Abstract
The study examines the role of intercultural communication competence (ICC) and its relationship with cultural background and stress in the changing working environment of an automobile manufacturer with a foreign business alliance in Japan. Specifically intercultural communication in the environment where the employees communicate with their foreign counterparts in a language other than their native language was investigated. A survey was administerel to 70 employees. Cultural background and stress were found to be related when trying to survive in the changed corporate culture. ICC was found to be the mediator between cultural background and stress. While ICC has not yet attracted enough appreciation in Japanese corporations, it is likely to gain recognition comparable to English skills in the near future.
