This is the only Japanese manners guide you will ever need
Are you someone who’s trying to open a new office in Japan? Or are you someone living overseas who is dealing with a Japanese client? Maybe you are ¥someone who moved to Japan recently and don’t know anything about the Japanese business culture. If you wanted to learn about how to work within or with a Japanese company in less than 10 minutes, then you have come to the right place! This is a complete guide to manners for doing business with Japanese companies, and you will not have to look anywhere else to learn anything more about Japanese manners. Let’s get right into it!
The importance of practicing Japanese manners
There is a saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”, and when you are in Japan, you should definitely do as the Japanese do. It might be a hassle to comply with Japanese manners, but it will actually turn out to be beneficial for you to just follow the standard without thinking too much about it. Of course, a lot of the manners derive from old traditions and might be inefficient or useless in modern business standards. However, some people may feel offended, or take your actions the wrong way, by not following the manners.
You do not want to be perceived the wrong way mistakenly, just because you didn’t follow Japanese manners. Of course, in some cases, they may forgive you if you are not from Japan if they know that you are not from Japan. In order to avoid that from happening to you, we have listed up all of the common manners you should know before working at a Japanese company.
How to give your business card
A business card or 名刺 is still big in Japan, and people prefer paper business cards to digital ones. There are products such as Sansan where you can manage your business cards digitally, and this product is gaining a lot of attention in Japan. However, it is still perceived as rude if you do not present a physical card when you first meet your client.
When you give your business card, say your name as you pass over the card with both hands. When you do this, also try to bend your back at a 45 degrees angle. (Some people do 90 degrees but that is too much, and there is absolutely no need to do that much.) Aim the business cards towards the opponent so that the words are readable from their direction, and try not to hide the words with your fingers.”
Here is the hard part. What should you do if you and the opponent try to swap business cards simultaneously? Well, in this case, you should hold your card case under your business card. (The opponent should be doing the same as well.) Then pass the card with your right hand and try and place it on their card case. Do not actually try to place on their card case, the opponent should come and receive your card when you hand it out, by using their thumb and index finger of the hand in which they are holding the case. You do the same when the opponent tries to place the card on your card case as well. As a final step, you place the card on the card case. Not so hard right?
敬語・Keigo is important if you speak Japanese
If you are conversing in Japanese with a client or even colleague, Keigo is important. Keigo is a polite way of speaking and writing Japanese and it takes a long time to master it. They may not expect you to speak any Keigo if they know that you are not from Japan. But if you plan on mastering the language you should definitely learn how to use Keigo as well. The book below is recommended for any of those who are new to Keigo. This book is curated by NHK (the national television broadcast channel) announcer so you can expect to learn the best Keigo from this book. (You can click the image below, and jump to Amazon’s detail page) 
Showing guests around the office
If you are bringing over a client to your office, you need to do it the Japanese way. When you meet the person in the lobby, greet them and bow slightly, and then ask their name and company. If they are the ones that you were waiting for, then guide them to the respective rooms by walking 2 or 3 steps in front of them.
When you climb the stairs, you will again walk 2 or 3 steps in front of the guest and, you should let the guest climb up the side of the handrails. If it is an elevator instead of a stair, then you will push the button for the elevator for the guest. When the elevator arrives, you keep pushing the open button and let the guest in the elevator before you go in. After that, you stand in front of the buttons and press the floor you are aiming for. When arriving on the floor you let them know that this is the floor to get off, and guide them the directions after you the guest got off of the elevator.
Entering the room
When you enter the room and guide the guests, you should also keep in mind that there is a Japanese way to do this as well. If the door opens outward, knock on the door and open it wide. “If the door opens outward, knock on the door, open it wide, and say, “Please come in. If the door is open on the inside, say, “Excuse me,” and go inside first, then hold the door and say, “Please come in. When the guest enters the room, turn to the door and close it quietly. When you enter the reception room, say, “Please have a seat up here. When the guest is seated, say, “Please wait a moment,” and then leave the room. When you leave the room, open the door halfway and do not show your back. (Of course, you should stay in the room, if you are going to be involved in the meeting with the guest.)
Leaving the room
As a general rule, you should see the person off at the front door. If your office is located on the upper floor of the building, you can go to the elevator, or if you have a close relationship, you can go to the exit of the reception room or the exit of your department. Try to keep bowing until the customer is out of sight.
When in Japan, do as the Japanese do
If you follow the basics Japanese business manners written above, it is garanteed that your colleagues or clients will be impressed. Even, if you work at a foreign company in Japan, do not forget that the majority of the workers came from Japanese companies and that they also respect traditional Japanese manners. Therefore, try and learn the basic manners and be willing to follow them in when the occasion comes.
