From Far North to Far East. A Norwegian's Experience Living and Studying in Japan
- Adam Raelson
- Mar 5
- 5 min read
A CultureComms Consulting interview with Axel Julsrud.
Moving abroad is always an adventure, but relocating to a country with vastly differing cultural norms, communication styles, and social structures presents a unique set of challenges. For many Westerners, Japan is a fascinating case study in this regard. It is a society known for its collectivism, high-context communication, and meticulous attention to etiquette. How does a Norwegian navigate this landscape? To explore this, we spoke with Axel Julsrud, a Norwegian student who has been living in Japan for the past three years.
Meet Axel Julsrud
Axel: Hei! I’m Axel. I grew up in Oslo, Norway. Norway is a rugged country located on the Scandinavian peninsula in Northern Europe. We are a small nation of only about 5 million people but Norway is well-known for its beautiful landscapes and our unique culture. But my curiosity about the world really took off when I spent two formative years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as a kid. That early exposure to different cultures opened my eyes and sparked a lifelong interest in exploring new places and perspectives.
It was during my time in Kuala Lumpur when I met a friend who spoke Japanese. Back in high school in Norway, I became interested in linguistics and politics, and I started learning Japanese on my own. Eventually, it made sense to travel to Japan to study the politics of the region while continuing to study the language. I’ve now been living here in Tokyo for three years where I am studying international relations at Waseda University.
Q: Axel, what were your first impressions of Japan? Did you experience any culture shocks upon arrival?
Axel: I suppose my first real culture shock was witnessing Japan’s above-and-beyond approach to customer service. When I arrived in Japan, it was my first time traveling alone, and immediately after landing, I was informed by an airport employee that my luggage hadn’t arrived. But what could have been a stressful experience turned out to be surprisingly reassuring - the professionalism and politeness of the staff completely shifted my perspective. As I took the train into Tokyo, luggage-less in a foreign country, I encountered the same behavior from everyone around me. It’s taken for granted here but can be quite surprising for newcomers. Luckily, my luggage arrived a short time later!
Q: How would you describe Norwegians in terms of communication and interaction styles?
Axel: If I had to generalize, I’d say Norwegians tend to be casual and pleasant but maintain a polite distance unless they know someone well. Strong emotions like sadness and anger are rarely expressed in professional settings, and there’s an ingrained cultural humbleness and resistance to boasting, which is common across the Nordic region. At its best, I’d say this results in clear and measured interactions, but like anywhere, individual experiences vary.
CultureComms’ Response: Norwegian culture tends to exhibit high emotional restraint, meaning there is a preference to keep emotions in check in public settings. This aligns with the semi-fictional, semi-humorous Nordic concept of Janteloven, which historically discouraged overt self-promotion. Japan shares this high emotional restraint, due to a concern for maintaining collective social harmony and avoiding loss of face.
Q: What are some of the most striking cultural differences between Japan and Norway?
Axel: One thing that stands out in Japan is the sheer volume of information provided for even the simplest bureaucratic tasks. Whether it’s university paperwork, government forms, or insurance documentation, you receive an overwhelming number of pamphlets, emails, and booklets. I’m not sure anyone reads all of it, but the assumption seems to be that having access to extensive information will somehow be helpful.
CultureComms’ Response: Japan has high uncertainty avoidance, meaning structures and rules are designed to eliminate unpredictability. Extensive documentation is perceived in such a way that everyone has all the necessary information to avoid confusion or mistakes. Additionally, Japan’s high collectivism approach assumes that the same information applies to all, whereas in individualistic cultures like Norway, there is a stronger expectation that individuals will assess and seek out the information they personally need.
This also ties into Japan’s reactive culture, as described by the Lewis Model of cultural communication. Japanese tend to prioritize absorbing and processing information before making decisions, leading to detailed, exhaustive documentation to ensure preparedness. In contrast, Norway, a linear-active culture, prefers to focus on one task at a time and processes only the necessary information before moving forward.
And again, due to Japan’s high emotional restraint and emphasis on maintaining control mean that potentially not knowing something or appearing unprepared in public can be seen as embarrassing. Having access to exhaustive information prevents such situations.
Q: Are there specific aspects of Japanese culture that you’ve found particularly challenging or fascinating to adapt to?
Axel: Filling out forms by hand, constantly! I’ve come to accept that if I just comply, things will proceed smoothly.
CultureComms’ Response: Japan’s emphasis on tradition and formalities manifests in bureaucratic processes. The preference for handwritten forms reflects a resistance to unpredictability, ensuring consistency and adherence to established procedures.
Q: Are friendships formed differently in Japan compared to Norway?
Axel: One big difference is the role of student clubs and after-school activities in Japan. These are a major part of student life, whereas in Norway, they exist, of course, but they’re less central.
In terms of interactions with professors, my university is quite international, however, Japanese professors usually maintain a more formal and hierarchical relationship with students. That said, it’s not unusual for professors to invite students to nomikai (dinners with drinks), which are much more relaxed. While Norwegian culture also has a festive dinner & drinks event among professionals or students, it is typically held in December before Christmas. Nomikai happens regularly throughout the year, often after work or university, sometimes even weekly.
CultureComms’ Response: Japan is extremely high on the power distance dimension, meaning relationships between students and professors, elders, and professionals are more hierarchical than in Norway, a culture that is extremely low on the power distance dimension, which prefers more casual interactions across all members of society. The nomikai culture also reflects Japan’s relationship-based trust, where professional relationships must be nurtured regularly, unlike Norway’s task-based trust system.
Q: Has your time in Japan changed how you view or appreciate Norwegian culture?
Axel: Japanese politeness registers embedded within the language are incredibly complex, and at times, I miss Norway’s unfailingly casual & simple communication style!
Q: And Axel, lastly, what advice would you give to people planning to live, study, or work in Japan?
Axel: Put in the effort to learn as much Japanese as you can. Even if there’s a language barrier, your efforts will be appreciated! In Japanese society, it especially signals respect and a willingness to adapt to the culture.
Final Thoughts
At CultureComms Consulting, we specialize in helping teams navigate cross-cultural dynamics. Whether it’s understanding cultural dimensions or social or business norms, we’re here to support your global success.
And for professional Norwegian language training with a highly experienced native speaker, connect with Axel Julsrud.
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