Business & Religious Etiquette in Japan
Business etiquette in Japan can be understood in terms of mutual respect and honoring someone else's station in life. Still, Japan is changing, and Japanese people have studied and absorbed a large amount of information and influence from Western cultures, so business etiquette in Japan can be quite similar to the etiquette followed in Western countries. Religious etiquette is largely a matter of keeping one's religious beliefs private (unless asked).
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Personal Introductions
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In almost all situations in Japan, people are introduced or introduce themselves by first giving the name of their organization or company (if applicable), followed by their family name and finishing with their given name. To avoid confusion or awkwardness, visitors to Japan should follow the same convention.
Exchanging Business Cards
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"Meishi" are ubiquitous in the Japanese business world. Give your business card to someone when you first meet them; pass it to them carefully with both hands and take theirs equally as carefully in both hands (using one hand to offer or take something is considered "lazy"). Do not put their card in your pocket immediately; make a show of admiring it. People put a lot of stock in their business cards, which are a kind of "second face" in Japan.
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Business Dress
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Conservative dress is still the norm. In the summer, though, many offices accept "cool biz" style, which forgoes ties and may allow cooler, semi-casual clothing to be worn in order to reduce reliance on air-conditioning.
Personal Questions
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In business situations, you may be asked your age or marital status because these have some effect on position and salary in Japanese companies. Respond according to your comfort level, but refrain from asking the same questions (and especially do not ask women their age).
"It is Difficult"
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If you are involved in any type of negotiations in Japan, you may hear the other party say, "It is difficult." This phrase actually means "It is impossible." Japanese people do their best to avoid direct refusals, flat denials or confrontations. It is up to you, the listener, to catch their drift.
Religion
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Mainstream Japanese society is secular, and religious beliefs are largely a private matter; however, Japanese people may be quite curious about the religious beliefs and practices of non-Japanese and can be quite forward about asking probing questions; take this as a sign of honest curiosity or fact-checking and not a signal for theological debate.
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