Japan

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• Japan

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Content

• General
• Cultural
• Business

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Quick Facts

• 50 population on 2 land
• 99.4 Japanese
• Emphasis on English
• Shinto and Buddhist

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Ethnic issues

• 99 born in Japan
• Directed towards non-Japanese
• Associated with trouble

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Tatemae and Honne

• Public persona vs. real feelings
• Tatemae
• Face shown in public
• Behave as expected to behave
• Honne
• Real feelings and opinions

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Wabi-sabi

• World view/aesthetic System
• Traditional Japanese beauty
• Imperfect
• Impermanent
• Incomplete

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Empathy and Human Relations

• Gods show human emotions
• Empathy is rewarded
• Focus on social harmony
• Avoid open confrontation and competetion
• Success only if team works together
• Symbols

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Popular Culture

• Attitudes of the present
• Link to the past
• Anime
• Manga
• Karaoke

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Basic House Rules

• No outdoor shoes
• Slippers provided by host
• Special toilet slippers

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How to visit a temple

• Be respectful
• Osenko
• Believed to have healing power
• Wear nice socks

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Japanese Bathrooms

• Two rooms
• Toilet separately
• Water in tub used by all family members

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Tables and Sitting

• Table rules
• Don't blow your nose
• Don't mention unappetizing topics
• Don't burp
• Move your dishes back

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Drinking Rules

• Serve your friends
• Do not start until everybody is served
• kampai

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Chopsticks

• Hold towards the end
• Lay your chopsticks down when you don't need them
• Don't stick your chopsticks into food
• Don't pass food directly from your chopsticks
• Do not spear food
• Do not point with your chopsticks
• Do not wave your chopsticks around

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Dining out

• Plastic or wax replicas
• Waiter shows you to your table
• Wet towel for the hands
• Bill presented upside down
• No tips

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Sitting techniques

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Giving Gifts

• Oseibo and Ochugen
• Temiyage and Omiyage
• Birthday and Christmas

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Titles

• -san
• -sama
• -kun
• -chan
• -sensai

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Superstition

• The number four
• Stick chopsticks into rice
• Give food from chopstick to chopstick
• Sleeping towards the North
• Funeral Car
• Cut nails at night
• Lie down after eating
• Whistle in the night
• Black cat

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Nonverbal communication and sign language in Japan
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What is nonverbal communication?

• Sending and receiving of wordless messages
• Gestures
• Touch
• Body language
• Posture
• Facial expressions
• Eye contact

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Other forms

• Communication through objects
• Nonverbal elements in verbal communication
• Nonverbal elements in written language

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Main functions

• Expressing emotions
• Expressing interpersonal attitudes
• Accompanying speech in managing the cues of
  interaction between speakers and listeners
• Self-presentation of ones personality
• Rituals (greetings)

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Nonverbal communication in Japan

• Kinesics is suggested to be the main difference
  between Americans and Japanese.
• Kinesics is
• Gestures
• Body movements
• Posture

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Bowing (Gestures)

• Refers to status
• The lower you bow the lower your status
• Hands in your pocket is considered to be rude

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Walking and Sitting (posture and body movement)

• Both feet on the ground
• Legs may only be crossed at the ankles or knees
• The Japanese walking style is called Teishisei
• Walking with quick strides and drooping shoulders

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Dos and Donts when doing business
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Dresscode

• Dresses and Suits refer to status the higher
  the price the higher your status
• Only suits and ties and tailored dresses are
  accepted
• Kimono at business dinners

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Meetings

• Never takes place in the house of your Japanese
  business partner
• Never wear shoes unless you are asked to
• Take off coat, hat, shoes and gloves at the genkan

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Eye Contact
Country Eye contact No eye contact
America Interest, attention, wanted Not interesting, boring
Japan Rude, aggressive Normal
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Japanese Signs
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Strictly business
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Dos and Donts

• Business card first impression
• Punctuality very important
• Business is a group activity and based on
  relationships
• While arguing, never lose temper

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Appointments

• at least 2 weeks in advance
• Avoid mid-December to mid-January Golden week,
  April 29 to May 5 and Obon
• Office only from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Hierarchy

• Older people have higher status
• Men higher than women
• Buyers higher than sellers
• Big companies higher than small ones

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Especially for women

• Non-Japanese women are treated politely
• Male-dominated business
• No jewelry or heavy makeup
• Participate socially