Japanese
Culture
Presenter: Tran Van Bac
Email : [email protected]
Table of contents
01 Japanese communication culture
02 Japanese eating culture
03 Japanese work culture
01
Japanese
communication
culture
Bowing
Bowing in Japanese culture is to show respect for everyone.
Three types of bowing:
• Eshaku (informal): greeting for friends or people which have same rank as you
• Keirei (formal): greeting for your superiors, customers or those who older than you
• Saikeirei (very formal): show deep respect, use for deep apologize or expressing your sincerity
Eye contact
Looking straight at the person you are talking to is
considered impolite, rude, and inappropriate.
Avoid looking directly at the person they are
talking to. They often look at an intermediary
object such as a tie, a book, jewelry, a flower vase...
Or lower their heads and look to the side.
Wave
When calling someone by waving your hand, keep your hand straight with
the palm facing down. If you curl your fingers down, it can indeed be
interpreted as an obscene.
It would be rude to point your finger directly at someone else. Instead, you
should extend your hand upward to point toward the person.
Silence in communication
Believe that saying less is better than saying too much and
they care more about actions than words.
During negotiations, the person with the highest position
often says the least. And what he says is final.
02
Japanese
eating
culture
Choose location and seating
The most important person will be in the farthest position from
the door.
Don't arbitrarily choose a seat, wait for people of higher rank or
seniority to take their seats, then take turns in the next order.
If you are a guest, you should wait for the party host or host to
choose a seat for you.
When having a meal
Use chopsticks to pick up food.
When taking food from a shared plate, use your own bowl to catch
the food, instead of using your hands. Japanese people believe that
using your hands to catch food is impolite.
It is very taboo to transfer and receive food with chopsticks because
this is related to funeral rituals.
When drinking
Wait for everyone at the table to have drinks in hand and raise their
glasses together.
Diners can get drunk at popular restaurants, as long as it does not
affect but in some luxury restaurants, getting drunk is considered
impolite.
When ending a meal
The Japanese believe that meals are an opportunity for people to
chat. So you should sit from beginning to end, not eat quickly first and
then stand up. At the same party table, people often adjust the eating
speed to suit everyone.
Rearrange their bowls and chopsticks in the original order as before
the dish was served. Japanese people have a habit of thanking the
meal, showing respect to the chef.
03
Japanese
work
culture
Respect your predecessors
Japanese people have a habit of learning from previous generations. During meetings,
employees often directly express their opinions to the senior leaders to receive advice.
Always shows respect and respect for people with high status because of their wisdom,
experience and important contributions to the company.
If you are dissatisfied with the manager, frankly give your feedback to that individual but never
claim authority in front of a large group of people. In any business, the culture of respect for
elders and seniority in the profession is also promoted.
On time
Japanese people value time very much.
Punctuality is a way of showing respect to others. At the same time, that is also the way to
respect yourself. Therefore, the culture of working on time is always promoted.
Office attire
Employee usually wear formal clothes.
• Men wear vests, t-skirt. Not allow collarless shirt.
• Women wear vests, t-skirt, skirt not too short.
Clothes must neat, not winkled.
Japanese work clothes must also be different from going out clothes.
Work hard-Play hard
Japanese people take work very seriously. They are famous for being very enthusiastic
workers and often leave the office very late.
Japanese people love their work and always try to do every job well because of a living and
having a solid foothold in society.
But on holidays, it will be completely opposite. They will put aside all work and spend time
having fun.
Exchanging business cards
Employees of all levels have their own business cards. You’re supposed to give them the first
time you meet someone in a business situation as a way to introduce yourself and your
company.
Exchange cards the moment you meet your counterpart.
Japanese people value relationships and respect each other. So when you are given a business
card by a Japanese person, hold it with both hands and bend slightly.
Thank
you
for
listening
Q&A
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