The Lowdown: Business Etiquette - Japan

by Rochelle Kopp, Pernille Rudlin

THE MUST HAVE GUIDE TO DOING BUSINESS IN JAPAN. This “quick fix” guide will give you the inside information on how to do business and cope with business socialising in Japan. Despite what some would have you believe, there’s nothing particularly mysterious or complicated about doing business with the Japanese, but there are some important rules to follow in order to avoid causing offense and to ensure that things go smoothly. . “The Lowdown: Business Etiquette – Japan” will give you practical tips on how to navigate your way through a business trip to Japan, and on how to behave and how NOT to behave in both business and business socialising situations. This guide will help to ensure that you maximise your time in Japan or in dealing with your Japanese business colleagues, thus making you a greater asset to your company and your profession. We live and work in a global environment - and knowing how to behave with courtesy in other countries allows us to make a great impression and maximise our potential.Topics covered include:Preparing for your tripUnderstanding Japanese communication styles How to navigate your first business meeting – what to do and what NOT to do!Overcoming the language barrierUnderstanding the importance of hierarchy - consensus-building, nemawashi, and protocolHow to cope with social invitations and understand their critical importance in a business relationshipHosting Japanese visitors Special tips for women doing business in JapanA list of useful phrases

52 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2010

About the author

My keen interest in language and culture led me to learn Japanese and work in Japan, starting me on my path as a cross-cultural business consultant. I've written extensively in both English and Japanese on intercultural and global business topics. More recently I have turned to the area where I live and work, Silicon Valley, to help people better understand the language and culture here as well.

For more information on my work as Managing Principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting, please visit www.japanintercultural.com.

For more information on my quest to help decipher the jargon of Silicon Valley, please visit www.siliconvalleyspeak.com.

Reviews

[ukuklele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku berformat tanya-jawab ini disampaikan dengan bahasa yang ringan dan humoris. Buku ini juga tipis, hanya mengungkap yang inti. Bisa dibilang, buku ini merupakan bacaan yang mudah sekalipun kita tidak hendak berbisnis dengan orang Jepang.

Lagian, memang buku ini tidak perlu tebal-tebal. Sebab, dalam yang setipis ini saja ada begitu banyak yang perlu diingat jika ingin mengamalkan semuanya secara tepat dalam berhubungan dengan orang Jepang.

Etiket sangat penting bagi orang Jepang, bukan hanya dalam berbisnis melainkan juga dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Tentu saja buku ini hanya menjelaskan tentang etiket yang berkaitan dengan menjalin hubungan bisnis. Akan tetapi, buku ini melengkapinya dengan latar ajaran Shinto , Konfusianisme, dan Buddha yang rupanya memengaruhi pentingnya etiket.

Kebetulan, saya membaca buku ini berbarengan dengan Tentara Peta pada Jaman Pendudukan Jepang di Indonesia oleh Nugroho Notosusanto. Dalam buku tersebut terdapat jadwal harian tentara rakyat bentukan Jepang itu yang ternyata mencakup pelajaran Etiket!

[Books on Asia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 52 pages, this is a very brief look at the basics of business etiquette in Japan. It's a good quick guide for those who have never been to Japan or haven't had any experience dealing with Japanese. The Q & A format was attractive (although the questions were obviously not candid) and when advice was given to not do one thing, an alternative was often suggested.