The latest installment in a series comparing the corporate culture and views on work in Japan with conditions in Mongolia. Against the backdrop of Mongolia's growth, developments in ICT, the promotion of digital government and the strong interest in learning Japanese, it presents specific examples of differences in how work is approached in Mongolia and Japan.
Mongolia has a population of approximately 3.59 million, with mining, livestock farming and distribution as its main industries. The economy has continued to grow alongside democratization since the 1990s, and most recently, in 2025, growth remained robust at 6.8%. The ICT industry is also expanding, with startups in fields such as AI and fintech emerging in Ulaanbaatar. The government is promoting a digital-first policy and advancing the digitization of administrative services.
Interest in learning Japanese is strong. One factor behind the growing interest in Mongolian talent is the fact that the proportion of Mongolian students studying in Japan is said to be among the highest in the world. Against a backdrop of labor shortages, Japanese companies are increasingly inclined to place importance on talent with Japanese-language skills.
At the same time, there are significant differences in how work is approached in Japan and Mongolia. Mongolians, whose outlook is rooted in nomadic culture, are said to have a sense of “living each moment to the fullest.” Compared with the rice-farming culture of Japanese companies, which places importance on a long-term perspective, Mongolia is said to present more situations in which flexible judgment is required in an uncertain environment.
Against this backdrop, Japanese companies may consider ways to make use of talent by combining Japanese-language skills with knowledge of local developments. More young Mongolians are receiving education in urban areas and actively seeking employment opportunities in Japan.