"Instead of being evaluated on their capability to manage the overall system architecture, Japanese IT project managers are often assessed on how they can personally relate to the team members. Taking team members out for a drink, listening to their personal issues, serving as both counselor and cheerleader, are important to strengthen a project manager’s people network. "

OTOH, I've worked for several western corporate orgs where we have no shortage of PMs, stuck in meetings and forwarding emails and not doing any of the above.

+1 Japan