IE Japan Trek 2010Boot Camp / Japanese Manners and Etiquettes

February 26, 2010IE Japan Club

Agenda

Manner and etiquettes…

• At daily life– At Transportation– At Bath– At Table

• At Business

Manners and Tips on Train (JR, Subways, bus, everything)

At station Stand behind yellow line Line up until train comes

Getting on the train Let people get off train first Keep walking into train, don’t stand near door

In the train Don’t use cell phones inside the train!! Priority seats are for elderly, injured, pregnant, etc. Let people get off the train. Don’t block the space to door.

If you are standing at the door, get off the train and let people get off, and then come back in again

Fold your umbrella (especially when it’s wet.) Don’t eat and drink inside the train, except for long distance train.

Getting off the train Don’t push, say “Sumimasen” (Excuse me / Perdon)

Manners at Bath (furo, 風呂）

Q. Suppose you take a bath at Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) in Atami. What are you expected to do before getting in a bathtub?

The answer is… B

B. To wash yourself before entering the bathing.

C. To dance a special dance.

A. To brush your teeth.

Manners at Bath (furo, 風呂）

When bathing Japanese style, you are supposed to first rinse your body outside the bath tub with a washbowl. Afterwards, you enter the tub, which is used for soaking only.

1. In public baths, do not mistake men and women's changing rooms, as it is extremely impolite

2. Absolutely avoid bathing suits in public baths3. Tattoos are banned in most public baths

Other useful tips

Manners at table

Itadakimasu and Gochisosama

In Japan, you say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") after finishing the meal.

Some Table Rules•Blowing your nose in public, and especially at the table, is considered bad manners.•Talking about toilet related and similarly unappetizing topics during or before a meal is not appreciated by most people.•Unlike in some other parts of East Asia, it is considered bad manner to burp

Manners at table

Tips for Chopsticks•Hold your chopsticks towards their end, not in the middle or the front third.•When you are not using your chopsticks, or have finished eating, lay them down in front of you with the tips to left.•Do not stick chopsticks into your food, especially not into rice. This is only done at funerals with rice that is put onto the altar.•Do not pass food directly from your set of chopsticks to another's. Again, this is a funeral tradition!•Do not spear food with your chopsticks.•Do not point with your chopsticks.•Do not wave your chopsticks around in the air or play with them.

Meal period in Japan

Breakfast Wake-up – 9:00

Lunch 11:30 – 14:00

Dinner 18:00 – 20:00

1. Exchange of business cards2. Taking a bow3. Shake hands

Business manner

Exchange of business cards

1. Cards are exchanged at the beginning of a meeting

2. It is best to stand up when exchanging cards with those of higher rank

3. If you are meeting in passing, then you may just carefully place the card in a shirt pocket or in a wallet or notebook.

4. If you are seated at a meeting, place the card gently on the table in front of you. Look at it often during the meeting in order to refer correctly to your counterpart's name and position

Taking a bow

1.  Bowing is considered extremely important in Japan

2. Basic bows are performed with the back straight and the hands at the sides (boys and men) or clasped in the lap (girls and women)

3. informal: 15 degree angle, formal: 30 degree angle, very formal: more deeper angle

4. Bows of apology tend to be deeper and last longer than other types of bow

QUESTION : Business Manner Inside a taxi

Q. Suppose you take a taxi with your clients. There are three people including you (i.e., two are clients). Which seat should you choose to sit?

The answer is… A

Driver’s seatFront

A

B C

D

Business Manner Inside a taxi

High Low

1 2 3 4

If there are four people…

Driver

Business(job) title

or 3

or 4

Question: Business manner Inside an elevator

A B

D C

Door

Q. Suppose you get in an elevator with your clients. There are four people including you (i.e., three are clients). Where should you stand?

High Low

A B C DBusiness(job) title

The answer is… D

Elevator button

FYI: In a traditional Japanese room

ExitExit

Toko no Ma ( 床の間 )

Toko no Ma ( 床の間 )

Exit / Entry Exit / Entry

FYI: In a meeting room

Low HighBusiness(job) title

Client

Your team

Moderator

Question Business Manner: “Business Casual”

Q. Suppose you are invited to a conference in Japan, and the invitation letter says a dress code is “business casual”. Which one is the most appropriate style?

The answer is… It depends..

A B C D E

Question: Typical mistakes of foreigners

“Does this (your recommendation)

sound good?”“Yes”

Q. Suppose you make a recommendation to a Japanese client (or Japanese team in your firm). What does “Yes” mean in the following situation?

B. Yes, I understand your recommendation and agree with you (not sure if we want to do it)

C. Yes, I understand your recommendation(but not sure if I agree or not)

A. Yes, I understand your recommendation, and agree with you, and want to do that

The answer is… Could be A,B,C,, but likely to be C.(be prepared to have C)

You Japanese client / team

Tricks for foreigners “Yes”

• “Yes” ≈ “Hai （はい )” or “Wakarimashita” （わかりました）．

• But, please keep in mind that ..They do not necessarily mean “I agree” or “I admit”,depending on the situations.

1)I will do it./ I agree with it./ I admit it.2)I understand. (But not agree with, or admit it!)• “Ryoukaidesu” （了解です）≈ “ I see. I follow it.”

Question

Q At a Japanese firm, which attribute is supposed to create the strongest bond?

D. Have the same family name

A. Graduated from the same university

B. Come from the same city

The answer is… C. Be hired at the same year

C. Be hired at the same year

The same new hire class

Do ki ( 同期 ) – The same new hire badge

• When (which year) you were hired by the firm is important at a Japanese firm because of seniority based promotion/salaries

• For both Corporate officers or Government officials, we always see their “Entrance year for that organization” in the press release.

• Seniority system starts from beginning, and all good “the same year Doki” turned out be the most severe rival at the end of the promotion steps, CEO.

• Do ki, works as special relationship in a company. If you are sales department and have some small trouble with engineering department, Do ki in engineering department could act as intermediary to solve that problem informally.

• Do ki works well, because it is quite common that Do ki experience Residential Program or training for long time. (some company provides for 1 year)

Question

Q Overtime work has been a problem at a company in Japan. According from Japanese business people, why do they work after official working hours?

A. Heavy work load

B. Less work efficiency

C. Hesitate in going home earlier than other colleagues (especially boss)

D. Unwillingness to see his/her spouse

The answer is… A, B, C

Question

Q. Suppose you come to Tokyo on business. You plan to have dinner with clients on Friday. What should you do after the dinner?

A. Go back to the hotel and report to your boss.

B. Go to a night club at Roppongi!

C. Chat with clients in front of the restaurant and wait to be invited to the next party (Ni zi kai: 二次会 ).

The answer is,,, C

• In many cases, Japanese clients arrange second party (Ni zi kai: 二次会 ) after the dinner

• Ni zi kai (Second party) provides you with opportunities to build a relationship with clients

• Important decisions are sometimes made at Ni zi kai

QUESTION

Q. Suppose in Nomi-kai (drinking party, 飲み会 ), you have noticed that your client’s grass is empty. What should you do?

The answer is… C

B. Tell that his/her grass is empty.

C. (Re)fill the grass, saying “Douzo Douzo”.

A. Give him/her eye contact.

Question

Q To Sense the atmosphere and decide what to do depending on the situation are important in Japanese business communication. What do we call “sense the atmosphere” in Japanese?

A. “Read the air” ( 空気を読む : Ku ki wo yo mu)

B. “Know the air”( 空気を知る : Ku ki wo shi ru)

C. “Watch the air”( 空気を見る : Ku ki wo mi ru)

The answer is,,, A “Read the air”

Q. When you apologize to customers, how should you say?

A. Sumimasen ( すみません )

B. Shitureishimashita ( 失礼しました )C. Gomennasai ( ごめんなさい )D. Moushiwakearimasen ( 申し訳ありません )

The answer is… D: Moushiwakearimasen

“Excuse me” “Sorry”

Tricks for foreigners “Excuse me” “Sorry”

There are variety of ways to say “Excuse me” “Sorry” & “I’m sorry” in Japanese.

1. “Sumimasen ( すみません）” ≈ “ Excuse me”• (Same) On the streets or MTR.. when you want to walk by the crowds.• (Same) When you want to ask something to the teachers, to strangers..• (Different) The casual way of “I’m sorry”. But in business, it’s not suitable.

2. “Shitureishimashita ( 失礼しました）”≈ “ Excuse me” “Sorry”• (Same as Excuse me) When we did any behaviors that can be unpleasant or vulgar

to others. Ex. When we did sneeze, or happened to be something untidly. • (Same as Sorry) When we did or said any rude or un-respectful things directly to

others.

Tricks for foreigners A2. “Excuse me” “Sorry”

3. “Gomennasai ( ごめんなさい）” = “Sorry” “I’m sorry”• (Same as Sorry or I’m sorry) When we apologize to others, usually in private scenes.

4. “Moushiwake arimasen( 申し訳ありません） =“Excuse me” “Sorry”• The suitable word for “Excuse me” “I’m sorry” in the business scene.

Tricks for foreigners A2. “Excuse me” “Sorry”