Japan

Origami Time!
 Introduction
 Island nation in East Asia
 Borders China, North Korea, South Korea,
Russia, Taiwan, the Sea of Japan, the Sea of
Okhotsk, and the East China Sea.
 Archipelago of 6,852 islands
 Parliamentary government with a
constitutional monarchy
 Member of the APEC and TPP
Do’s and Don’ts in
Business
Do’s in the business world of Japan
 Prepare business cards in advance
 Practice introducing yourself in Japanese
 Bring sharp-slip shoes and new socks
 On time=10 minutes early
 Timing your pitch is as important as the pitch itself
 After the meeting- when business really begins
 Practice up on your karaoke
Don’ts in the business world of Japan
 Don’t directly challenge a senior person, especially in front of others.
 Don’t outwardly express negative (angry, frustrated, etc.) emotions.
 Don’t refer to a Japanese person by first name unless instructed to do so.
Use last name + ‘san’ (but never use ‘san’ for yourself!)
 Don’t decline an invitation to socialize.
 Don’t self-aggrandize; modesty is a virtue.
 Don’t pour your own drink.
 Don’t wear flashy accessories, bright clothes or excessive perfume/cologne.
 Don’t engage in direct confrontation or aggressive tactics.
 • High context culture
HIGH VS LOW CONTEXT • Seems more harmonius
High context cultures communicate in ways that
rely heavily on context. In contract, low context
cultures rely on explicit verbal communication
• Homogeneous culture
• Kuki yomenai
• Having a beer can be more complicated
than it seems
Thank you for
your attention!