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Cross Cultural Etiquette and Manners: Japan
- Japanese get impressed by the way you dress. So, dress
well befitting your status.
- Men should normally wear dark conservative suit for
business and formal meetings.
- Women should dress conservatively with minimum
accessories. Women should avoid wearing pants in business settings.
- In Japan, you are supposed to remove your shoes many
times in many situations. Therefore, prefer the slip-on type shoes that
are easy and quick to remove and put on again. Women can do with flatter
or low heeled shoes- they should not look taller (particularly more than
men).
- For exchanging greetings you should bow. Lower you bow,
you are showing more respect. Some Japanese may shake hands also to greet
but the handshake may be weak, do not worry about it.
- Greet the senior most person first and then others in
descending order. Normally the senior official will act more as a
ceremonial representative of his company. The lower ranking officials will
usually do the talking or negotiating.
- When doing business in Japan be aware of hierarchy and
adapt your behaviour accordingly. Japanese put lot of emphasis on
hierarchy.
- Team-work and group cohesiveness are ingrained in
Japanese culture. Therefore, Japanese stress compromise and
self-discipline. You should be aware of it when doing business with them.
- At a Japanese meeting, you will normally deal with a
team as opposed to an individual, each member with a specialization. Also,
Japanese go into lots details. Therefore, your preparation should also be
in-depth.
- Professionalism and formal behavior are given
importance in Japan.
- In Japanese business situations, exchanging business
cards (called meishi in Japanese language) is very important. Business
dealings can start only after the business exchange cards ceremony is
over. Business cards should be exchanged after the greetings.
- Print your business card in Japanese on one side and in
your home language on the other side. While presenting your card, present
the Japanese side up.
- Present and receive the business cards with both your
hands. Do study the card properly and with interest. Do not keep it in
pocket or wallet; after careful study of the card, put it in your carry
case for storage of cards. Do not write or scribble on the card.
- Address Japanese person with his last name suffixed
with "san" which means Mr or Ms.
- Japanese people prefer to be addressed by the last
names. Therefore do not insist Japanese to address you only by your first
name.
- Seek assistance to clarify the pronunciation of the
names.
- Japanese person finds it difficult to use the word
"no". He may respond with "yes" to most of your
questions but that does not necessarily mean that he is agreeing; it may
really be a "no". This knowledge will help you in carrying out
business negotiations with Japanese.
- Do not use exaggerated hand gestures, facial
expressions and movements in your communication since Japanese do not do
so normally.
- Some times you may find silence taking place while in
the midst of discussions and you may even find few Japanese closing their
eyes. Do not interrupt at such occasions,; perhaps they need time to
reflect.
- Japanese prefer doing business with quiet, sincere and
compromising people as compared to dealing with extroverts. Therefore,
exhibit humility, be implicit in your communication and project yourself
as non-threatening.
- Normally business entertaining is done in restaurants
or bars. It is done after office hours.
- Allow host to order the meal and pay; Japanese prefer
it that way.
- Tipping is generally not expected in Japan.
- During business dinners, business may be discussed.
- Drinks are commonplace in business entertaining. But do
not pour a drink yourself; let someone else pour drink for you. If you do
not drink, you can politely regret by saying, "No thanks".
- If you are invited at a Japanese home which is rare,
consider it as an honor and appreciate it profusely to your host.
- Do use polite words like excuse me, please often.
Politeness is appreciated. Praise the hospitality. Appreciate the food.
- In social gatherings, punctuality is not a strict rule.
- Business and personal gifts are appreciated in Japan.
Give and accept the gift with both hands. Present the gifts at the end of
a visit.
- Normal manners like not pointing at others, not blowing
nose in the company of others, not encroaching the private space of others
should be strictly followed.
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