Visiting Japan for business? Do remember to carry double-sided business cards in Japanese and English. The exchange of business cards, meishi, is a crucial part of Japanese business etiquette. After a person has introduced him/herself and bowed, the business card ceremony begins. This small effort establishes trust, and maximizes opportunity for excellent results.

 

To begin with, the business card will pronounce the identity and corporate association. In fact, business cards offer their owner such a degree of credibility that government officials often sign their name and the date on the back of the card to guard against fraud. The card serves the important reason of identifying a person’s position within the corporate hierarchy.

Japanese give and receive meishi with both hands demonstrating greater respect. The cards should be printed in home language on one side and Japanese on the other. It will contain the name and title along with the company name, address and telephone number of the businessman. In a business situation, business cannot begin until the meishi exchange process is complete. The customary greeting is the bow. However, some Japanese may greet with a handshake, albeit a weak one.  If a person is greeted with a bow, one should return with a bow as low as the one is received. How low a person bow determines the status of the relationship between him/her and the other individual. At the time of time bow, one should keep eyes low and palms flat next to thighs. The business card should be given after the bow.

The art of exchanging business cards, in Japan involves a strict code of etiquette. In Japan, “business cards are considered an extension of the holder’s identity”. Giving or receiving business cards in a wrong way might compromise the negotiations. In hierarchy-oriented Japan, a person must know another person’s status to treat them with the proper respect. Essential tips include bowing and handling cards with both hands.

One should make sure that rarely they give and receive a business card simultaneously, In these circumstances, holding the card with the left hand and offering it while receiving host’s card with the right hand. Once the host has accepted the card, his card should be hold  with both hands. One should never leave someone’s card on a table or forget to bring it when one leaves the room. Business card should never be inserted into pocket or otherwise this may show disinterest or neglect.

The Japanese society is very homogenous with most people sharing the similar background and habits. Non-verbal signals are strong and often escape a non-Japanese person completely. Non-verbal signals are also a potential source for terrible faux pas.