Transcript Slide 1

DOING BUSINESS IN JAPAN
By
Karen Correa
Laurence Dervain
Chris Fredrick
Kraig McConihay
Introduction
General Information
Preparation for Business Dealings
Business Meetings
Communication
Business Entertaining
General Information
Geography
Thousands of islands; four largest islands:
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku
Bordered by the Sea of Japan, East China
Sea, and the Pacific Ocean
Smaller than California: 378,000 sq km
Population of Japan: 125,000,000
Climate
Varying climate: Temperate to subtropic
Four seasons
The summer is hot and humid
Winters are mild
Spring is Rainy
Fall brings Typhoons
Major Cities
Tokyo - 8.0 million
Yokohama - 3.4 million
Osaka - 2.5 million
Nagoya - 2.1 million
Sapporo - 1.8 million
Kobe - 1.5 million
Kyoto - 1.4 million
Economy
World’s 2nd largest economy
Some of the world’s largest industries
Motor vehicles and electronic equipment
In 2002: GDP = $3.55 trillion
Economy grew 0.8 percent in the
September quarter in 2002
Problems faced: Deflation, record
unemployment, bad loans
Currency
Japanese currency: YEN
$1 ~ 130 YEN
Currency (cont.)
Better take plenty with you
Transportation
Shinkansen: Electro magnetic trains
"Tokido”: Shinkansen train running from
Tokyo to Osaka
Other types of transportations are taxis,
buses and airplanes etc.
Religion
Buddhism
Shintoism
Confucianism
Christianity
Islam
National Holidays
Jan 1: New Year’s Day (o-shogatsu)
Feb 11: National Foundation Day
April 29 – May 5: Golden Week
May 3: Constitution Day
July 13 – 16: O-bon, festival of the dead
Dec 23: Emperor Akihito’s Birthday
Electricity
100 Volts
Many hotels have 110-120V
Varying frequency
50 Hz to 60Hz
Take a Voltage Converter
to protect equipment
Toilets
Different from those in the U.S
Familiarize yourselves with using them
When visiting homes, wear toilet
slippers provided
Emergency Numbers
Toll free Numbers
Police
110
Fire
119
Ambulance 119
Preparation for Business
Dealings
General Concepts
The group is more important than the
individual
Avoid confrontations/ direct questions
Status
Strong sense of hierarchy, rank or
position
Business Attire
Dress Code: Business Professional
Dress Conservatively
Women: Wear jewellery, makeup, and
perfume sparingly
Business Attire (cont.)
Take off shoes in
temples and houses
Slip-on shoes and good
supply of clean socks
Wearing a Yukata
(robe) in traditional
inns (ryokans)
Wrap left over right
Business Cards (Meishi)
Present and receive meishi with both
hands.
Print Japanese on one side
Study the business card
Include important information
Women in Business
Inform them of your status as early as
possible
Demonstrate skills and professional
competence
Maintain a restrained, dignified manner
Learn about Japanese culture
Appointments
Punctuality
Call personally
Scheduling appointments: Avoid
New Year, Dec. 28 to Jan. 3
Golden Week, April 29 to May 5
O-bon, mid-August
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 or
5:30 p.m.
Gift Giving
Important Japanese business
protocol
The ritual of gift-giving is more
important than the gift itself
Present gifts with both hands privately
Different gifts for unequal ranks
Before accepting, refuse modestly
Good and Bad Gifts
Good
Gourmet foodstuffs,
fresh fruit
Electronic toys
Cuff links
Something that
reflects the interests
and tastes of the
recipient
A simple
commemorative
photograph
Bad
White flowers of
any kind.
Giving four or nine
of anything.
Red Christmas
cards.
Business Meetings
Business Seating Order
Standing/ sitting in
order of seniority
Face equally
ranked counterpart
Exchange Meishi
Visiting side gets
good side of room
Side facing
window
Business Dealings
Refrain discussing business for first 15
minutes
Start after “Jitsu wa ne” meaning “the fact of
the matter is”
Address the most senior member first
Avoid
accusations/ direct refusals
Atmosphere of grave seriousness
Avoid Western jokes
Light humor OK during breaks
Business Dealings (cont.)
“Saving Face”
Hide moods, anger etc.
Every word said is taken literally
For ex: “This is killing me” or “This is
the bomb”
Remember: Convening among
themselves, the Japanese will go over
your proposal in painstaking detail.
Decisions and Contracts
Group decision-making
Do not push for an answer
Wait for consensus
Oral agreements preferred
Re-negotiable
Communication
Conversations
hello = “konnichiwa”
good evening = “konbanwa”
Direct remarks to senior member
Frequently say “I’m sorry” (Go Men
Na Sa I)
Avoid complex jokes/ sarcasm
Do not talk about WW2
Names & Titles
Name order: Last name First name
Attach an appropriate title to the last
name
San: the most neutral and famous title
Sama: more polite form of san
Do not add a title to your own name
Bows and Gestures
Most important part of Japanese
etiquette
Shows respect, humility
Bow in addition to shaking hands
Bow lower to someone of higher
status
Also, if uncertain
Avoid unusual facial expressions
Ex: Winking, shrugging shoulders
Bows and Gestures (cont.)
Business Entertaining
Dining Out
Always be punctual
Be prepared to sit at very low traditional
tables
Taking a Japanese businessperson to
lunch/dinner
Select restaurant of your own culture
Itadakimasu & gochisosama
Dining Out (cont.)
Proper usage of chopsticks
Drink responsibly
Paying:
Host always pays
Bring your bill to the cashier
Pay right after ordering or at vending machine
Tipping not necessary
Karaoke Bars
Sing along to popular songs
Women are not allowed at geisha houses
and sumo wrestling fights
Making a Toast
Say “Kampai”,
meaning Cheers
Host sips first
Public Behavior
Be polite always
Always bow [“ojigi” (oh-jee-ghee)]
No spitting, snorting or blowing your
nose in public
Smile to mask displeasure
Direct eye-contact now common
Closing
Bowing is extremely important
Show respect and humility always
Group is more important than the
individual
“Saving Face” is a very important
concept
Questions