Japanese Business Glossary

親戚 (shinseki) in Japanese means "relatives" or "extended family." It refers to family members beyond the immediate nuclear family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other related individuals.

便宜上 (benigi-jo) is a Japanese term that translates to "for convenience" or "for practical reasons." It is used to describe actions or decisions made to simplify matters or for the sake of convenience. This phrase often implies that the action or decision is not necessarily ideal or perfect but is chosen because it is easier or more practical under the circumstances.

純資産 (junshisan) translates to "net assets" or "net worth" in English.

It represents the total assets of a company minus its total liabilities. Essentially, it is the value that remains if all the company's debts were paid off. Net assets are an important indicator of a company's financial health and stability. They are often used by investors and analysts to assess the value and performance of a company.

都民共済 (tomin kyosai), Metropolitan Residents' Cooperative Insurance, is a cooperative insurance organization based in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in March 1983 and operates under the authorization of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Tomin Kyosai provides a variety of insurance services to its members, including medical insurance, personal accident coverage, and third-party liability insurance. They offer affordable premiums and comprehensive plans, including specialized coverage for children that encompasses medical expenses, disability, death, and liability for damages caused to third parties.

Furthermore, tomin kyosai includes bicycle insurance, addressing the increasing number of bicycle accidents and claims. This insurance can provide up to 300 million yen in coverage for personal liability per incident.

長辺とじ (chouhen-toji) and 短辺とじ (tanpen-toji) refer to binding styles used for documents and printed materials in Japan.

長辺とじ means "long-edge binding." This method binds the longer side of a document, which results in pages that turn like a calendar or a book with a wide layout.

短辺とじ means "short-edge binding." This method binds the shorter side of a document, resulting in pages that turn like a notebook or a book with a tall, narrow layout.

These terms are often used when specifying how you want your documents to be bound, whether for personal or business purposes.

宿直 (shukuchoku) refers to the practice of staying overnight at one's workplace or assigned location, often for the purpose of being on call or available for emergencies. This can be common in various professions such as healthcare, security, or facility management.

In Japan, shukuchoku may involve an employee staying at their place of work, sleeping on-site, and being ready to respond to any issues or emergencies that arise during the night. The practice ensures that there is always someone available to handle urgent matters outside of regular working hours.