Intercultural Communication Japan

Overview ● Stratovolcanic archipelago ● Littoral areas with high population densities ● World's tenth largest population: 126 million ● 9.1 million people live in Tokyo ● Constitutional monarchy and an elected legislature

Dimensions of the Japanese Culture ● High-context culture ● Collectivism ● Time orientation ● High power distance ● Communication Style

Basic Etiquette - Appearance and Dress ● Dress formally ● Dark clothes - black or dark blue ● Shoes that are easy to put on and remove ● For men: conservative and well put together business suit ● For women: dress conservatively also

Basic Etiquette - Greeting ● Most important piece of Japanese body language ● Lower and longer duration of the bow = higher degree of respect ● Bows are different for male and female

Basic Etiquette - Body Language ● Eye contact - rude, sign of aggression ● Counting with fingers

● Angry ● OK ● Money ● Referring to yourself

Basic Etiquette - Gift Giving ●Omiyage (Souvenir) ●Temiyage (Thank-you Gifts ) ●Ochugen (June Gift Giving) ●Oseibo (December Gift Giving)

Basic Etiquette - Dining Etiquette ●Cushions on Tatami Floors ●Chopsticks ●Eating

Business Etiquette - Attitude Towards Business Japan remains stubbornly Japanese Traditional culture Emphasis on hierarchy Be respectful

Business Etiquette - Attitude Towards Conflict ●Indirect Approach ●Use of Intermediaries ●Focus on the Negative

Business Etiquette - Typical Business Day begins from 8:30am-9:00AM work until noon, then grab lunch meet with friends, then return grab a meal around 6:00PM return to work until they leave sometimes they spend the night

Business Etiquette - Decision Making ● ringi-sho: report ● ringi-seido: “bottom-up”, consensus process ● whole group shares responsibilities Junior-Level employee Senior-Level Employee Member of the Board

Video ●

Work Cited Kumayama, Akihisa. "Understanding Gift Giving in Japan." The International Executive, 31.4 (1990): Brenner, Leslie, and Michalene Busico. "JAPAN; a Few Insider Tips for Navigating the Dining Scene; Gaining Entry to Tokyo's and Kyoto's Top Restaurants -- and Having the Best Experience Possible Once You're There -- is Trickier Than It Might Seem. Here's How to Get the Reservation, How to Find the Place, How to Order, What to Do if You Need to Cancel and a Brief Guide to Etiquette: HOME EDITION." Los Angeles Times, (2007): L.8. Oikawa, Naoko, and John F Jr Tanner. "The Influence of Japanese Culture on Business Relationships." The Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 7.4 (1992): 55. Dean, Peter J. "International Business in Japan: Learning a Cultural Underpinning for the Japanese." Performance Improvement Quarterly, 13.1 (2000): 3-6. "Decision-Making, the Japanese Way." Decision-Making, the Japanese Way. Web. 28 Oct Anonymous,. "The Bend, the Bow and the Kowtow: Body Language in Japan." The Economist (Online), (2010)