Japanese Business Glossary

利害 (rigai) refers to "interests" or "advantages and disadvantages." It is a compound word made up of "利" (ri) meaning "benefit" or "advantage," and "害" (gai) meaning "harm" or "disadvantage."

In a business context, rigai often pertains to the interests and potential conflicts among different stakeholders. For example, stakeholders in a company (such as investors, employees, customers, and suppliers) have their own rigai, or interests, which might align or conflict with each other.

Understanding and managing these interests is crucial for successful business operations, negotiations, and decision-making.

従食 (juushoku) refers to meals provided by an employer to their employees. This practice is common in Japan, especially in industries where employees work long hours or in remote locations where accessing food might be difficult. The meals can be served in company cafeterias, delivered to the workplace, or provided as meal vouchers.

The provision of juushoku is often seen as a benefit to employees, promoting a sense of well-being and loyalty. It also helps in maintaining productivity as employees do not need to spend time looking for meals during work hours. In some cases, these meals can be partially or fully subsidized by the employer, making it a cost-effective option for employees.

税務 (zeimu) translates to "tax affairs" or "taxation" in English. In the context of business and finance, zeimu refers to all matters related to taxes, including tax compliance and filing, tax planning and strategy, understanding tax laws and regulations, and handling tax audits and disputes. Businesses in Japan must manage their tax affairs carefully to ensure they comply with local laws and optimize their tax liabilities. This includes dealing with corporate taxes, consumption taxes, payroll taxes, and other applicable taxes.

総勘定元帳 (soukanjou-motochou), known as the General Ledger in English, is a fundamental accounting document used in business to record and organize all financial transactions. It consolidates detailed entries from subsidiary ledgers, such as sales, purchases, cash receipts, and payments, into individual accounts. This allows for the systematic tracking of all financial activity within a company.

The General Ledger categorizes financial data by account, such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, and expenses. It helps ensure that total debits equal total credits, maintaining the accounting equation. Additionally, the General Ledger provides the basis for preparing financial statements, such as the balance sheet and income statement.

The General Ledger is essential for accurate financial reporting and effective business management.

当座 (toza), current account or current deposit, refers to a type of current account in Japanese banking. It is often used by businesses for day-to-day financial transactions.

Primarily used by businesses rather than individuals, these accounts typically do not earn interest. They often have overdraft facilities, allowing businesses to withdraw more money than is actually in the account up to an agreed limit. Additionally, they allow the issuance of checks, which is less common in personal banking in Japan. These accounts are designed to handle a high volume of transactions.

The toza account is essential for businesses to manage their daily operations, pay vendors, and receive payments from clients.

The 公正取引委員会 (kosei torihiki iinkai), Japan Fair Trade Commission, is an independent administrative commission of the Japanese government. Its primary role is to promote fair trade and ensure free competition. It enforces various laws to prevent monopolistic practices and unfair trade practices, such as the Antimonopoly Act and the Subcontract Act.

One of its significant responsibilities includes overseeing and addressing violations of the Subcontract Act, which protects subcontractors from unfair practices by their contractors. This includes actions like unjustified price reductions, late payments, refusal to receive delivered goods, and other exploitative behaviors by parent companies towards subcontractors.

The JFTC also issues guidelines and recommendations to help businesses comply with fair trade laws and promotes best practices for maintaining healthy competition in various industries.