As you know, Japan has a unique business culture. It is generally recognized that Japan is a high-context culture, meaning that the Japanese share common ideas, and therefore they can understand each other without uttering explicitly. I am going to introduce what you should know so that you have a business meeting with Japanese people.
Business cards
A business card is important in Japan’s business culture. When you have a meeting with your clients for the first time, you might have an experience of exchanging your business card. In Japan, there are some rules when exchanging business cards.
- If you are in a lower position than your clients, you should give your card first (regardless of age and job position, if your client will pay for your project, your client is in a higher position than you).
- When you receive your client’s business card, receive the card with both hands, and be careful not to cover the person’s information on the card.
- After exchanging business cards, put it on your card case and place it on your left side on the table. If you exchange with more than 2 persons, put them on the desk, following where they are seated.
- Do not throw the cards away even after the meeting, you should keep your clients’ business cards. Actually, there are Japanese business persons who collect their clients’ cards in a folder.
Attitude
Some older people in Japan do not appreciate having a beard. If you meet people from Japanese traditional companies, I recommend you to shave your beard.
Eye contact is important too, however, unlike western culture, Japanese people do not feel comfortable with being stared at their eyes for a long time. When you listen, you need eye contact of course, but nodding is also a method to show that you are listening. When you are speaking, it is usually said that seeing the areas from the listener’s shoulders to the top makes listeners comfortable.
Where should you sit?
It is a rule that the farthest seat from the entrance door is for the person in the highest rank. The closer the seats are to the entrance door, the lower rank they are. Therefore, if you are in the lowest job position, you should sit on the closest chair from the door. However, it is a situation where you ask your client for something like money or making a deal in the meeting. Your client is always in a higher position than you.
You might not need to do all of them, but knowing them will make your business life in/with Japan easier. At least, keep in mind that shaving your beard and keeping your attitude good during a meeting is important!
