japanese business etiquette
Japanese business culture is wrongly perceives as the biggest obstacle to starting business in Japan for may foreign companies. Dealing with Japanese culture seems to be risky, but in practise the Japanese etiquette is not so different- politeness, sensivity and good manners are the pillars of the Japanese savoire vivre. The main difference is that Japanese business etiquette is more formal, especially at the first meeting. The topic of our presentation is very broad. We tried to choose the most interesting issues of the Japanese etiquette.
Business atire
Business attire is very important and does not seem to be changing.
Men should wear dark suits (black oder navy) wih white shirts and subdued ties from October to April and grey suits from May to September. They should not wear black suit, white shirt and black tie –it is a funeral attire. Japanese man typically have well groomed short hairstyle, sometimes a pony-tail is acceptable.
Many Japanese men don’t relate easily to women with authority in business and that can present problems for women from the U/S or Europe. To avoid being treated as an “office lady” it is recommended to wear shorter or tied back hair, trauser suits other long skirt suits with seasonal colours as for man. Women should not wear pants in a business situation. Japanese men tend to find it offensive. Most Japanese companies do not allow female employees to wear jewellery, short skirts or high heeled shoes.
The attire is not complete without Japanese business cards.The next important custom in Japan is bowing.
Japanese greet each other by bowing. Shaking hands is uncommon. Bowing techniques range from a small nod of the head to a long, deep 90 degree bow.
If your opposite is of higher social status than yourself, you are supposed to bow deeper and longer than him or her. It is also common to bow to express thanks, an apology or when making request or asking somebody for a favour.
Fortunately,most Japanese do not expect from foreigners to know proper bowing rules, a nod of the head is usually sufficient.Some useful advices
Below there are some general quidelines.
- Do not blow your nose in public places
- Never pat a japanese man on the back or shoulder
- In Japan personal space is valued
Japanese live in such densely populated area that they value their personal space
- Tipping is not expected
- Japanese love to drink alcohol
When you don’t drink that’s strike against you
- Do not stick your chopcticks into your rice
It is done at funerals
- Avoid the numen fourteen
In Japanese language it is pronaunced the same as the word death. In some hotels and hospitals the number foir is skipped
- Eating on the street is considered impolite
What is your opinion about Japanese habits and behaviour? Are they natural?
Funny topic. I've never been in Japan but maybe someday i'll have occassion to see it. Their behaviour and habits are very weird for us but i'm more than sure that our habits are weird to them as well :). Summarizing i think that such lifestyle is natural for them nor for us and we should'nt criticize or glorify them for liablility to this and not other kind of culture.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Japan but I absolutely I would like to visit. For us - Europeans beahviours and habit which Japanese have maybe can seems strange but in the other hand Japanese think the same about Our culture. Certainly I can say that their culture is very interesting and I would like to find out something more about that.
ReplyDeleteThe same as colleges above, I have never been in Japan, but I would like to go there. I think that Japanese culture is very interesting, but only when you are watching it from outside. There are many differences between European and Japanese culture.
ReplyDeleteI never been in Japan but my parents were there... I agree with Szymon that Japanese culture is very interesting but form my only when I look at it from the side... or at cinema;)
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Japan, but would love to. Their culture has always been interesting to me, probably because it is such different from our culture
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Japan, but have read and heard about it a lot. I would certainly love to go there someday and get to know some of the habits; see the beautiful sights and taste the real native cuisine. I like that Japanese people value their personal space and that they try to keep it clean and healthy in public places.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your opinion about Japanese habits and behaviour? Are they natural?
ReplyDeleteIt's good, they have their originally culture, such as other countries.
"Japanese love to drink alcohol" - me too! ;)