ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses questions regarding why Japanese society needs communications professionals and what their roles and contributions might be for Japanese institutions and organizations that have previously been solely domestically oriented. It also addresses what new opportunities they could create in various business fields by improving the international competencies of corporate enterprises, government bodies, and other organizations that are in dire need of multinational business dealings and intercultural activities. The chapter explains that Japan needs a language auditing program for businesses and government bodies as well as for individual employers and employees. The international communication management professional (ICMP) as a program to increase cultural and linguistic diversity can reduce the likelihood of potential conflicts that could result from linguistic and cultural misunderstandings in the process of intercultural and international communication. The chapter discusses the increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan, which demands a more internationally friendly environment in Japan, is the catalyst for the design of the program.
