Abstract
With Japan being an island country there are few opportunities to encounter and experience different cultures in Japan. To overcome this disadvantage for globalization, Japanese companies have recently begun encouraging their employees to learn foreign languages intensively and/or have set English as their in-house official language. However, they may be facing difficulties in keeping up with the speed of globalization in recent years. One consideration is to leverage those who return to Japan with the language skills and intercultural adaptability gained throughout their overseas experience. It will help Japanese companies accelerate their globalization and keep up with the rapid changes in recent times. Awareness of these issues was the starting point of this research paper. This research paper examines intercultural adaptability and language skills of accompanied spouses in foreign countries and evaluates their potential as "Global-Jinzai" (or Global Human Resources). The analyses of various aspects such as intercultural adaptability, language skills and working experiences shows that the accompanied spouses tend to have sufficient potential to be "Global-Jinzai". The more the spouses were actively involved in the host country, the higher their language skills and intercultural adaptability tended to be. In addition to the support from companies, recognition that the accompanied spouse has a greater possibility of being a "Global-Jinzai" after returning to Japan with the language skills and intercultural adaptability gained throughout their overseas experience, should motivate accompanied spouses to polish their language skills and intercultural adaptability by getting more involved in their stay. Japanese companies should recognize the presence of accompanied spouses of various ages, with various experiences in various overseas countries and the presence of a new group of "Diversity-Jinzai" (or Diversified Human Resources) with language skills and intercultural adaptability among them. In addition, Japanese companies promoting globalization should create working environments for "Diversity-Jinzai" to demonstrate their abilities. Making full use of "Diversity-Jinzai" with language skills and intercultural adaptability gained from overseas experiences will be a key for the globalization of Japanese companies.
