Welcome to Japan A short introduction before doing business

The country…

Geography 4 larger islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku en Kyushu – km² Some smaller islands too On Hokkaido (North) you find the native Japanese (Ainu) Most of the population lives on 11% of the surface. The rest: snowy mountains (incl. Mt Fuji), slopes, lakes, forest and plains

Main cities TokioCapital. In fact a precinct. +/- 35 million people Yokohama2nd city of Japan million people Osaka2.7 million people Nagoya4th city million people Sapporo1.9 million people. Capital of Hokkaido Kioto1.5 million people. Former imperial capital KobeVery important port. 1.5 million people FukuokaLargest of Kyushu. 1.5 million people HiroshimaImportant port. 1.2 million people NagasakiPort. 0.5 million people Nagano400,000 people Nara365,000 people (1,320/km²)

Climate Japan is about 3,200 km long. Therefore a variety in climate: ◦ Moist continental in the North (icy winter and hot summer). Influences of Siberia (so lots of snow) ◦ Subtropic in the South Rain season: up to 2500 mm Taifoon- and earthquake sensitive

Population These days: +/- 127 million Less then 1% is non-Japanese Ageing is a large concern: +/- 25% is older then 65 Therefore: more deaths then births. By 2050: estimate that there will only be 95 million people Religion: Shinto AND Buddha

Politics Emperor Akihito as a symbol; population has the power (as in Belgium) Parliament (legislation): ◦ ‘House of Commons’ ◦ ‘House of Lords’ Executive: Prime minister + 14 (max) Secretaries (State, Justice, Foreign Affairss, Education, …) Judicial: led by Supreme Court

Economy Very active support by government 3rd economy of the world 75% of the activities are service-minded; 20% is industry; 5% agriculture Since early 1990: almost no growth National debt: 200% of gross national income

ETIQUETTE Know where you go, and how they live

Etiquette The Japanese have very strict values. They do not expect that a gaijin (foreigner) will live up to them completely. This gives a rather casual atmosphere when doing business. However, a gaijin will have to live up to certain rules too. And they are very strict about these.

Do and Don’t: greeting and entering When greeting: do not shake hands but bow. They start handshaking now, but in fact they never want to touch an other person. For the same reason: NO KISSING When entering a ryokan (pension), minshuku (B&B), temple or a private property: take of your shoes. You will be given slippers. NO holes in the socks!!! A small detail that shows very good manners: let the tips of your shoes point to the direction where you come from

Do and Don’t: clothing and slippers NEVER walk on the tatamimats (almost in every house, temple, ryokan and minshuku) with your slippers. Only bare-footed or with socks. Those mats are extremely vulnerable and expensive. When using the toilet (French system), not with the slippers you wear in the house, but with special slippers that stand there. It’s customary to wear a Yukata (based on a kimono) in the hotel (ready in your room). You can wear it on the streets too, but in Tokyo, that habit is not done anymore

Do and Don’t: offering meishi Make sure you have your business-card (meishi) with text in English and Japanese on the back Keep your meishi in the front pocket of your vest or shirt, NEVER in your backpocket Hand over the meishi preferably with two hands, in a way that your name can be read in the blink of an eye. When you are not alone, the highest in rank offers the meishi first. Your meishi is important: you can be situated in the company and it shows how important you are

Do and Don’t: receiving meishi Accept the offered meishi with your two hands Study it When you go sitting, put it in front of you NEVER write on it Thank with the word ‘arrigatô’ (spoken: arigatoh), or more politely: ‘domo arigato’ (or even ‘domo arigato gozaimasu’)

Do and don’t: food At the table: the foreign guest gets the most important place It is customary to fill one another’s glass (not yours) out of your free will When you stop eating, even for a short break, put the sticks (hashi) back on the plate they were before (hashioki) When eating noodles, sipping (with noise) is not unusual Dishes are eaten at random. Wait until every party at the table has received every dish. You can start with one dish, take an other one, and return to the first At the beginning: eat with your eyes Do not prick holes in your food When starting: ‘itadikamasu’ (enjoy your meal) Never put the stick vertical When finished: 'gochisôsama deshita’ (thank you for the meal)

Negotiating Let yourself be introduced The word ‘No’ is not used. When you don’t like the proposition, look as in doubt and say ‘tabun’ (maybe). That is as good as ‘no’ Even when they react in a positive way, there still has to be consensus. When they seem to agree, they show you they understood what you said Do not show emotion in negotiation

THIS WAS ONLY AN INTRODUCTION There can be a lot more done. Inform yourself before starting your first contact

Thank you for your attention