If you take the 2k option and don't get on the flight BACK to Tokyo how does that play out with the company? Or is the return flight to work always confirmed and the 2k is just for te outbound leg?
It would not play out very well with the Company at all if you weren't back in Japan for your next trip. If you take the $2000 then it's ALL up to you. There is no confirmation of ZED tickets, they are standby. The $2000 is all you're going to get for the month and you have to buy both the out and back tickets. I do like your optimism that it's $2000 to get you home and they'll buy you a confirmed ticket back to Japan but that isn't even close :-) You buy both ways and if you get left behind then you'd better have a Plan B.