I'm new to this forum, so there may be some topics on 'working in a foreign country' already. Anyways....
I got my PhD in Canada, and now doing research in Japan. I grew up in Hong Kong, so I thought I could easily adapt to the Japanese culture, which was 'just another Asian country', right? But as time goes by, there're more and more things that baffles me, and at the same time, there're plenty of pleasant surprises. I would be nice to have a place to share those experiences.

Please, share your experience. It is very interesting!

Yes please share, I would love to hear about our fellow scientists and their lab culture!

hi , I am doing my PhD in japan. Initially I had some surprises about the work culture , slowly I got used to it. Now, when my PhD is ending I again feel the same surprises bothering me.

hello again,

I'm working as a postdoc at Chiba University.
So to start off, my first surprise was that in this university, they take attendance- of everyone, professors and postdoc included! I am so used to my old lab's system - come and go as you wish, as long as you get things done. The secretary of this lab collect everyone's stamp (instead of signiture, Japanese use name stamps). Everyday she mark everyone's attendance on a book to be checked by the university.

I am at hamamatsu univ. school of medicine. The system here is same as you mentioned. Although that is not what worries me the most. It is the total dominance of the lab by the prof. which hurts me and he is secretive too.