Form with which the board of directors of a corporation records the contents of its annual meeting.
Form with which the board of directors of a corporation records the contents of its annual meeting.
Comments Section When you hand over your business card, it is a semi-formal thing. Don't ever blow your nose where you can be seen. Don't try to bow, you'll screw it up. ``-san'' is like ``Mister''. Guests sit facing the door. Never interrupt someone who is speaking.
Avoid talking too much or interrupting others. While this is a common courtesy worldwide, in Japan, people will not interrupt you when you speak, so it's important to return the same respect. Always leave room for responses when speaking. It's also considered polite to keep your voice low in public.
The Japanese respect our Western habit of using our first names but they will follow it with the honorific “san” e.g. John-san as a sign of respect. Or they may address you using the Western form Mr/Mrs/Miss + surname. The Japanese tend to take lots of notes during meetings as this is seen as good business etiquette.
As a rule of thumb, in Japanese business life, the surname name is always followed by the honorific suffix “san” (meaning “dear” or actually “honorable Mr/Ms.”).
Business Manners & Etiquette in Japan Be early. An error occurred. Be prepared. Business cards. Mind your clothes. Wait for your seat. Accept the snacks. Be attentive. Give out compliments but be modest.
Japanese tend to invite all the people who are involved or will potentially be involved in the topic of the meeting in the future, even if those participants are not decision-makers at this point in time. Therefore, some participants don't express their opinion at all during the meeting.
In Japan, it is not customary to bring gifts to the first business meeting. However, it is common to express gratitude and build relationships through thoughtful gestures, such as giving gifts at later meetings or during specific occasions.
Japanese customarily bow to each other rather than shake hands upon meeting. However, most Japanese accustomed to dealing with foreigners expect to shake hands with them and are rarely embarrassed when a foreigner offers his hand.
Learn and Use as Much Polite Japanese as Possible If you do speak Japanese, learn to use as much keigo (honorific Japanese) as possible. As a foreigner, you won't be expected to maintain a perfect keigo conversation for hours on end, but a little keigo goes a long way toward making a memorable first impression.
One of the key aspects of Japanese business culture is the importance of hierarchy and roles. You should always address your potential clients by their title and surname, and use the honorific suffix -san. You should also avoid direct confrontation or criticism, and instead use subtle hints or suggestions.