Business Success Japan

Today I chat with Kimi Sugiyama, a travel consultant with a focus on and love for Japan. She shares her experiences navigating business relationships and identity in Japan. We also discuss the intersection of culture and language in really understanding Japanese culture and effectively engaging with people in the country, so be sure to listen in. Today's Phrase: おつかれさまでした o-tsu-ka-re...

In today's episode, I teach you how to make the most out of a karaoke event in Japan. As karaoke is a common destination after an afterword nomikai, or "drinking meeting," it's another great opportunity to further develop your business relationships in Japan. Today's Phrase: おさきにしつれいします o-sa-ki-ni shi-tsu-re-i-shi-ma-su Meaning: Excuse me for leaving before you. To Learn More: Making th...

In this interview, Minae-san explains the concept of Groupism in Japanese culture, as well as the importance of Nommunication in a Japanese business setting. We explore how Japanese professionals work to develop and maintain relationships, as well as how it ties into Japanese cultural values as a whole. Interested in helping an organization dedicated to improving Japan-US relations? Check out...

In today's episode, I walk you through what to expect at a Japanese "nomikai" or "drinking-meeting." What should you expect when you're invited to go to an after-work dinner with your Japanese counterparts? What's the point of these after-work activities? And, most importantly, how can you make the most of the time you spend at a nomikai? Today's Word: いいえ i-i-e Meaning: No To learn more: - Bus...

In this episode, Kasia explains the unique approach Japanese companies have toward communication called "hourensou." While the most common definition you'll find for the word is probably "spinach," in business, it takes on a whole new meaning. Today's Phrase: はい ha-i Meaning: Yes To learn even more about hourensou, check out Kasia's awesome blog post: https://www.ikigaiconnections.com/hourensou-...

While in Japan, you will more likely than not have to go shopping at some point. And if you're lucky enough to have some spare time, you may decide to pick up some souvenirs for yourself, your coworkers, or loved ones back home. In today's season finale, I walk you through a few important things to know before heading out to make any purchase, big or small. Today's Phrase: [item] をください ~o ku-...

While you're in Japan, you'll hopefully get the chance to dine out at least a few times. But if you want to do so stress-free, you'll need to be aware of a few key differences and manners. Today we look over some distinct features of Japanese restaurants that will help you focus on what you really want to do: enjoy the food. Today's phrase:  すみません su-mi-ma-se-n Meaning: "excuse me," "I'm...

In order to minimize stress and be more effective abroad, it's important to be prepared for the day-to-day situations you're likely to encounter there. Today, I'll share some more information on a few important topics for navigating Japan: bathrooms, crime, and police boxes. Trust me when I say that you don't want to be caught off guard in these areas. Today's phrase: [place/item]はどこですか 〜wa...

In order to minimize stress and be more effective abroad, it's important to be prepared for the day-to-day situations you're likely to encounter there. Today, I'll share some information on a few important topics for navigating Japan: dealing with money, and taking a taxi. We will cover additional topics in future episodes, to be sure to subscribe to make sure you have all the essential informatio...

Today we'll go over some of the basics of nonverbal cues in Japan. While they're not unique to business situations, being more aware of this topic will help with all of your interactions in the country. Many of them are quite a bit different than in the West, so please listen and practice as I teach you about Japanese body language and a few important manners. Today’s phrase: こんばんは ko-n-ba-n-...

In the previous episode, we looked at some of the more technical aspects of business meetings in Japan. Today, we will continue digging more into the topic, focusing mostly on the more subtle behaviors you should be aware of in a meeting. Non-verbal and social cues are quite different in a Japanese business context than in western countries. So, the more of these details you know and expect to see...

In today’s episode, we cover some of the basics of what you should expect at a meeting in Japan. While some of the etiquette is probably just common sense in your own country, there are quite a few details that are unique to the Japanese way of doing business. While most of what is covered today wouldn’t be considered a deal-breaker if done incorrectly, it will help your meeting go as smoothly as...

Today we look at another essential part of making a good first impression in a Japanese business: bowing etiquette. If you have ever been to Japan or watched anything from or about the country, you may have noticed just how frequently Japanese people bow in social situations. Some of the more common situations where bowing takes place include salutations, apologizing, gratitude, and, of course, wh...

Today we’re going talk about something else central to making a great first impression: business cards, or めいし (me-i-shi) in Japanese. While exchanging business cards may be pretty simple in your country, that’s not the case in Japan. Essentially, one’s business card is seen as a representation of the person who is giving it to you, as well as their company. All of the rules associated with bus...

We all know that making a good first impression is essential in business. So, if you want to make a positive one in Japan, what better way than to introduce yourself in Japanese? Today, we will look at how to introduce yourself politely in Japan. はじめまして。 Companyのyour nameです。 よろしくおねがいします。 ha-ji-me-ma-shi-te [company] no [your name] de-su yo-ri-shi-ku o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-su Want...