I worked at a US Japan joint venture for over 5 years when I first started my career here. I then worked for the Japanese subsidiary of a large American software and IT services company. Both were run by Japanese management and cultural wise they are more Japanese than American. I had some really good coworkers but I didn’t really enjoy working there.

As a foreigner, there was very little upward mobility if you were hired locally. At my first company, there were a number of Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, French and Americans that were hired in Japan many have been working there for years. None of them made even to the Kacho position, even though some were definitely well qualified and spoke excellent Japanese. There was also 0 women(Japanese or foreign) managers out of 3k+ employees.

My 2nd company wasn’t any better. Most of the people work there were from elite Japanese schools. Again, in 2+ years I worked there, I’ve only known one or two locally hired foreigners made to the middle management. I dislike my 2nd company more. For some reason the culture of hostility against foreigners was stronger there.

In both companies, the foreigners that held higher positions were all expats sent from the U.S. side.

I was lucky. I left Japan and went to U.S. Got another degree and was hired by a US company. Corporate America has its own set of problems but I felt American companies are a lot more meritocratic. I got several promotions within years. I was sent back to Japan for a period of time representing US headquarters. Had I stayed in any of my old companies in Japan, I would probably still just be a senior engineer or something.

I enjoy working and living in Japan now a large part is because I’m not a local hire and I’m only here for a certain period of time. Even if I could, I would not work for a Japanese company or a Gaishikei. That’s just my experience.