| When doing business in Japan, or with the Japanese, | | | | people address one another. Here's what you need |
| there are a few rules of Japanese business etiquette | | | | to know. It's perfectly acceptable to address your |
| that you should know before you have your first | | | | Japanese counterpart(s) as "XX-san," but, and this |
| business encounter. Here are three essential rules to | | | | too is very important, NEVER address yourself and |
| get your business relationship off on the right foot. | | | | anyone on your own party's sign as "-san." |
| 1. The Importance of Business Cards (Meishi) | | | | The use of "-san" is reserved for people outside of |
| Japanese place a great importance on the | | | | your own group or people above you or at least |
| presentation and exchange of meishi. Here's what | | | | equal to you. In a Japanese business meeting, using |
| you need to know. At your first business counter, | | | | "-san" to address yourself or members of your own |
| stand and introduce yourself while presenting your | | | | group amounts to a cultural faux pas that even the |
| business card with both hands outstretched. Likewise, | | | | most tolerant Japanese will have a hard time |
| when receiving a meishi, do so with both hands, and | | | | overlooking. |
| handle carefully. | | | | 3. Gift Giving (Omiyage) |
| After receiving the meishi, spend a few moments | | | | When traveling to Japan for business, it is customary |
| studying the info on it, and then, and this is | | | | to bring a gift from your country (om-mi-ya-ge). |
| important, DO NOT stuff it in your pocket or even | | | | Consumable goods like chocolate, cookies, and so |
| put it away. Keep it out on the table in front of you | | | | forth, make nice gifts. Alcoholic beverages are also a |
| during your meeting, and then carefully put it away | | | | good choice if your Japanese counterpart enjoys |
| at the conclusion of the meeting. You must have a | | | | them (most do!). The best omiyage are those that |
| meishi when doing business in Japan! | | | | come from and represent your own place of origin. |
| 2. Proper Use of "-san" | | | | The main thing is to make sure that the gift is of |
| Japan has a very complicated system of honorifics | | | | sufficiently high-quality while not being so elaborate as |
| built into their language and culture that dictates how | | | | to cause discomfort to your hosts. |