Japan Business Customs and Etiquette

Doing business in Japan may involve traditional rituals such as tea ceremonies and traditional meals to being entertained and discussing business in geisha bars. Japanese business people observe strict codes on greetings, attire and personal conduct – and interpreters are commonly used where there are language barriers. In this case, continue to address your host and give allow the interpreter frequent pauses to rely your message.

Doing business in Japan may involve traditional rituals such as tea ceremonies and traditional meals to being entertained and discussing business in geisha bars. Japanese business people observe strict codes on greetings, attire and personal conduct – and interpreters are commonly used where there are language barriers. In this case, continue to address your host and give allow the interpreter frequent pauses to rely your message.

Do not be taken aback if you are asked such questions are “How much money do you earn” or “How big is your house” when you are in Japan. When entering some places, you will be required to remove your shoes, so make sure to pack new, clean, dark socks.

Business conduct and customs in Japan

Business attire in Japan very formal. Dark coloured business suits are the most suitable and women should be conservatively dressed. Women should also wear low-heeled shoes to avoid towering over men.

Business meetings in Japan are formal and ritualized. If possible, wait to be introduced as it can be seen as impolite to introduce yourself, especially in a large gathering. It is more traditional to bow than shake hands. So keep your hands on your sides, and the lower you bow, the more respect you show for your host.

Exchanging business cards in Japan is performed with both hands. When doing business in Japan, print one side of your business cards in Japanese and the other in English – and present the card with the Japanese side facing up. In Japan, a business meeting cannot start until business cards are exchanged.

Addressing people in Japan it’s common to use the person’s last name plus the word san which means Mr. or Ms. The Japanese prefer to use last names. Do not request that they call you by your first name only. The Japanese are very conscious of age and status. he oldest person in a group is always revered and honoured. In a social situation, they will be served first and their drinks will be poured for them.
 

Travelling in Japan: it is very important to be punctual so make sure to find out ahead of time how long it will take to travel to your destination and give yourself plenty of time for traffic. Trains can be calculated very efficiently, but leave some time for finding the office once you get out of the train station. Tokyo, for instance, is not a grid, and it can be very confusing finding a place, even if you have a map.

Business relationships and communication in Japan: Japanese understand it is very difficult for foreigners to do business in Japan, hence mistakes are tolerated as long as you display respect at all times. In Japan, business is done on the basis of personal relationships, so introductions are maintaining relationships are key. One way is to send seasonal greeting cards and be a good correspondent. Sometimes Japanese will remain silent for a long time, be patient and try to work out if they have understood what you’ve said. If they close their eyes it means they are listening intently to what is being said. Also, avoid using large hand gestures when communicating to Japanese.

Business negotiations in Japan can be confusing. Japanese do not say ‘no’, but instead say yes and firmly mean ‘no’. It is a skill a foreigner must possess when negotiating in Japan. Observe non-verbal communication to get the hang of this. Japanese seldom grant concessions and expect both parties to present the best deal possible. Use a Japanese lawyer as a gesture of goodwill and remember Japanese don’t see contracts as final agreements so they can be renegotiated.