9. Eating and drinking while walking down the street is considered impolite to others.
10. Do not leave a mess when you’re done eating. Put your chopsticks down, fold your napkins and fix your area.
11. Do not pick up food on the same end that you used to eat your with. Try to use the ends of the chopsticks for picking up, and the front (smaller end) to eat with.
12. It is normal to make slurping noises when drinking or eating noodles. It shows that you enjoy the food and keeps it from burning your mouth.
13. When leaving a restaurant or somewhere do not steal or take some napkins or little souvenirs. It is considered very rude.
14. Before you start eating you say “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisosama deshita” when finished. “Kampai” means cheers and is used for drinking.
15.
16. The Japanese will refuse help from ANYONE even if it is needed. But the third times the charm. Usually you just ask until the third time when they will either accept or politely refuse.
17. Sarcasm is not appropriate for any situation. The Japanese consider it rude and may ruin a relationship.
18. Japanese women wear their kimono with the left side over the right. DO NOT wear it the other way; it is only for the deceased person at a funeral.
21. It is rude to talk to someone when leaving your hands in your pockets.
22. Put your hand in front of your face. Make sure your palm is facing towards your face. Then wave it back and forth, this is a polite way to answer “no” or “I don’t know” to a compliment.
23. It is considered rude to stare at someone. Eye contact isn’t polite.
25. When visiting someone, sit towards the edge to show proper respect and leaning back means closeness (such as a childhood friend).COMMUNICATIONS<br />In Japan, business cards are called meishi. Japanese give and receive meishi with both hands. It should be printed in your home language on one side and Japanese on the other. Present the card with the Japanese language side up.<br />The card will contain the name and title along with the company name, address and telephone number of the businessman. In Japan, businessmen are call quot;
sarariman.quot;
<br />Take special care in handling cards that are given to you. Do not write on the card. Do not put the card in you pocket or wallet, as either of these actions will be viewed as defacing or disrespecting the business card. Upon receipt of the card, it is important to make a photocopy of the name and title of the individual in your mind. Examine the card carefully as a show of respect. <br />In a business situation, business cannot begin until the meishi exchange process is complete.<br />The customary greeting is the bow. However, some Japanese may greet you with a handshake, albeit a weak one. Do not misinterpret a weak handshake as an indication of character.<br />If you are greeted with a bow, return with a bow as low as the one you received. How low you bow determines the status of the relationship between you and the other individual. When you bow keep your eyes low and your palms flat next to your thighs. The business card should be given after the bow. This is very important to remember. <br />In introductions use the person’s last name plus the word san which means Mr. or Ms. the Japanese prefer to use last names. Do not request that they call you by your first name only. If you are uncertain about the pronunciation of a name, ask for assistance.<br />Understand that the Japanese prefer not to use the word no. If you ask a question they may simply respond with a yes but clearly mean no. Understanding this is critical in the negotiation process. <br />In Asia the number 4 is bad luck, because in Japanese it sounds like the word ‘shuh-shuh’, which sounds like the word for death.<br />Heightened sense of formality and professionalism.<br />Usually drinks are handed out at the start of the meeting. They will we handed out in order of rank. Wait for the top guy to drink his first.<br />Tourists and foreigners are not expected to bow, or at least bow correctly, unless they are greeting the emperor.<br />GIFTING<br />Do not give ANYONE a gift unless you have one for everyone.<br />The idea of gift giving on birthdays and holidays like Christmas and Chanukah isn’t very common yet.<br />To give and to receive a present, you must use two hands and do a formal bow.<br />When returning from a trip it’s customary to bring back souvenirs.<br />The giving of gifts is more important than what the gift actually is.<br />“Oseibo and chugen”- In December and June, friends and family give gifts to each other. Usually worth not more then 5,000 yen, (about $42.32) these gifts are called “Oseibo and chugen”<br />Birthdays-The West has greatly influences the people here, and even though this isn’t a traditional gift-giving occasion, some families have started.<br />When unwrapping a gift, carefully remove the wrapping paper.<br />Be sure that the presentation of the gifts is as important as or more important than the actual gift. It is also polite to send a thank you note back.<br />Postcards are not given as a gift, fruits, chocolate, a statue and other small things are proper.<br />Gift giving is very important both business and personal gifts.<br />Always wrap gifts. The selection of the wrapping paper is critical. Do not give anything wrapped in white as it symbolizes death. Do not use bright colors or bows to wrap the gift. It is better to have the hotel or the store wrap the gift to ensure that it is appropriate.<br />Do not surprise the recipient with the gift. Give your host some warning during the evening that you intend to give them a present.<br />Do not give gifts in odd number or the number four, as odd numbers are bad luck and four sounds like the word for death in Japanese.<br />Good gift ideas include top choice beef, fruit and alcohol such as brandy, quality whiskey and Bourbon along with excellent wines. They also appreciate gifts from high-end department stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus.<br />JAPANESE WOMEN<br />Prior to 15th century AD Confucianism, Buddhism, Samurai feudalism highly discriminatory to women.<br />Confucianism: - “A woman is to obey her father as daughter, her husband as wife, and her son as aged mother.”<br />Buddhism: - “No salvation for a woman.”<br />Samurai Feudalism: - “A woman should look upon her husband as if he were heaven itself.”<br />Japanese believe that woman could be happy as full –time house-wives. Women are perceived as dependent and any display of independency is not welcomed by the society. Working women were often given menial, secondary jobs and are often seen as “wallflowers”.<br />WORK CUTLTURE<br />Doing Business in Japan? Let us help you do it better...<br />An ancient culture developed within the geographical boundaries of an island has produced a modern day society with strong cultural values, traditions and customs. Doing business in Japan or with the Japanese arguably poses the most potential for cross cultural misunderstandings.<br />Doing business in Japan necessitates cultural awareness. This means proper preparation in terms of understanding the business culture, business etiquette, meeting protocol and many others cross cultural issues.<br />Our respected cross cultural training course for Japan is designed to assist individuals and companies get the best out of their dealings with or in Japan. <br />Each training course is 100% bespoke, carefully tailored to meet the particular needs of every client. The course assists global players build their cultural awareness of Japan. This in turn leads to strong interpersonal relationships; clearer lines of cross cultural communication and minimizing cross cultural misunderstandings.<br />Business organization:-<br />Hierarchical and Bureaucratic<br />High degree of harmony and cooperation<br />Key focus on quality<br />Information oriented<br />Seniority system:-<br />Based on factors like age, sex, family name, occupation, physical features and birthplace<br />Titles are extremely important - signifies prestige and respect<br />Hierarchy legitimates the use of power<br />Decision making:-<br />Centralized <br />‘Ringi’ system – all members involved in the process<br />Often slow – unwillingness to take risk and avoids on the spot decision making<br />Long term perspective<br />Other aspects:-<br />Punctuality- always be on time<br />Indirectness critical in communication and avoid conflicts<br />Private people and uncomfortable with physical contact<br />Japanese less pressured by deadlines, slowdown as complications develop – threatened by stressful situations.<br />Information exchange:-<br />Wait for counterpart’s signal before starting negotiation<br />Japanese are information oriented - offer detailed explanations before making actual proposal<br />Ensure to discuss long term generalized goals<br />Use informal channel of communication to get the true feeling of the Japanese<br />Concession and agreement:-<br />Make the first proposal and receive counter proposal – focus on reciprocity <br />Japanese examine all issues simultaneously in a more holistic approach<br />Concessions are made only near the end of the talks and usually all at once – basic goal of long term mutual benefit<br />Customary to give the buyer a discount (called sabitsu) when agreement is reached - to demonstrate friendship and sincerity <br />INDIA VS. JAPAN<br />India and Japan are two countries that show lot of differences between them when it comes to their population, climate, political conditions, tourism, economy and the like.<br />The government of India is federal parliamentary constitutional republic and democratic. On the other hand the government of Japan is unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The Legislature in India is termed Sansad. On the contrary the Legislature in Japan is termed Diet of Japan.<br />The two countries differ from each other when it comes to their position in the globe. India lies in the south Asian region. On the other hand Japan lies in the East of Asia. India is a peninsula. On the contrary Japan is an archipelago. It can also be said that India forms a part of a larger subcontinent.It is interesting to note that Japan’s economy is stable when compared to that of India. Industrialization in Japan is also more advanced when compared to the industrialization in India. The currency used in India is the rupee whereas the currency used in Japan is the yen.<br />Japan is characterized by the temperate type of climate. It is interesting to note that you would find the climate of Japan largely varied from north to south. On the other hand the climate in India is largely influenced by Thar Desert and the Himalayas. Hence you would find that four different types of climate called the tropical wet, tropical dry, subtropical humid and montane exist in India.<br />The economy of Japan is influenced by various industries in the production of electronics, machine tools, steel, ships, chemical substances and motor vehicles. Japan is known for its abundance in service sector too as it is a seat of banking, insurance, transportation, real estate and telecommunication. On the other hand India’s economy is triggered by petroleum products, textile goods, engineering goods, software, gems and jewelry, chemicals, fertilizers, machinery and crude oil. India is in fact one of the fastest growing economies in the world.<br />India is characterized by the presence of several races. On the other hand Japan has a single race. Caste system is prevalent in India even now. On the other had Japan is devoid of caste system. One of the important differences between India and Japan is that India was under the captivity of the English till it attained independence in the year 1947. On the other hand Japan was never held captive by any foreign nation. In other words Japan was never invaded.<br />It is interesting to note that India did not invade any country in the past but was in fact invaded by many countries. Several languages are spoken in India whereas Japan is not home to several languages. Japanese is its prime language. India is officially called as the Republic of India and lies in South Asia. Japan, which is officially called as Nippon, is an island country that lies in East Asia. While India is divided into many states, Japan is divided into prefectures. In area, Japan is very much smaller to India. While Japan is an archipelago, India is part of a larger subcontinent. Japan comprises of a single race. On the other hand, India consists of many races. Unlike Japan, one can come across a lot of religions in India. Moreover, In India, caste system is very much prevalent, which is not seen in Japan society.<br />In physical features, there is a vast difference between the people. When talking about history, both India and Japan has a vast history. But India had been under foreign rule for many years. On the other hand, Japan does not have a history of foreign invasions. When talking of culture, Japan’s cultural linage can be traced to the prehistoric Jomon culture. India also has a vast tradition and culture, which dates back to the Indus valley civilization. The Indian culture has been evolved through ages and has been influenced by many other cultures .Time Difference is of 3 and half hour. India and Japan cannot be compared in any sense as they are totally different in all aspects. One can come across differences in all walks of life. Though India and Japan are poles apart, they have some similarities also. For example, both Indians and Japanese give much importance to family.<br />