While Japan is historically known for its rigid office-centric culture and long commutes, the adoption of tere-waku has surged. It is often used interchangeably with ‘remote work’ or ‘zaitaku kinmu’ (working from home) to describe everything from fully remote roles to hybrid setups.
Why Tere-waku Matters in Japan
Unlike some Western countries where work-from-home culture was already established, the shift to tere-waku in Japan required significant cultural adjustments, particularly regarding the use of traditional business tools. For instance, the reliance on the Inkan (traditional seal) for documentation was a major hurdle for many companies attempting to digitize their workflows for remote staff.
Employee: “Konshuu wa tere-waku ga futsuka arimasu.” (I have two days of tele-work this week.)
Manager: “Sou desu ne. Renraku-mou o kakunin shite oite kudasai.” (Understood. Please keep checking the communication networks.)
Effective tere-waku requires robust Renraku-mou (communication networks) to ensure that despite being physically apart, the team remains as synchronized as they would be in a traditional office.
