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Cross Cultural communication

JAPAN
THE COUNTRY “JAPAN”
Japan is an island nation in East Asia.
The characters that make up Japan’s name which means "sun-
origin“
This is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the “Land of the
Rising Sun".
Japan is an archipelago of 6852 islands.
Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano
Japan has the world's tenth largest population, with over
127 million people.
The Capital city of Japan is Tokyo 
THE ECONOMY
 A major economic power, Japan has the
world's second largest economy by nominal
GDP and the third largest in purchasing power
parity.
 It is also the world's fourth largest exporter and
fifth largest importer.
 It is currently serving as a non-permanent
member of the UN Security Council.
HISTORY
Beginning in 1868, Japan undertook political, economic, and
cultural reforms, emerging as a unified and centralized state
known as the Empire of Japan (also Imperial Japan or Prewar
Japan).
 This 77-year period, which lasted until 1945, was a time of
imperialism and absolutism.
Japan became an imperial power,
colonizing Korea and Taiwan.
Two of the most historic events of Japan were the Pearl Harbor
attack which marked the entry of U.S in World War II. And
second being the Hiroshima-Nagasaki attack which completely
changed the face of the future generations.
RISE OF THE STATE OF
JAPAN
 By collapse of the Empire of Japan, Japan was
changed to a democratic state, the State of
Japan, more commonly the Postwar Japan (Post
World-War II Japan).
 During the postwar period, Japan became an
economic power state.
 But, this period is characterized by the US-Japan
Alliance such as the United States Forces Japan.
STATE OF GOVERNMENT
Japan is a constitutional monarchy.
They have an Imperial Family headed by an
Emperor who is recognized as the Head of State of
the nation (in a ceremonial way). His name is
Akihito.
To run the government, Japan has a democratic
parliamentary system headed by a Prime Minister
(the Head of Government) who is Mr. Naoto Kan.
NATIONAL ANIMAL
Green Pheasant
Koi
Raccoon dog
Red- Crowned Crane.
The indispensable basics

Never enter a house with your shoes.


Say "o-jama shimasu"
bring a small present or "omiyage" (souvenir, usually
food).
Sit in the “Seiza” position
Blowing the nose
should not eat while standing or walking in the street.
Do not point your finger, feet or chopsticks at people.
"honne" (real opinion) and "tatemae" (public opinion).
Avoid fixing someone in the eyes
Table manners, Business etiquette

Chopsticks and food


noodles can be and should be slurped
"Meishi" (business cards) should be given
and accepted with both hands in formal
situations.
Bathing etiquette

customs of sharing the bath water.


Absolutely avoid bathing suits in public
baths
Tattoos are banned in most public baths.
Superstition in Japan

Number 4 pronounced as Shi , 9 pronounced as Ku


Stick Chop Stick into rice
Give food from chop stick to chop stick
Sleeping towards north
Funeral car passes by you should hide your thumb
Cut nails in the night
Don’t lie down after eating
Whistle in the night
Black Cat crosses you
Spider in the morning
Religion in Japan

Shinto

 * "the way of the gods“


* practiced by about 51% of the population
* a religion with a respect for nature and for particular sacred sites.
* Before 1868, there were three main forms of Shinto:
-Shrine Shinto, the most popular type;
-Folk (or Popular) Shinto, practiced by the peasants;
-and Imperial Household Shinto, practiced by the imperial family of Japan.

Buddhism

* First arrived in Japan in the 6th century from the Southern part of the kingdom
of Baekje on the Korean peninsula.
*Buddhism is divided into three forms:
- the orthodox and impersonal Theravada Buddhism, which is
prevalent in India and most of Southeast Asia;
- the more personal Mahayana Buddhism, which spread to China,
Tibet, Vietnam, and ultimately to Korea and Japan;
- and Vajrayana Buddhism. 
* 91 million Japanese identify themselves as Buddhist
Minority religions
•Bahá'í Faith
•Christianity
•Islamori
•Hinduism
•Judaism
•Ryukyuan Shinto
Festivals of Japan

•Heunen Masturi
•Tenjin Masturi
•Hanazumo Festival
•Omizutori
•Danjiri Masturi
•Hina Masturi
•O- Shiro Masturi
•Hanami
DINING ETIQUETTES
In Japan, it is an important etiquette to say traditional phrases
before and after a meal. People start a meal by saying
tadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") and after finishing eating
they say "gochisosama” ("Thank you for the meal") with a
bow.

One of the most important rules is not to pass food with your
chopsticks directly to somebody else's chopsticks and vice
versa. Playing with your chopsticks at a meal is also inadvisable.

When you want to get food from a shared plate to your own
plate, use the other ends of your chopsticks. This is considered
polite and considerate in Japan.

You shouldn't point your chopsticks at somebody or


something.
 
It is appreciated in Japan to wait until everyone is served
before you start eating. It is also considered considerate to
empty your dishes completely because the Japanese are very
economical.
In contrast to some Western countries where people are often
taught not to make slurping noises when eating soup or
noodles, it is considered a normal thing in Japan. It even seems
strange in Japan if you eat noodles without a sound!

In Japan during the meal you shouldn't talk about


anything related to the toilet or any similar topics. This is
strictly unappreciated because it is assumed that people lose
their appetite when hearing about those things.

In Japanese restaurants, customers are given a rolled hand


towel called oshibori . It is considered rude to use the towel to
wipe the face or neck
GIFTING ETTIQUETTES
The correct etiquette is to present/receive gifts with both
hands.

Before accepting a gift it is polite to refuse at least once


or twice before accepting.

Gifts in pairs are considered lucky. The numbers eight


and three are also considered lucky. Eight stands for
prosperity and three stands for birth.
BUSINESS GIFTING
There's an expectation a gift will be offered at the first meeting, and
gifts will continue to be part of your business dealings. Come prepared
to that first meeting with a beautifully wrapped, quality gift that's
not extravagant.

If you’re bringing a gift from your home country, make sure it's not
'made in Japan'. Don't select company items with your company
logo. It may seem to be a promotional item and be viewed as cheap.

Expensive gifts are common. An expensive gift will not be


perceived as a bribe.

It is customary to comment that the gift you are presenting, even if it
is extravagant, is "tsumaranai mon" . This statement is meant to
convey, "Our relationship is more important than this trivial item."
PERSONAL GIFTING

For Weddings, the traditional Japan gift


giving custom is to give money to the couple.

For children's celebrations, electronics are


recommended.

For the sick, flowers are the customary gift


in Japan, and are the most popular gift to
take along to the hospital.
GIFTS TO AVOID
Lilies, lotus blossoms, and camellias are associated with
funerals. White flowers of any kind are gifts to be avoided.

Giving four or nine of anything is considered unlucky. "4" is


pronounced as shi in Japanese, which is same to the word
"death." "9" is pronounced as ku in Japanese, which is
same to the word "pain." So the two are considered as
unlucky numbers. Hospitals usually have neither 4th or 9th
floors.

Red Christmas cards should be avoided, since funeral


notices are customarily printed in this colour.

Potted plants are seen as inappropriate gifts for the sick


people because it is believed that the illness will become more
severe by taking "deeper root".
Language and Dressing
Language
Origin of the Japanese language :
Similar to Turkish or Mongolian.
Close in syntax to the Korean language.
Dialects used in areas, but standard
Japanese is more popular through the use
of television, radio and movies.
More than 99% of the population using
the same language.
Sixth most spoken language in the world
Japanese have Family names and given
names, used in that order
San—the equivalent of Mr., Mrs. (or Ms.)
—after the family Name
Harmony - Guiding philosophy for the in family and business
settings
Individualism VS Collectivitism
Rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them
what someone feels.
The context in which something is said affects the meaning of
the words
Frowning while someone is speaking is interpreted as a sign of
disagreement.
 Non-verbal communication is so vital that there is a book for
‘Gaijins' (foreigners) on how to interpret the signs.
Disrespectful to stare into another person's eyes, particularly
those of a person who is senior to you because of age or status.
Meeting Etiquette
Greetings -Formal and Ritualized.
Wait to be introduced.
Japanese Bow : Foreigners are expected to shake
hands, the traditional form of greeting is the bow.
How far you bow depends upon your relationship
to the other person as well as the situation. The
deeper you bow, the more respect you show.
A foreign visitor (‘Gaijin') may bow the head
slightly, since no one expects foreigners to
generally understand the subtle nuances of
bowing. 
Business Negotiation
Difficult time saying ‘NO', so you must be
vigilant at observing their non-verbal
communication.
Phrase questions so that they can answer yes.
For example, do you disagree with this?
Group decision-making and consensus are
important.
Written contracts are required.
Business Negotiation (Contd..)
Avoid hand Gestures
  Avoid the "OK" sign; in Japan it means
money.
  Pointing in not acceptable.
  Do no blow your nose in public
 Smile can be misunderstood
  Allow your host to sit in silence.
Silence
Broad agreements and Mutual Understanding.
Japanese Lawyer: A gesture of goodwill
 Never lose your temper or raise your voice
during negotiations.
 Some Japanese close their eyes when they want
to listen intently.
The Japanese seldom grant concessions.
Contracts not seen as final agreements so they
can be renegotiated.
Dress Etiquette
Dress to impress.
Business suits are most suitable.
  Casual dress is never appropriate in a business
setting.
  Shoes should be easy to remove, as you will do so
often. Slip-ons are the best choice.
  Women’s dress should be conservative. Little
emphasis should be placed on accessories
  Women should not wear pants in a business situation.
  Women should only wear low-heeled shoes to avoid
towering over men. 
Chromatics
Red “aka”: It is a national colour which is a symbol of
blood and passion on one hand, and a religious symbol
on the other, as the colour is reserved for the robes of
the second highest abbot in Zen Buddhist practices.
Combination of red and white (kouhaku) is a symbol
for auspicious or happy occasions. The long curtains
with red and white stripes are hung in wedding
receptions.
Green: This colour is associated with culture in Japan.
Brown: And other earthy hues play a significant role in
Shibui tradition, an aesthetic that honors simple, subtle
and unobtrusive beauty.
Chronemics
If you are invited to a social event, punctuality is not expected. It is
the custom to be “fashionably late”.
Japanese culture emphasizes punctuality and deadlines. Punctuality
governs social interactions and preserves group harmony.
Japanese deadlines are realistic because, once established, they are
rarely broken.  They allow people enough time to build solid
relationships and reach consensus.
Lateness is seen as an insult to the boss, and, given the importance
of relationships, it is something employees want to avoid.
Decision making is lot slower because people tend to seek approval
of everyone in the group, especially the elders. Japan is a high
context culture, where more is understood and less is expressed
explicitly.
Social Culture(Haptics + Proxemics)
Avoid using large hand gestures, unusual facial expressions and any
dramatic movements. The Japanese do not talk with their hands and to
do so could distract your host.
Do not point your finger, feet or chopsticks at people.
Personal space is valued. Because the Japanese live in such a densely
populated area, they value their personal space.
A smile can have double meaning. It can express either joy or
displeasure. Use caution with your facial expressions. They can be
easily misunderstood.
Japanese tend to conceal their feelings, especially negative ones such
as anger or sadness.
Never enter a house with your shoes. This is one of the few rules for
which Japanese will not make allowance just because you are a
foreigner. This rule is also valid for some establishments like schools.
Slippers are usually provided in the entrance hall.
Money should be given in an envelope.
Japanese who maintain four-foot distances allow themselves to be
crammed into subway cars.
You should not eat while standing or walking in the street. Even inside a
house, you should sit down to eat. The only exceptions are for eating at a
counter (e.g. ramen) or for eating an ice-cream in the street.
Avoid fixing someone in the eyes (for men, even, or especially beautiful
girls sitting in front of you in the train).
Refrain from blowing your nose in front of other people. Japanese only
use paper tissue for this. It is considered rude to blow you nose in a
handkerchief and stuff it in your pocket afterward.
When you are invited into a Japanese family, bring a small present or
"omiyage" (souvenir, usually food).
Japan is a family-oriented society, where people believe that they are a
part of a group.
Business Etiquette and Protocol in Japan

Understanding of Foreign Ways


 Japanese understand that it is very difficult for foreigners to work in Japan.

 They will not expect you to speak or read Japanese, or be conversant with their strict
cultural nuances and protocol.

 Mistakes are allowed as long as genuine respect is shown at all times.

 They will usually try to help you but often feel embarrassment at their own lack of
understanding or English language ability.

Relationships & Communication


 The Japanese prefer to do business on the basis of personal relationships. 

 In general, being introduced or recommended by someone who already has a good


relationship with the company is extremely helpful as it allows the Japanese to know how
to place you in a hierarchy relative to themselves. 

 One way to build and maintain relationships is with greetings / seasonal cards. 

 It is important to be a good correspondent as the Japanese hold this in high esteem


Business Etiquette and Protocol in Japan
Business Meeting Etiquette
Appointments are required and, whenever possible, should be made several weeks in

advance. 
It is best to telephone for an appointment rather than send a letter, fax  
Punctuality is important. Arrive on time for meetings and expect your Japanese

colleagues will do the same.


 Since this is a group society, even if you think you will be meeting one person, be

prepared for a group meeting. 


 The most senior Japanese person will be seated furthest from the door, with the rest of

the people in descending rank until the most junior person is seated closest to the door.
It may take several meetings for your Japanese counterparts to become comfortable

with you and be able to conduct business with you. 


Business Cards
Business cards are exchanged constantly and with great ceremony. 

Invest in quality cards.

 Always keep your business cards in pristine condition.

 Treat the business card you receive as you would the person.

 You may be given a business card that is only in Japanese.

 It is wise to have one side of your business card translated into

Japanese.

 Give your business card with the Japanese side facing the recipient.

Make sure your business card includes your title, so your Japanese

colleagues know your status within your organization.


Business Cards

 Business cards are given and received with two

hands and a slight bow.

 Examine any business card you receive very

carefully. 

  During a meeting, place the business cards on the

table in front of you in the order people are seated. 

 When the meeting is over, put the business cards in

a business card case or a portfolio.


ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU
(THANK YOU)

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