakes. First 30 days ### Settling in at work Office and meeting protocols, business card exchange, hierarchy signals, written communication conventions. Optional first-week shadowing or live-call support if the expat is going straight into client-facing work. Days 30 to 90 ### Building the working relationships Relationship-building cadence, nomikai protocol, gift-giving conventions, how to read Japanese counterpart behaviour. Coaching support if specific stakeholder relationships are forming faster or slower than expected. Months 3 to 12 ### Operating effectively Sustained coaching for the expat as the real work begins: leading mixed JP-EU teams, managing up to a Japanese boss, navigating nemawashi and ringi on actual deals, responding to performance feedback in Japanese style. Family considerations ## Why the assignment depends on more than the expat Spouse adjustment difficulty is among the most cited reasons for early-return Japanese postings. Family orientation is cheap relative to the cost of a failed assignment. ### Spouse and partner support Failed Japanese postings often correlate with spouse adjustment difficulty. We offer optional parallel cultural orientation for accompanying spouses or partners, focused on daily-life navigation, community access, and managing the social isolation that catches most newcomers off guard. ### Family integration For postings with school-age children, we cover the Japanese school system options (Japanese public school, international school, hoikuen daycare) and the cultural integration considerations for each. We do not manage relocation logistics, but we orient the expat on what their family is about to encounter. Expert Trainer ## Meet Takashi Kawatani, 河谷隆司 35+ years helping professionals succeed in Japanese business culture, in partnership with Silkdrive on the EU↔Japan corridor. Takashi Kawatani, Diversity Management Institute, Japanese cross-cultural training expert ### Today - President, Diversity Management Institute (1989 to present) - Founder, Success Japan Initiative - Host of 'Japan Spirit', English-language internet show - Trains Fortune 500 clients, business associations, and government bodies across 20+ countries ### Publications & Recognition - Author of 13 books, incl. Winning Together at Japanese Companies (Beyond-Global, 2015) and titles published by Nikkei, PHP, and SANNO - Creator of 10 e-learning products on Japanese business culture - 13,000+ students enrolled across Udemy courses, 4.4★+ ratings - Global HR Excellence Award, World HRD Congress 2011 ### Background - Lecturer in international business, Sanno Institute of Management - Special Advisor, Japan Overseas Enterprises Association - Visiting researcher, ISIS Malaysia (Institute of Strategic and International Studies) - Doctoral studies, Human and Organizational Development, Fielding Graduate University (USA) Pricing & Formats ## Indicative pricing Pre-departure briefings run on the ladder below. First-year coaching for the assignee is a separate 1:1 engagement, scoped individually. All figures exclude VAT and travel, and the final amount is confirmed in writing after the intake call. Most Common Multi-session programme From €7,600 4 sessions, 2 groups of 10, over 2 to 4 weeks - €380 per person for the whole programme - Typical engagement €11,400 to €19,000, three to five groups of ten - Online, the format most programmes run in - The sum of its sessions, with no separate minimum Full day on-site From €3,500 6 to 7 hours, one group of up to 10 - €350 per person - Travel and accommodation separate Half-day on-site From €2,700 4 hours, one group of up to 10 - €270 per person - Travel and accommodation separate Half-day online From €1,900 3 hours, one group of up to 10 - €190 per person [Book a Scoping Call](/book-a-call) FAQ ## Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about expatriate training for Japan. ### What is expatriate training for Japan and when should we commission it? ### How is expatriate training different from team cross-cultural training? ### Should the family be included? ### Do you handle relocation logistics, visas, housing, or schooling enrolment? ### Who delivers the training? ### What does expatriate training for Japan cost? ### How does the first-year coaching cadence work? ### Further Reading - [Japan Executive Coaching (1:1)](/training/japan-executive-coaching) , the coaching format that the first-year support layer is built on. - [Cross-Cultural Training for Japan](/training/cross-cultural-training-japan) , the full programme catalogue. - [Japan Business Etiquette Training](/training/japan-business-etiquette) , the visible-protocols module covered in the pre-departure phase. - [Training for Working with Japanese Colleagues](/training/working-with-japanese-colleagues) , for the team back at headquarters supporting the posted expat. - [Japanese Work Culture Explained](/insights/japanese-work-culture) ## Prepare Your Expat for the Japanese Assignment Tell us the assignment, the timeline, and whether the family is moving with the expat. We will come back with a programme proposal, named trainer, and a clear budget. [Book a Discovery Call](/book-a-call) [See Cross-Cultural Training for Japan](/training/cross-cultural-training-japan) Insights ## From our insights Deeper reading on this topic from the Silkdrive team. [Working in Japan as an Expatriate: An Onboarding Guide](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [Cross-Cultural Training](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) ### [Working in Japan as an Expatriate: An Onboarding Guide](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [A step-by-step guide for European companies sending staff to Japan. Covers visa categories, the 60-90 day pre-departure checklist, first 30/60/90 days at the office, family support, and the failure patterns that derail most assignments.](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [May 18, 2026](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [Patric Sawada](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [24 min read](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [working in japan](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [japan expatriate](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [expat onboarding japan](/insights/working-in-japan-expatriate-european-staff) [Japanese Work Culture: What European Companies Get Wrong](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [Cross-Cultural Training](/insights/japanese-work-culture) ### [Japanese Work Culture: What European Companies Get Wrong](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [How Japanese work culture actually operates, hierarchy, decision-making, communication, and working hours, explained for European companies preparing for Japan engagement.](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [Apr 28, 2026](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [Patric Sawada](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [14 min read](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [japanese work culture](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [japanese business culture](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [japan work life balance](/insights/japanese-work-culture) [Japanese Business Culture: A Working Guide for Europeans](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [Cross-Cultural Training](/insights/japanese-business-culture) ### [Japanese Business Culture: A Working Guide for Europeans](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [How Japanese business culture actually works, hierarchy, nemawashi, ringi, wa, and the specific operating differences European companies need to understand before engaging with Japan.](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [Apr 26, 2026](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [Patric Sawada](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [19 min read](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [japanese business culture](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [japanese work culture](/insights/japanese-business-culture) [japanese business etiquette](/insights/japanese-business-culture)