Diagrams illustrating the differences between typical office design in the United States and Japan.
Overall, Japanese office spaces are divided into fewer zones, with no private rooms and a preference for shared work areas. In contrast, American office design favors private work areas, which are divided into more zones and are accompanied by additional rooms including a copier, storage, and conference room.
The Japanese office has two identical zones that consist of a desk for the department manager and six positions for employees. The layout reflects a hierarchical arrangement, with the department manager positioned in the center, behind the employee work area for easy supervision of employees. Windows is only located behind the department manager, leading the rest of the office does not have any natural light.
In contrast, the US office has set up eight independent workstations in the middle, equipped with L-shaped desks and chairs for individual work. Section and department managers have private rooms to the right of the workspace, with the section manager’s office being the largest, allowing them to enhance their ability to concentrate. On the opposite side, there are additional facilities such as a copy room, storage area, and two conference rooms are provided, features that are not typically found in Japanese office designs. Furthermore, windows are located on both sides of the US offices, allowing for more natural light.