Lesson 4:Take a Bow to Japanese

Have you got the last question right?
The answer is B) Clock

Quiz 3: When introducing yourself in Japan, what should follow your name?
a) Company name
b) Job Title
c) Position
(please leave your answer in the comment box below)
(Answer will be revealed in the following post! )

To recognize how much you know, let's begin with a small quiz! Highly encourage you to answer it to gain a small prize!
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ohayō gozaimasu (おはようございます)

Similar to China, Japan is a high contexting country which weighs collectivism and respects to individuals, ages, companies, methodologies, etc. The formal meeting, in the Japanese viewpoint, is the first step to build long term relationship, but not really a situation to make immediate business decisions.

1) Dress Code

• Wear conservative and neat "Sebiro" which stands for the suit.
• Wear no high heels shoes and towering over the hosts

2) Business card "meishi"

• Translate it both in Japanese and English and include your position and the company on it.
• Offer the card with both hands or just the right hand when there is no barrier between you and the recipient such as a table or chair.
• Bring alone a case to store cards and keep this in the inside pocket of a suit jacket.

3) Business Customs and Taboos

• Take bow and lower the eyes when greeting people, getting attention, showing gratitude, expressing sympathy or an apology
• Introduce yourself with your full name and then your company name. Address someone with their company name first and positions titles
• Greet from the seniors employees to the lower ranking employees. It is because the senior one would act as the representative of the company and the lower ranking ones would talk and negotiate in the meetings.
• Note the seating positions along the table are in decreasing order of importance.
• Agree with the ideas with a nodding of heads or "yes's (hai) and disagree with " maybe" instead of using "no" (iie) because it seem to be direct and negative
• Make compliments to groups instead of individuals
  
  
  Episode: What gifts should you give Japanese in order to prevent offense?