The Implementation of 5S Work Culture and Japanese Language Use in Newspaper Distribution by International Students in Japan
Keywords:
5S, Japanese work culture, Japanese language, newspaper distribution, Japanese newspaper companyAbstract
Although the number of newspaper readers in Japan has been declining every year, Japan still needs workers to distribute newspapers (commonly known as newspaper delivery workers) because there has also been a decline in the working-age population in Japan. To meet the demand for newspaper delivery personnel in Japan, many foreign part-time workers, who are students or university students, work part-time as newspaper delivery personnel because they need scholarships to cover their living and study expenses in Japan. However, proficiency in the Japanese language is required to work part-time in newspaper distribution, as well as an understanding of Japanese work culture concepts related to the 5S activities in newspaper distribution, especially for international students who have recently arrived in Japan. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the application of 5S work culture and the use of the Japanese language in 5S activities related to newspaper distribution in Japan, in
order to assist interns at Japanese newspaper companies. The research method used in this study is a qualitative research method with data collection techniques including participant observation and interviews. The data collection locations were the workplace of a newspaper company and the newspaper delivery area in Japan. The researchers analyzed the data based on the 5S concept: Seiri (??), Seiton (??), Seisou (??), Seiketsu (??), and Shitsuke (?) and JF Standards. The research results indicate that the 5S activities that pose challenges for foreign exchange students working as newspaper delivery interns in Japan are Seiri and Seiton. The use of the Japanese language in 5S activities related to newspaper distribution in Japan focuses on the ability to read newspaper names, brochures, and signs in the work area, which can be categorized at the JLPT N3-N2 vocabulary level.