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Japanese business ethics, culture, and practice are unique to Japan, and there is limited academic literature in the West (Fukukawa, & Teramoto, 2009; Iwao,1997; Mizuo, 1998; Oh, & Koh, 2016; Todeschini, 2012; Tsalikis, & Seaton, 2008; von Staden, 2016; Wagner-Tsukamoto, 2008; Wang, 2010). The objective of this literature review is to research 1) traditional business ethics concepts and its development in Japan, 2) Japanese corporate citizenship behavior, and 3) Japanese managerial and employee business ethics to help American business leaders better understand Japanese business ethics culture. Current trends relative to business ethics in Japan are being discussed as needed throughout this paper. Finally, this paper draws a conclusion and practitioner implications. How Japanese business people perceive the U.S. business practices and approach are discussed as well.
INTRODUCTION
The global landscape of business ethics is currently changing as companies increasingly interact with foreign MNE's and expand their own business operations (Vollrath et. al, 2017; Lloyd, 2016). Cultural differences between countries is a well-established field, most notably by Hofstede (1980). However, business research focused on understanding the cultural practices within the business context needs to be developed. This is particularly relevant as globalized markets become more integrated (Lloyd, 2015). Business ethics in Japan is not well studied or published in the West for academics and practitioners to engage in business with the Japanese effectively (Fukukawa, & Teramoto, 2009; Iwao,1997; Mizuo, 1998; Oh, & Koh, 2016; Todeschini, 2012; Tsalikis, & Seaton, 2008; von Staden, 2016; Wagner-Tsukamoto, 2008; Yamamoto & Lloyd, 2019; Wang, 2010). What is considered ethical in Japan is not well known to those in the U.S (Allen, 2018; Alston & Takei, 2005; Azar, 2016; Dunfee & Nagayasu, 1993; Engel, 2003; Lewis, 2017; Sagers, 2018). One way to investigate how the Japanese handle business ethics issues might be to study how Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), an influential business association in Japan, advances policies and ideas about Japanese business ethics such as corporate citizenship behavior, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Due to a lack of ample academic literature on Japanese business ethics in the West, this research uses peer-reviewed journal articles and academic sources available in George Fox University's academic library databases and surveys several relevant Japanese business ethics areas beneficial for the Western business researchers and...
