Japanese Business Glossary

現物 (genbutsu) in Japanese refers to "physical goods" or "actual items." It is used to distinguish tangible assets from financial instruments or contracts.

For example, in the context of trading and investment, 現物取引 (genbutsu torihiki) means a cash transaction or spot transaction where the actual goods are exchanged, as opposed to futures or options contracts where the exchange may occur at a later date or may not involve physical delivery at all.

In other contexts, genbutsu can refer to physical items being discussed, such as goods in inventory, products being sold, or items being used in manufacturing.

消費者センター (shohisha senta) in Japanese refers to a Consumer Center. These centers are established to protect and support consumers by providing information, advice, and assistance regarding consumer rights and issues.

Consumer Centers handle complaints, mediate disputes between consumers and businesses, and offer guidance on how to resolve problems related to products and services. They also conduct educational programs to raise awareness about consumer rights and promote fair trade practices.

純資産 (junshisan) translates to "net assets" or "net worth" in English.

It represents the total assets of a company minus its total liabilities. Essentially, it is the value that remains if all the company's debts were paid off. Net assets are an important indicator of a company's financial health and stability. They are often used by investors and analysts to assess the value and performance of a company.

宿直 (shukuchoku) refers to the practice of staying overnight at one's workplace or assigned location, often for the purpose of being on call or available for emergencies. This can be common in various professions such as healthcare, security, or facility management.

In Japan, shukuchoku may involve an employee staying at their place of work, sleeping on-site, and being ready to respond to any issues or emergencies that arise during the night. The practice ensures that there is always someone available to handle urgent matters outside of regular working hours.

捨て印 (sute-in) is a preemptive seal impression used in Japanese legal and business documents. It is placed in the margins or blank spaces of a document. This seal indicates the signer's consent to minor corrections or additions that may be made after the document is signed.

The purpose of sute-in is to streamline the process of making minor amendments to a document without requiring the signer's presence or additional approval. It is commonly used in contracts, agreements, and other formal documents in Japan. This practice shows trust between parties that minor changes can be made without renegotiation. Typically, sute-in is placed in the margins or specific spaces designated for it on the document.

取次 (toritsugi) is a Japanese term that generally means "intermediary" or "agent." It is often used in business contexts to refer to an entity or person who acts as a go-between for transactions or communication between two parties.

In the publishing industry, for example, a toritsugi might refer to a book distributor who intermediates between publishers and retailers. In general business dealings, a toritsugi might handle the coordination and facilitation of sales, orders, and communication on behalf of a company.