Japan🕣
State on the eastern edge of the Asian continent. Official name – Japan. Population – 125.8 million people (as of 2020). Capital – Tokyo. Official language – Japanese. Government type – unitary democratic nation-state, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Main religion – Shintoism.
Japan
Greeting
The traditional form of greeting in Japan is a bow, which has additional meaning depending on its depth and duration. A neutral, polite bow (for instance, when thanking someone or greeting a senior person while passing by) involves a slight body bend from the waist at a 15⁰ angle and a small nod of the head.
In business situations, particularly during greetings and introductions, the bow should be at a 30⁰ angle. The deepest and most respectful bow (at a 45⁰ angle) is meant to express stronger feelings, such as apologies or gratitude.
A bow between people of equal status should be equal in both depth and duration.
During the bow, men hold their hands along the sides of their body, while women place their hands in front, palms together.
Foreigners are not required to bow when greeting their partners in Japan; a handshake is sufficient. Japanese businesspeople may even combine a bow with a handshake when greeting foreigners.
A handshake should be soft, gentle, with minimal eye contact.
The purpose of the first meeting is to establish relationships based on trust, harmony, and respect. It's possible that not much will be discussed about the subject of negotiations at this stage.
Introduction
According to Japanese tradition, it is customary to mention the family name first, followed by the given name. Address your partner by their family name only (first names are typically used only within the family or among close friends).
Regardless of gender, Japanese people add the suffix "san" in formal communication (e.g., Tanaka-san), which is equivalent to "Mr./Ms. Tanaka".
Exchange of Business Cards
There is a specific ritual for exchanging business cards. They should be handed over and received with both hands. After receiving the card, read the information on it and ask your partner a few questions as a sign of respect. Then place it on the table in front of you or in a cardholder. Do not put the card in your pocket or wallet.
Business card exchanges may sometimes occur even befo...
Small Talk: Overview
Every business meeting begins with small talk. Small talk is especially important during the first meeting, as its goal is to create an atmosphere of trust, harmony, and friendly hospitality.
The Japanese style of conversation is unhurried, lacking strong emotional undertones, and often includes pauses. Silence is an important part of the conversation and should not be filled unnecessar...
Preferred Topics
Safe topics for small talk include questions related to business or professional matters.
Japanese cuisine, food products, and preferences in food are appropriate topics.
Various aspects of Japanese culture, history, and language will also be well received....
Taboo Topics
Politics and religion top the list of taboo topics in small talk. They can lead to disagreements in conversation, which in turn may cause one party to "lose face" or disrupt the harmony of the interaction.
Home and family are generally considered off-limits topics, at least in the early stages of business relationships. As the relationship develops, your Japanese partner may begin to sh...
Personal Space
Open displays of emotion during greetings, such as hugging or patting someone on the back, are unlikely to be well received by your Japanese partner.
In Japan, it is not customary to stand too close to one another; the comfortable distance for communication is about 1 meter.
In Japanese society, active gesturing during conversation is discouraged. You may notice that Japanese pe...
Communication Specifics
Direct eye contact should be avoided in Japan, as it is considered rude and even aggressive.
It is very important to nod during conversations to show your partner that you are attentively listening and following their thoughts.
Japanese people are characterized by an indirect communication style: sometimes, the tone of voice, facial expressions, or posture are more important tha...
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