A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Japanese Business Meeting

By Tony Silva

A basic but thorough rundown of what the Westerner can expect when involved in Japan-style meetings. Preparation, etiquette, strategies, pitfalls, and cultural notes are all covered. The American author has lived in Japan for over twenty-five years and spent much too much of that time in meetings there. He's taken what he's learned and condensed it into an enjoyable and easy to read ebook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tony Silva
• Release date: Feb 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311497109

Tony Silva

Chicago native, University educator in Japan for over twenty years, Mac nerd, audiophile, karate ni-dan, pretty good driver, husband, and all-around troublemaker.

Book preview

A Quick and Dirty Guide to the

Japanese Business Meeting

Tony Silva

Published by Tony Silva at Smashwords

Editors: A. B. Kitzman and David Wright

Copyright 2014 Tony Silva

This work is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Basics

Chapter 2. Fundamental Differences

Chapter 3. Types of Meetings

Chapter 4. Preparation

Chapter 5. The Language Handicap

Chapter 6. Relationships Trump Issues; Principals Not Principles

Chapter 7. BUT I’M NOT JAPANESE!

Chapter 8. What does it look like?

Chapter 9. Silence

Chapter 10. Aftermath

Chapter 11. The Ten Commandments

Chapter 12. Last Words

Appendix 1 – Resources

Appendix 2 – Useful Words & Phrases

Appendix 3 – About the Author

Notes

Introduction

First, and above all, do not get discouraged.

I say this fully aware that much of what I will say here is discouraging. I will suggest impossibilities. I will present contradictory evidence and advise actions that contradict my other advice as well as common sense. Do not be discouraged. And don’t blame me. You, yourself, have chosen to attempt the near impossible and these are the consequences. If this were easy, everyone would be doing it, and no one would be buying books to help him through it. I could begin another book here about how weird Japan is, (1) but there are plenty of those out there. Spend an hour on YouTube.

Yes, it’s as weird as hell, but not much weirder, if at all, than wherever you’re from. Things won’t make sense. I know that, and I’m warning you now. It may take you years to realize it but that weirdness is just an indicator of how different cultures can be. Yes, in this age of cultural relativism we all know the words to the PC mantra. I’ve been living in Japan for more than twenty-five years; you have no idea what those words really mean. That very different values form the foundations of the two cultures makes misinterpretation of words and actions laughably easy; we can become morally outraged or personally offended by what can be normal, even laudable behavior within another culture. Be ready for it. (2)

Unfortunately, the business meeting is a lot more like a bad hangover than the wonderful LSD trip that Japan can be for a young person doing a bit of English teaching after graduation. In that sense, it may not be that different from the meetings you’re used to.

Do not be discouraged. When you achieve success in your Japanese business meetings – and not merely survive them – you’ll be strutting around your (tiny) hotel room like a samurai. It’ll be worth it.

Second, you need to know that the title of this book is, well, a lie. There is no quick and dirty to anything Japanese unless, truly, you are on a kamikaze mission. However, what you read here will help you survive to fight another day, be assured.

Finally, and this shouldn’t need to be said, this is about JAPANESE meetings. YOU may have a difficult time identifying the distinguishing characteristics of various Asian cultures, but that doesn’t make the differences any smaller or less real. Your Japanese colleagues will not, I assure you, think that you confusing them or some aspect of their culture with that of another Asian country is in any way cute or endearing. What is written here does not apply to other Asian countries. While your ignorance of Japanese culture may be your Achilles heel, your own culture, steeped in values of individualism, forthrightness, spontaneity, and, trust me, work ethic, provides you with all kinds of advantages and provides your Japanese counterparts an unending cascade of challenges in trying to understand (and get the best of) you. Know this, and use it.

OK. Here we go.

Chapter 1 – The Basics

To begin, there are some universal basics that are almost common knowledge, and so, are in danger of being taken for granted. That would be a mistake, as these are, after all, basics. Tinker toys. These things you must know and remember.

General

Formal business attire. Business casual is out, and though foreigners (3) are given plenty of leeway for all kinds of faux pas, don’t waste bozo points on the easy stuff. Business suit, white shirt, and, yeah, being a foreigner, you can go nuts with a flashy tie to confirm expectations for wild and crazy gaijin (foreigners). On that note, NO BLACK TIES. In Japan, black ties are worn