Chapter VI
Japanese and Chinese Social Etiquette
1.General Japanese Social Etiquette
The people
Japan is a highly structured and traditional society. Great importance is placed on loyalty, personal responsibility and on everyone working together for the good of the larger group. Education, ambition, hard work, patience and determination are held in the highest regard. The crime rate is one of the lowest in the world.
Meeting and Greeting
A handshake is appropriate upon meeting. The Japanese handshake is limp and with little or on eye contact.
Some Japanese bow and shake hands. The bow is a highly regarded greeting to show respect and is appreciated by the Japanese. A slight bow to show courtesy is acceptable.
Body Language
- Nodding is very important.When listening to Japanese speak, espwcially in English, you should nod to show you are listening and understanding the speaker.
- Silence is a natural and expected form of non-verbal communication. Do not feel a need chatter.
- Do not stand close to a Japanese person.Avoid touching.
- Prolonged eye contact (staring) is considered rude.
- Don’t show affection, such as hugging or shoulder slapping, in public.
- Never beckon with your forefinger. The Japanese extend their right are uot in front, dending the wrist down, waving fingers, Do not beckon older people.
- Sit erect with both feet on the floor.Never sit with ankle over knee.
- Waving a hand back and forth with palm forward in front of face means “no” or “I don’t know.” This is a polite response to a compliment.
- Never point at someone with four fingers spead out and thumb folded in.
Corporate Culture
- Punctually is a must in all business and social meetings.
- Japanese may exchange business cards even before they shake hands or bow. Be certain your business card clearly states your rank. This will determine who your negotiating counterpart should be.
- Bear in mind that onitial negotiations begin with maddle managers. Do not attempt to go over their heads to senior management.
- It’s acceptable to use a Japanese company interpreter in the first meeting. Once negotiations begin, hire your own interpreter.
- Both business and personal relationships are hierarchical. Older people have higher status than younger, men higher than women and senior executives higher than junior executives.
- It’s very important to send a manager of the same rank to meet with a Japaneses colleague. Title is very impertant.
- Work is always undertaken as a group. The workgroup is strongly united with no competition; all succeed or all fail. Decision-making is by consensus. Everyone on the work team must be consulted before making decisions. This is a very slow process.
- The first meeting may focus on estabishing an atmosphere of friendliness, harmony and trust. Business meeting are conducted formatty, so leave your humor behind. Always allow ten minutes of polite conversation before beginning business meetings.
- It take several meetings to develop a contract. When the time comes, be content to close a deal with a handshake. Leave the singing of the written contract to later meetings.
- Etiquette and harmony are very important. “ Saving face” is a key concept. Japanese are anxious to avoid unpleasantness and confrontation. Aoid saying “no.” Instesd, say, “This could be very difficult,” allowing colleagues to save face.
- Do not bring a lawyer. It’s important is to build business relationships based on trust.
Dress
- Dress is modern and conservative. The Japanese dress well at all times.
- For business, men should wear dark suits and ties
- Women should wear dresses, suits and shoes with heels.
Gifts
- The eitual of giving is more important than the value of yhs gift.
- Present a gift in a modest fashion, saying, “This is just a small token”.
- Give a gift and receive a gift with both hands and a slight bow.
- Do not give anyone a gif unless you have one for everyone present.
- Correct wrapping is very important.Appearance counts for as much or more than the contents.
- Be preparred to give and receive a gift at a first business meeting.
Helpful Hints
- Avoid using the number “four” if possible.
- The Japaness may ask personal questions.
- The Japanese do not wxpress opinions and desires openly.
- Do not expect a Japanese person to say “no.” “Maybe” generally means “no.”
Points of Social Etiquette to Appreciate in Japan.
Never address individuals by their given name. The word “san” is added to the last name to show proper respect. Shoes are never worn inside the home. The most senior person or the guest of honor sits furthest from the door. Avoid groups of four in gifts or fruit. Whem meeting a person for the first time, you should bow slightly and say hajimemashite (pleased to meet you), proceed to exchange business cards, or meishi.
Meishi are essential. All Westerners use them, men and women, although Japanese women do not traditionally have a meishi.
In Japam tipping is not expected anywhere. Always take a gift when attending someone’s home for dinner or tea, one is not expected to open the gift immediaty in front of giver. If you are the recipient, do not open it unless you are asked yo do so.
However, be careful; only denominations of three, five or ten are acceptable, as the numbers two, four and nine are unlucky.
Bowing and Introductions
The standard form of greeting in Japan is to bow from the waist generally, the lower you bow, the more respect that is being demonstrated toward your Japanese acquaintance.
Pwesonal space is a great consideration in Japan, so try and keep a good three or four foot away from your acquintance.
Saving Face
Honor and saving or giving face is another important aspect of Japanese culture.
Japanese Home Visits and Dinning
You can bring a gift for your host or hostess. Also bear in mind that anything in given in even numbers and present the gift with both hands. You should remove your shoes at the entrance to the home, never walk on a tatami mat with slippers on, and shouldn’t point your feet at anyone.
Dining and Entertainment
- Drinking is a group activity. Do not say “no.”
- An empty plate sighals a desire for more food. Leave a little food on your plate when you are finished eating.
- Toasting is very important in Japan.
- Wait for thr most important person to begin eating.
- It’s acceptable to slurp noodles. Some Japanese believe that it makes them taste better.
Japanese Table Manners
- Never place chopsticks stuck vertically into a bowl of food.
- One should always clean one’s hands before dinning with the hot steamed towel provided.
- Japanese soup is eaten holding the bowl to one’s mouth, never with a spoon.
- It’s perfectly acceptable, rather, encouraged to make a slurping noise when eating hot noodles such as udon, ramen or soba.
- When taking a break from eating during a meal, one should place one’s chopsticks on the chopstick rest provided.
- Unlike Korean table manners, it is acceptable to cradle one’s rice bowl in one hand when eating.
- There is no tipping in Japanese restaurants.
Japanese Etiquette Tips by “DO and Don’t”
1.What to wear
- Do dress conservatively if visiting a temple or shrine’
- Do dress appropriately for business occasions.
2.Food/Drinks
- Don’t take food from the serving plate with ends of your chopsticks that you’ve eaten from
- Don’t pour an alcoholic beverage into your own glass.
- Don’t get noticeably drunk at a nice restaurant.
- Don’t pour soy sauce over white, steamed rice.
- Do drink miso soup out of the bowl and use your chopsticks to eat the solid pieces.
- Do slurp noodles and soup
- Do keep the bowl close to your mouth when eating noodle soup. This will avoid a mess.
3.Tipping
- Don’t tip. It is not customary in Japan.
4.Gift giving and Accepting gifts
- Do give and receive gifts with both hands.
- Don’t open a wrapped gift until later.
5.Gesturing
- Don’t use your chopsticks to point to something.
6.Greetings
- Do bow when greeting someone.
- Don’t say something to the effect of “ I hope to see you again when parting.”
7.Bathing etiquette
- Do wash yourself outside the bath before getting in.
8.Staying at someone’s home
- Do take your shoes off when entering a Japanese person’s home.
- Don’t drain the water after taking a bath at someone’s house.
9.Business
- Don’t sit until told where to sit.
- Do bring a gift, such as a little souvenir from your native city.