Coliolu Gabriel Florentin

Ciobanescu Marian-Cosmin
Pascu David-Gabriel
Greetings
Forms of greeting in Japan

Greet with a bow. Bowing in Japan ( お辞儀 , Ojigi) is the act of lowering one's head or the upper part of
the torso, commonly used as a sign of salutation, reverence, apology or gratitude in social or religious
situations. Customs and manners in Japanese business are reputed to be some of the most complicated
and daunting in the world, especially to a foreign person who is not familiar with the Japanese ideology of
ranks and traditions. Failure to perform the right type of ojigi for the other person's status is considered a
workplace faux pas or even an offense. Eshaku, keirei and saikeirei are the three typical categories of ojigi
practiced in the business world in Japan.
Learning a few Japanese greetings will show your business partner respect and sincerity. Simple phrases
such as “hello” and “goodbye” go a long way. Japanese Kana Pronunciation Meaning こんにちは
“ Konnichiwa” Hello/Good Afternoon おはようございます “ Ohayōgozaimasu” Good morning こんばんは
“ Konbanwa” Good Evening さようなら “ Sayōnara” Goodbye ありがと “ Arigatou” thank you; thanks か
んぱい “ Kanpai” Cheers. Pronunciation is important, so remember to practice the phrases beforehand.
Listening to their translation on apps such as Google Translate can help. Don’t worry if this is all you can
say. As long as you show you are making a genuine attempt, your Japanese counterparts will generally
forgive your faux pas.
1. Eshaku ( 会釈 ) is generally performed with a slight inclination of
about 15° of one's upper torso. At the bowing position, one's eyes
should glance at the floor roughly three meters in front of one's feet. It is
a very casual form of greeting in business, usually performed between
colleagues with the same status, or when more formal gestures are
deemed unnecessary, like when one casually bumps into someone on
the street.
2. The second type, keirei ( 敬礼 ), is the most commonly used variation
of ojigi in Japanese business. It gives a more formal and respectful
impression than eshaku, but less than saikeirei, the final type of ojigi.
Conventionally, keirei is performed with an inclination of about 30° of
the upper body. At the bowing position, one's gaze should rest on the
floor approximately 1 meter in front of his feet. Possible scenarios for its
usage include greeting clients, entering a meeting and thanking
superiors at work.
3. Finally, saikeirei ( 最敬礼 ), which literally means "the most
respectful gesture", is, as the name suggests, the ojigi that shows the
uttermost respect towards the other party. It is mostly used when
greeting very important personnel, apologizing or asking for big
favors. Saikeirei is characterized by an even deeper inclination of
one's upper body than keirei, typically somewhere from 45° to 70°.
Additionally, as saikeirei is used only in grave situations, one is
expected to stay still at the bowing position for a relatively long
time to show one's respect and sincerity.
Forms of greeting in Australia

Australians are not very formal, so greetings are casual and relaxed – a handshake and a smile are appropriate. However,
while an Australian may say, ‘G’day’ or ‘G’day, mate’, this may sound patronising from a foreigner. Visitors should simply
say the traditional ‘Hello’ or ‘Hello, how are you?’As to titles of courtesy, they prefer to use first names, even at the initial
meeting.

I found this story on the “Syndey Morning” website about a woman named Kim Solomon who moved to Sydney for the
final six months of her health science masters, and was amazed at how much kindness can there be in Australia,even in a
business context, as she continued to work there after her masters. Solomon says there is a misconception that people in big
cities like London and New York are rude or abrasive, but in her experience the opposite is true. In Sydney, she became
mates with the regulars on her morning commute. She asked a stranger for directions at a Starbucks; he drew her a map.

Kim Solomon – 24 years

old
• Business cards in Japan
• The ritual of exchanging meishi, which is Japanese for ‘business card,’ is a much higher valued practice in Japan than in the
West. The exchange of business cards (meishi) is an essential part of initial meetings in Japan and follows a strict protocol.
It allows the Japanese to quickly determine their counterpart’s all-important position, title and rank. While still standing,
you should politely hand a business card over with two hands, and receive one in return. A slight bow as a form of respect
when exchanging is usually performed. Do not simply drop the card into a pocket; instead take a few seconds to review
names and titles, commenting on them if time permits. If you are sitting down, place it on the table in front of you for the
duration of the meeting. If possible, place the most senior counterpart’s card at the top with their subordinates’ below or to
the left.
• Harrison Jacobs, a businessmen who traveled to Japan to help Business Insider (a New York City-based multinational
financial and business news website) launch its latest international edition, commited a major faux-pas. He failed to bring
his business cards and, instead, wrote his hone number, email address, name, and company position on a paper. Japan is, at
its core, a country of rituals, respect, and etiquette. Whenever Japanese people meet for the first time, particularly in a
business setting, they present business cards in a custom known as meishi koukan ( 名刺交換 ). The exchange is so
important that, at the Business Insider Japan launch party, attendees arrived early but refused to enter the ballroom where
the party was to take place.
• Business cards in Australia
• With online businesses growing ever more influential, you could be forgiven for thinking that business cards are a relic
of a time gone by. However, in Australia, and indeed across the wider world, business cards remain as vital to the
market as a smart dress or sharp business suit. It is important not to handle your card out to everyone because it not
only flies in the face of Aussie business culture but diminishes its value and even smacks of desperation. You want
your clients to value your card, so treat it as a valuable commodity and cherry-pick those you hand it to.
Nonverbal Etiquette in Japan

Subtle body language cues are the bread and butter of Japanese society, sometimes to Westerners’ chagrin (who often feel
wrong-footed in social situations).
Eye Contact: In the West, it’s often polite to find and hold eye contact, and can even be interpreted as a sign of friendship
in business settings. In Japan, however, prolonged eye contact can be seen as aggressive, and sometimes makes Japanese
people very uncomfortable.
Pointing: Pointing is a very common Western gesture that is considered rude in Japan. If you’re over the age of five, you
shouldn’t be pointing — instead, gesturing toward something is often done with a flat, open hand.
Physical Contact: Physical contact like hugging, kissing on the cheek, or even touching elbows is also a definite no-no.
While your friendship or acquaintance may seem close, those kinds of touching can be seen as far more intimate acts than
you may intend. While Japanese coworkers or potential business partners may shake your hand, they are likely doing that
to help make you feel comfortable.
Verbal etiquette in Australia

Direct Communication: In Australia, one’s status or position in a conversation is not easily distinguishable by their
appearance. Therefore, communication is more direct and functionally-purposed to convey one’s message with
clarity. Criticism can be delivered vaguely in order to remain polite and avoid conflict, but an Australian’s intention
and meaning is usually apparent through their precise word choice. They tend to speak very honestly, yet with
reasonable sensitivity.
Accent: Most Australians have the unique ability to swap quite easily from a strong Aussie accent to speech that
sounds more refined. For example, foreigners may be surprised to hear Australians talk to them in quite polished,
well-pronounced speech, but fall into using a strong ocker accent around other Australians or when drinking.
Slang: Australians speak with slang spattered throughout their speech. The relevance or understandings of certain
slang words varies between age groups and areas, but Australians frequently shorten any words that seem overly
complicated by using diminutives. Sometimes these are spontaneous inventions that are not commonly known, but
many are commonplace (e.g. “arvo” – afternoon, “uni” – university).
Social business events for Japan
One example of a social business event in Japan could be a "nomikai," which is a gathering centered around drinking
and socializing after work. Nomikai often take place at izakayas (Japanese pubs) or restaurants.

In such events, the importance of gestures and cultural norms is significant. For instance, when pouring drinks for
others, it's customary to hold the bottle with both hands as a sign of respect. Also, when receiving a drink, it's polite to
hold the glass with both hands or at least acknowledge the person pouring by nodding or saying "thank you.“

Additionally, business hierarchy and etiquette play a crucial role. Seniors are typically shown respect by allowing them
to speak first or initiating toasts. Building relationships and rapport during nomikai is essential, as it often fosters
camaraderie and trust among colleagues or business partners, contributing to smoother work relationships and potential
collaborations.
Social business events for Australia

One example of a significant social business event in Australia is the "Australian Business Awards." This event
recognizes and celebrates excellence in various business sectors, acknowledging innovation, sustainability, and corporate
social responsibility.The importance of gestures and culture in such events lies in Australia's emphasis on egalitarianism,
informality, and respect for diversity. Networking and relationship-building are key elements, where attendees typically
engage in casual conversations and establish connections in a relaxed atmosphere. Handshakes are a common form of
greeting, and direct eye contact is appreciated as a sign of sincerity and engagement.
Bibliografie:
https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-business-culture-etiquette-bring-business-cards-2017-1
https://exporttojapan.co.uk/guide/getting-started/business-etiquette/
https://asialinkbusiness.com.au/japan/conducting-business-in-japan/japanese-business-culture-and-etiquette?doNothing=1
https://www.todaytranslations.com/consultancy-services/business-culture-and-etiquette/doing-business-in-australia/
https://www.primoprint.com/blog/business-card-world-etiquette/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing_in_Japan