International human resource management of Japanese multinational corporations: Challenges and future directions

Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs) enjoyed global success until the early 1990s, but recent trends have presented many challenges, necessitating adaptations to international human resource management (IHRM) and other management practices. In reviewing recent changes in the IHRM of Japanese MNCs by focusing on 'internal internationalization' at headquarters and 'external internationalization' in foreign subsidiaries, we develop a framework that elucidates these processes through the characteristics of industries and Japanese MNCs. Moreover, we discuss future research avenues for a deeper understanding of Japanese IHRM and generating new knowledge in the IHRM field.