Questionnaire for Filipino Managers Regarding Their Stay in Japan

We invited the Project Manager (Filipino) of our subsidiary LH&Creatives Inc. in the Philippines to Japan.
This was part of our efforts to make the relationship between our two companies more seamless.
During their approximately two-week stay, they were able to gain a deeper understanding of our business in Japan and build stronger relationships with our Japanese team members.

Meanwhile, from the perspective of internal public relations, we were curious about how "Japan" would appear to foreigners visiting Japan for the first time.
So, I gave him a variety of questionnaires.
This time, I would like to

What was your first convenience store lunch?

Also, while there are convenience stores like 7-Eleven in urban areas of the Philippines, they are operated differently from those in Japan, so the product lineup and other aspects differ. One of the great things about Japanese convenience stores is the convenience of sending and receiving packages, but the most obvious difference is the variety of desserts they offer.
On this point, I think Japan has a wonderful selection and quality.

Incidentally, the area where the subsidiary is located is Makati, the premier city in Metro Manila. There are many Japanese restaurants there, and katsudon should be readily available. For some reason, however, the one he chose at the convenience store was katsudon.

What are your impressions of Japanese people?

From a Filipino perspective, the expression of joy, anger, sadness, and pleasure might seem small.

What's your impression of the city (Nagoya, Sakae area)?

By the way, the cityscapes of urban areas in the Philippines, such as Makati and Bonifacio Global City, are more urban than many Japanese people imagine, and I think they would be surprised. There are many high-rise buildings.
The city of Manila has become much cleaner since smoking in public areas was prohibited.

What Japanese customs have you experienced?

Our company has all staff, including management, share the responsibility of cleaning the office. It seems he was surprised by this arrangement. The majority of white-collar workers in the Philippines believe that "cleaning is the cleaner's job" and don't have the mindset of maintaining a clean work environment themselves. He said, "It's a wonderful custom, and we'd like to adopt it at our Philippine corporation."

Top 10 Best Meals in Japan

1st placeHida beef eaten at a BBQ
2nd placeEel (seemed to favor the "topping" for Hitsumabushi)
3rd placeIchiran, Tenkaippin ramen
4th placeOkonomiyaki and Monjayaki
5th placeIse Set (Tekone Sushi, Ise Udon, & Matsusaka Beef Donburi) eaten at Okage Yokocho
6th placeTakoyaki and chicken wings
7thShrimp tempura
8th placePaitan Ramen
9thMarugen's tantanmen
10th placeYakitori and sashimi

Perhaps because it was a BBQ we all went to together, I was moved by the Hida beef.
While the Philippines also has beef, the meat normally sold in supermarkets is quite tough, so you probably would have been surprised by the tenderness first.

What souvenirs did you buy to take back?

As a matter of fact, his wife handed him a souvenir list, and he had to look for those items.
On my first day in Japan, the chairman took me to Don Quijote, saying, "It's popular with foreigners too." I realized most of the items on the list could be purchased at Don Quijote.
I understand why there are so many foreign tourists at Don Quijote, and I was surprised by their inbound marketing

Yes, I have observed Japan's infrastructure.
Was there a big difference with the Philippines?

Actually, there are many areas where it's more advanced than Japan. For example, ride-sharing services are very common and incredibly convenient. You can easily send not only people but also food and all sorts of packages.

Also, electronic money is quite widespread and is used for payments.

How was it? I bet there were things that met your expectations, and perhaps some surprises.
It's great to be able to learn about Japan from an international perspective and discover new attractions.