Pros
I worked at IGS since when it was a start-up company and when I decided to move on I had seen it change a lot. Unfortunately for IGS, most of the Pros I can think of are Pros that were also the case when I joined. The database is huge and as long as you can read Japanese (or at least learn a few industry terms) you'll find it a fantastic resource. The people are largely really nice, there's nobody that I can say I disliked. The incentive trips are great, frequent and we'll run. They were some of the best memories I have of the place. Office location is fantastic and most Japanese people know and respect the company you work for. Good promotion opportunities, some people are perhaps moved up too quickly into positions they can't handle, but no one is really denied promotions they've earned. Compensation is good, not the best bonuses in the industry, but enough to live comfortably
Cons
Poor training for managers - most managers are just consultants that made the most money in their sector and are thrown into the manager position without any clear guidance on how to effectively lead people. Some manage to handle this, others not so much. Poor working atmosphere; the room is all too often a sea of gloomy faces hunched over tiny laptops. Fraternizing during work hours is frowned upon as wasting time. Team based incentives, rather than creating a co-operative environment, cause stress and resentment should a teammate underperform, or the dreaded back-out happen. What is usually a case of bad luck or poor planning leads to people losing thousands of dollars in diminished bonuses. Senior management are often too preoccupied with budgeting and forecasting to be concerned about driving business for the company (I doubt those long 'lunches' help much either) Drama; if you like soap operas, it's the company for you