Over 50% of New Graduates are Foreign Nationals - The 'Wall of Japanese Companies' That Is Difficult Even for N1 Holders
Focus Inc., operator of the original wear EC site 'CLAT-JAPAN', hired 16 new grads for 2026, 9 being foreign nationals. To help these N1 holders navigate unique Japanese business communications, they started a hands-on internal training program led by a certified Japanese teacher.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 15, 2026 at 15:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 19:01 (3h 29m after Collected)
Scene from the 2026 prospective employee orientation ceremony
Focus Inc. (Headquarters: Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, CEO: Kenta Tsunematsu), which operates the original wear production EC site "CLAT-JAPAN," has initiated an internal training program designed to deepen understanding of the culture and customs of working in Japan. This move comes in response to the fact that 9 out of 16 new graduates joining in 2026 are foreign nationals.
Many of the foreign members have acquired "N1," the highest level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). However, in actual work environments, they sometimes find themselves bewildered by communication and work styles unique to Japanese companies, such as the use of honorifics (keigo), reporting/contacting/consulting (Ho-Ren-So), and behavior during meetings.
At our company, centered around an employee who holds a national certification as a Japanese language teacher, we conduct bi-weekly training and individual interviews. Instead of mere language education, we are promoting a hands-on support system aimed at understanding and establishing the culture and customs of working in Japan.
9 out of 16 are foreign nationals
Members with diverse backgrounds join looking ahead to overseas expansion
In April 2026, 16 people will join the company, 9 of whom are foreign nationals from China, Uzbekistan, and Madagascar. Many of them left their home countries to study at universities and graduate schools such as the National University of Singapore, Kyoto University Graduate School, and the University of Queensland. In addition, members with living experience in the UK and Malaysia have also joined. A notable feature is that many of these foreign members have passed the highest "N1" level of the JLPT.
Having started business operations in Australia last year, our company is also looking at further overseas expansion in the future, and we consider the addition of members with international backgrounds to our organization as an important growth opportunity.
The unique communication of Japanese companies faced even by N1 holders
While many foreign members possess high Japanese proficiency, there are situations in the actual workplace where they are confused by the communication and work styles peculiar to Japanese companies. There are many cases where they feel the difficulty of Japan's unique ways of proceeding with work and interpersonal communication, which cannot be handled by language skills alone.
Furthermore, since the level of understanding and communication worries differ from person to person, we also conduct individual interviews about once a week. While sharing issues that arise in practical exchanges, we flexibly adjust the training content and the nature of the support.
An employee with a national certification as a Japanese language teacher conducts internal training bi-weekly
At our company, internal training for foreign members is conducted every other week, centered on an employee who holds the national qualification of a registered Japanese language teacher. Anyone who wishes can participate, and it is conducted separately from regular business training.
The content goes beyond general business manners to deepen understanding of communication and work styles unique to Japanese companies, such as honorifics used differently internally and externally, behavior in meetings, and Ho-Ren-So (reporting, communicating, consulting).
Moreover, the training content is flexibly adjusted while listening to the troubles participants face in actual work and their worries regarding communication. Rather than simply learning formal knowledge, it serves as a place to deepen understanding in a practical format close to daily business.
Scene from the training for foreign members
Not ending at 'hiring', toward an organization that can challenge globally
Our company has previously promoted the creation of environments considerate of differences in nationality and cultural background, such as setting up player spaces for foreign members. This training is part of that effort, and we hope it will lead not just to support measures for foreign members, but to the creation of an organization where members with different cultural backgrounds can naturally exert their strengths.
Looking ahead to expansion into overseas markets, we will continue to develop an environment where everyone can exert their abilities regardless of nationality or cultural background.
[About Focus Inc.]
Focus Inc. is a company originating from Yamanashi Prefecture that operates "CLAT-JAPAN," an EC site for producing original wear. Since its establishment in 2009, it has deployed original wear planning, sales, and production services for students, companies, and organizations, and has currently grown to one of the largest scales in Japan. Sales for the fiscal year ending December 2025 were approximately 3.735 billion yen.
In recent years, the company has begun business operations in Australia and is advancing its challenge into overseas markets, working on creating an organization where members with international backgrounds can thrive.
Focus Inc. Yamanashi Headquarters
[Company Overview]
Company Name: Focus Inc.
Headquarters Location: 984-1 Shinohara, Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture
CEO: Kenta Tsunematsu
Established: May 14, 2009
Corporate Website: https://corp.forcus.co.jp/
Service Site: https://www.forcus.co.jp/
Number of Employees: 68 (as of the end of April 2026)
Focus Inc. (Headquarters: Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, CEO: Kenta Tsunematsu), which operates the original wear production EC site "CLAT-JAPAN," has initiated an internal training program designed to deepen understanding of the culture and customs of working in Japan. This move comes in response to the fact that 9 out of 16 new graduates joining in 2026 are foreign nationals.
Many of the foreign members have acquired "N1," the highest level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). However, in actual work environments, they sometimes find themselves bewildered by communication and work styles unique to Japanese companies, such as the use of honorifics (keigo), reporting/contacting/consulting (Ho-Ren-So), and behavior during meetings.
At our company, centered around an employee who holds a national certification as a Japanese language teacher, we conduct bi-weekly training and individual interviews. Instead of mere language education, we are promoting a hands-on support system aimed at understanding and establishing the culture and customs of working in Japan.
9 out of 16 are foreign nationals
Members with diverse backgrounds join looking ahead to overseas expansion
In April 2026, 16 people will join the company, 9 of whom are foreign nationals from China, Uzbekistan, and Madagascar. Many of them left their home countries to study at universities and graduate schools such as the National University of Singapore, Kyoto University Graduate School, and the University of Queensland. In addition, members with living experience in the UK and Malaysia have also joined. A notable feature is that many of these foreign members have passed the highest "N1" level of the JLPT.
Having started business operations in Australia last year, our company is also looking at further overseas expansion in the future, and we consider the addition of members with international backgrounds to our organization as an important growth opportunity.
The unique communication of Japanese companies faced even by N1 holders
While many foreign members possess high Japanese proficiency, there are situations in the actual workplace where they are confused by the communication and work styles peculiar to Japanese companies. There are many cases where they feel the difficulty of Japan's unique ways of proceeding with work and interpersonal communication, which cannot be handled by language skills alone.
Furthermore, since the level of understanding and communication worries differ from person to person, we also conduct individual interviews about once a week. While sharing issues that arise in practical exchanges, we flexibly adjust the training content and the nature of the support.
An employee with a national certification as a Japanese language teacher conducts internal training bi-weekly
At our company, internal training for foreign members is conducted every other week, centered on an employee who holds the national qualification of a registered Japanese language teacher. Anyone who wishes can participate, and it is conducted separately from regular business training.
The content goes beyond general business manners to deepen understanding of communication and work styles unique to Japanese companies, such as honorifics used differently internally and externally, behavior in meetings, and Ho-Ren-So (reporting, communicating, consulting).
Moreover, the training content is flexibly adjusted while listening to the troubles participants face in actual work and their worries regarding communication. Rather than simply learning formal knowledge, it serves as a place to deepen understanding in a practical format close to daily business.
Scene from the training for foreign members
Not ending at 'hiring', toward an organization that can challenge globally
Our company has previously promoted the creation of environments considerate of differences in nationality and cultural background, such as setting up player spaces for foreign members. This training is part of that effort, and we hope it will lead not just to support measures for foreign members, but to the creation of an organization where members with different cultural backgrounds can naturally exert their strengths.
Looking ahead to expansion into overseas markets, we will continue to develop an environment where everyone can exert their abilities regardless of nationality or cultural background.
[About Focus Inc.]
Focus Inc. is a company originating from Yamanashi Prefecture that operates "CLAT-JAPAN," an EC site for producing original wear. Since its establishment in 2009, it has deployed original wear planning, sales, and production services for students, companies, and organizations, and has currently grown to one of the largest scales in Japan. Sales for the fiscal year ending December 2025 were approximately 3.735 billion yen.
In recent years, the company has begun business operations in Australia and is advancing its challenge into overseas markets, working on creating an organization where members with international backgrounds can thrive.
Focus Inc. Yamanashi Headquarters
[Company Overview]
Company Name: Focus Inc.
Headquarters Location: 984-1 Shinohara, Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture
CEO: Kenta Tsunematsu
Established: May 14, 2009
Corporate Website: https://corp.forcus.co.jp/
Service Site: https://www.forcus.co.jp/
Number of Employees: 68 (as of the end of April 2026)