Intercultural Word of the Week - “Shouganai”

Intercultural Word of the Week - “Shouganai”

Literally interpreted as “it cannot be helped” or “nothing can be done about it” this phrase says a lot about the ability the Japanese have as a people to maintain dignity and calm in the face of tragedy.  The world watched in horror as the March 11 tsunami hit Japan in 2011.  But what commentators around the world noted was the coming together of the people to make order out of chaos.  The cultural norm denoted by shouganai is to follow convention, common in collective cultures such as Japans.

Dominic Tidey is the C.O.O. of EuRA, the European Relocation Association.  EuRA is the professional industry body for relocation providers and affiliated services. As a non-profit organisation EuRA aims to promote the benefits of a professionally managed relocation to companies with globally mobile employees.