Karen Ostromecki

5/28/2014

CONTENT
THE LAND OF RISING SUN

Values
Religions
Traditions
Food & Clothing
Rituals & Practices
Non-verbal communication

The honne/tatemae divide between public

expression and private thoughts/feelings

Private sphere: goals and self

Empathy and human relations

Individuality
Empathy

Dependence

Avoid open
competition &
confrontation

Consensus

Participation

Reinforce group
interdependence

Karen Ostromecki

Individualism

Social conformity

Public sphere: order and status

Relative status

Diffuse order

Karen Ostromecki

5/28/2014

TRADITIONS
Food

Food
Religions in Japan (2008)

Healthy diet

0,7 1

SUSHI

3
34
61

No religion
Buddhism
Shinto
Christianity
Others

Source: wikipedia.org

TRADITIONS
Food

Most important staple

food is rice

Fresh ingredients, gentle methods

of cooking & authentic flavors

TRADITIONS
Clothing

Food

NOODLE

NO BURPING

Karen Ostromecki

Karen Ostromecki

5/28/2014

TRADITIONS
Clothing

THE BIRTH RITUAL

SHICHI GO SAN
A unique Japanese festival.
Boys 3 to 5 years old and girls 3 to
7 years old are taken to the Shinto
Shrine in their very first Kimono.

The parents pray for their health.

The new born is taken to the Shinto shrine and
introduced to the God. The God protects the baby
Traditional clothing, Kimono, is mostly worn by the
mother.

NEW YEARS DAY

A festival of celebration
all through Japan.
Many people make is a
ritual to go to the
Buddhist temple to hear
the 108 bongs that are
supposed to drive away
108 sins of humans.
Kimono is the special
dress on this day.

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WEDDING CEREMONY

Gifts are given to the young ones.

BUSINESS PRACTICES

Never write notes on a Japanese business card. Do

not play, throw it as well
Always telephone 1 - 2 hours prior to a scheduled
meeting to confirm that you are on your way.
Always arrive 10 minutes early for a meeting, more if
the meeting will be with senior executives.
Plan an exact agenda for the meeting
Both of couple wear Kimonos and the bride a white head dress.
They both drink three times from three cups containing sacred
wine and wow to live together in life.

Karen Ostromecki

5/28/2014

PERSONAL PRACTICES

Do not blow your nose in a public place

Many Japanese seldom shake hands and can
be uncomfortable doing so
Never pat a Japanese man on the back or
shoulder.
Always smile, be pleasant, be willing to learn,
ask a lot of questions about your customer's
company (and none about his/her private life).

3. Know exactly what you are doing

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1. Do not eat and walk at the same

time.

4. Place your chopsticks at the correct

position

2. Do not bring tea or flowers when visit a sick

person

5. A nice wrapping gift for a nice

relationship

Karen Ostromecki

6. Do not give your friends a handkerchief

9. Show your respect and

politeness

Karen Ostromecki

5/28/2014

7. What should I buy for my boss??

10. Do not whistle at night

8. The number 4

11. Do not cut your nails at night