Cross cultural Behavior of Japan

Contents 1. Features of the Flag 2. About Japan 3. The People 4. Language 5. Greetings & Form of Address 6. Body Language 7. Dress Code 8. Gift Giving 9. Business Cards 10. Dining and Entertainment 11. Dos and Donts

Features of the Flag The Japan flag was officially adopted on January 26, 1870 The centered sun symbol (called Hinomaru) has been an important part of Japans flag for thousands of years. The white field is symbolic of honesty and purity. About Japan Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government Capital: Tokyo Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Japan is a land of striking scenic beauty. First time visitors are impressed by its greenness and its mountains, which cover nearly three-quarters of the country. Gentle plains and intermountain basins account for only about 25% of Japanese territory. Here, the flat lands are geologically young and the soil runoff from the surrounding mountains is shallow. The rugged peaks, snow-fed lakes, turbulent rivers, rocky gorges and waterfalls and dense forests are breathtaking, but they put severe limits on livable land. With seventy-five percent of the nation unsuitable for either habitation or cultivation due to mountains and rocky sea coasts, and with only 16 per cent of the land cultivated, the entire Japanese population actually lives in an area roughly the size of the state of Maine, about 85,470 sq km (33,000 sq mi). This makes Japan the most populated country in the world in terms of population per livable square mile. The People The Japanese people (Nihonjin, Nipponjin) are a nationality originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Ethnic Japanese make up 98.5% of the total population. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries are referred to as nikkeijin. Japan is a highly structured and traditional society. Great importance is placed on loyalty, politeness, 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. Japanese religion has traditionally been syncretism in nature, combining elements of Buddhism and Shinto. Shinto, a polytheistic religion with no book of religious canon, is Japan's native religion. Shinto was one of the traditional grounds for the right to the throne of the Japanese imperial family, and was codified as the state religion in 1868. Mahayana Buddhism came to Japan in the sixth century and evolved into many different sects. Today the largest form of Buddhism among Japanese people is the Jdo Shinsh sect founded by Shinran. Language The oral languages spoken by the native peoples of the insular country of Japan at present and during recorded history belong to either of two primary phyla of human language: Japonic languages o Japanese language o Ryukyuan language Ainu language In addition to these two indigenous language families, there is Japanese Sign Language as well as significant minorities of ethnic Koreans and Chinese, who respectively constitute approximately 0.5% and 0.4% of the country's population and many of whom continue to

speak their respective ethnic language in private contexts. There is also a notable history of use of Kanbun (Classical Chinese) as a language of literature and diplomacy in Japan, similar to the status of the Latin language in medieval Europe, which has left an indelible mark on the vocabulary of the Japanese language. Kanbun is a mandatory subject in the curricula of most Japanese secondary schools.

Greetings & Form of Address A handshake is appropriate upon meeting. The Japanese handshake is limp and with little or no 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 speaks, especially 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 to chatter. Do not stand close to a Japanese person. Avoid touching. Prolonged eye contact (staring) is considered rude. Dont show affection, such as hugging or shoulder slapping, in public. Never beckon with your forefinger. The Japanese extend their right arm out in front, bending 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 spread out and thumb folded in.

Dress Code Dress is modern and conservative. The Japanese dress well at all times. Dress smartly for parties, even if an invitation says "Casual" or "Come as you are." For business, men should wear dark suits and ties (subtle colors).

Women should wear dresses, suits and shoes with heels. Subtle colors and conservative styles are best for business.

Especially for Women Non-Japanese women are treated very politely in business and it is understood that Western women hold high-level positions in business. Western women must establish credibility and a position of authority immediately. A non-Japanese woman is viewed first as a foreigner and then as a woman and is treated accordingly. Businesswomen can invite a Japanese businessman to lunch or dinner. Allow your Japanese colleague to pick the restaurant.

Visiting someone's house It is considered an honor to be invited to someone's home in Japan. Many Japanese regard their homes as being too humble to entertain guests. Shoes are not worn inside since the floor level is often higher than ground or entrance level or even the same height, Japanese don't want the floor to be stained by soil, sand or dust that may be attached to the soles. Instead, shoes are removed in the genkan (mudroom or entrance foyer), and often replaced with slippers called uwabaki. Just wearing socks is also acceptable in informal situations. Genkan are found in even small apartments, where they are correspondingly small, and feature a small step up. Socks, however, are not generally removed bare feet are acceptable when visiting a close friend, but not otherwise. There are also separate slippers used when using a bathroom, for reasons of hygiene. Wooden geta are provided for short walks outside when entering the house. It is generally considered polite to wear shoes instead of sandals, but sandal wearers may carry a pair of white socks to put over their bare feet or stockings, so that their bare feet will not touch the slippers that the host offers, or they may use tabi socks, worn with the sandals. The shoes are turned around so that the toe faces the door after taking them off. During the winter time, if a guest is wearing a coat or hat, the guest will remove the coat or hat before the host opens the door. When the guest is leaving, he or she does not put on the coat or hat until the door has closed. Gift Giving

Gift-giving is highly ritualistic and meaningful. The ceremony of presenting the gift and the way it is wrapped is as important-sometimes more important--than the gift itself.

The gift need not be expensive, but take great care to ask someone who understands the culture to help you decide what type of gift to give. Good quality chocolates or small cakes are good ideas. Do not give lilies, camellias or lotus blossoms as they are associated with funerals. Do not give white flowers of any kind as they are associated with funerals. Do not give potted plants as they encourage sickness, although a bonsai tree is always acceptable. Give items in odd numbers, but not 9. If you buy the gift in Japan, have it wrapped. Pastel colors are the best choices for wrapping paper. Gifts are not opened when received.

Business Cards The Japanese always hand a business card with both hands, and never put a business card in wallet or back pocket. Business cards should be accepted with both hands. It is customary and acceptable to ask how to pronounce someones name at this juncture. When meeting a group of people, they place business cards from top to bottom in order of importance. When seniority is not certain, they place them side by side. Dining & Entertainment

Restaurant entertaining is crucial to business. A person is judged by his/her behavior during and after business hours. Seldom is a business deal completed without dinner in a restaurant. Drinking is a group activity. Do not say "no" when offered a drink. An empty glass is the equivalent of asking for another drink. Keep your glass at least half full if you do not want more. If a Japanese person attempts to pour more and you do not want it, put your hand over your glass, or fill it with water if necessary. An empty plate signals a desire for more food. Leave a little food on your plate when you are finished eating. When drinking with a Japanese person, fill his glass or cup after he has filled yours. While he is pouring, hold your cup or glass up so he can fill it easily. Never pour your own drink and always pour your companion's. Toasting is very important in Japan and many toasts are offered during the course of an evening. At dinner, wait for the toast before you drink. Respond to each toast with a toast. Wait for the most important person (honored guest) to begin eating. If you are the honored guest, wait until all the food is on the table and everyone is ready before you eat. When offered food, it is polite to hesitate before accepting. You do not have to eat much, but it is rude not to sample each dish. It is acceptable to slurp noodles. Some Japanese believe that it makes them taste better.

Do not finish your soup before eating other foods. It should accompany your meal. Replace the lid of the soup bowl when finished eating.

Ten Dos & Donts Of Japanese Cultural & Business Etiquette DOS Be on time! THE Golden Rule. Simply dont be late. This is considered blatantly disrespectful in Japan. Being excessively early is inappropriate, too. Aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before scheduled meeting time. Remember that relationships and trust are of paramount importance. While these are virtues in many cultures, they are of utmost importance in Japanese business relations, arguably more so than efficiency, contracts, pricing, etc. It pays hugely to invest in relationship-building. Pay careful attention to hierarchy. With its feudal roots still firmly embedded, hierarchy plays a crucial role in both social and business relations in Japan. Bottom line: Pay due respect to seniors members of any group and pay attention to related protocol. Treat business cards (meishi) with care and always be sure to have enough. Business cards are considered the face of a person in Japan and are a key business currency. Treat them delicately when received, avoid marking them up or losing them, and carry more than you think youll need. Express gratitude and apologize (when sincere) frequently. Thank yous and apologies go a long way in Japan. Think of an apology as saying you feel sorry about a circumstance or inconvenience, not that you are necessarily responsible for it. Apologies trump excuses. Learn about gift-giving (omiyage) rituals. Gift-giving is another long-standing and highly ritualized custom in Japan. Definitely take the time to research what kinds of gifts and presentation of gifts are appropriate for your business partners. Be well-groomed and on the formal, conservative side with appearance. With some exceptions, professional appearance in Japan tends to be conservative/ formal. Dark and solid-colored suits, minimal accessories, clean shoes, a nice bag, and well-groomed hair are recommended. Summarize key points in writing and use visual supplements. Generally speaking, because of the way they learn English, Japanese tend to have a stronger command of written English than spoken. Whenever possible, put key points in writing and use visual supplements. Remember that the group is more important than the individual. Japan remains predominantly a group-based society where harmony, consensus and teamwork are prioritized over individual needs or recognition. Avoid singling someone out for attention, including yourself.

Try to do or say something Japanese; the effort goes a long way. It doesnt matter if you get it exactly right or become fluent, but make an effort to learn a few cultural norms and a handful of words in Japanese. The effort will win you huge points and go a long way in relationship-building. DONTS Dont directly challenge a senior person, especially in fron t of others. The importance of hierarchy in Japan cannot be understated. It is critical not to make a more senior member of any group look bad or lose face in front of others. Dont pour your own drink. It is customary in Japan for people to pour drink s for other people, usually with more junior people serving more senior people. Its important to pay attention and fill someones glass before it gets empty. Dont make excuses. When falling short of expectations, the best approach is simply to apologize for any inconvenience and express that you will work to resolve the problem. Dont refer to a Japanese person by first name unless instructed to do so. Use last name + san (but never use san for yourself!) Use of Japanese first names is typically only for very familiar relations. Last name + san demonstrates respect. Dont decline an invitation to socialize. Socializing after working hours is a critical part of relationship building in Japan and often where a lot of bridges are built. If interested in furthering business relations, accept any such invitation whenever possible. Dont self-aggrandize; modesty is a virtue. Modesty is a virtue in Japan, even to the point of self-deprecation. Tooting ones own horn is frowned upon, as is praising ones own colleagues, family, etc. Dont outwardly express negative (angry, frustrated, etc.) emotions. Japanese consider open expression of emotions, especially negative ones, to be immature and indicative of lack of self-control. Even if you are upset, its best to put on your best poker face and speak calmly. Dont wear flashy accessories, bright clothes or excessive perfume/cologne. Perfumes and colognes are used much more sparingly in Japan. Accessories and clothes that are bright, busily patterned or flashy are not a professional norm in Japan either. Err on the side of subtle. Dont engage in direct confrontation or aggressive tactics. Japanese place great value on harmonious and non-confrontational behavior and communication. A softer and more diplomatic approach is almost always best with the Japanese. Dont pass food with chopsticks or stick chopsticks in your rice. These are both actions reserved for Buddhist ceremonies associated with death.