The EU-Japan Centre

Business Culture

Do's & Don'ts

Adapting your professional etiquette to the Japanese business environment may seem like a daunting task! We have therefore provided you with this handy list of "Do's and Dont's" which you can easily memorise for your business dealings with or in Japan.

Lost in Translation

Politeness and formality are characteristic of business communication in Japan. In order to successfully enter the Japanese market, it is vital that you build up good working relationships with your Japanese contacts, partners or suppliers by respecting and following proper business etiquette.

Negotiation Process

Cross-cultural negotiations can be a challenge for European firms looking to expand abroad, especially Japan with its unique understanding of negotiations and of business relations.

Presentation: Business Negotiations in Japan

This presentation provides EU Businesses with concrete tools to conduct negotiations with Japanese business partners.

Presentation: Changes in Japanese Business Culture

This presentation provides an overview of recent trends and changes in Japan's business culture.

Presentation: Decision-making Process in Japan

This video explains why it may take a long time for Japanese to make a decision and also suggests tips on what you can do to accelerate a decision-making process.

Presentation: Do’s and Don’ts in the Japanese Business Environment

The objective of this presentation is to provide EU Businesses with concrete examples of do’s and don’ts in the Japanese business environment.

Presentation: Effective Collaboration with the Japanese

This presentation will introduce you to the various cultural and behavioural differences between Japanese and European cultures.

Presentation: The Realities of Business in Japan

This presentation will outline and explain the various distribution channels which are available to you for your business venture in or with Japan.

Report: Building a Professional Network in Japan

What are the fundamentals of networking in Japan?

Report: Cross Cultural Issues

This report titled gives an overview of basic Japanese business etiquette.

Report: Cultural Approach to Dealing with Japanese Business

This report provides with an overview of Japanese business culture with a focus on differences that occur between SMEs and large companies.

Report: Get to Know your Client and Adapt

About the Report

In ‘Get to know your Client and Adapt’, Mr Huysveld focuses

Report: Smart guide for your first meeting with Japanese

About the Report:

Report: Sogo Shosha

This report is aimed at EU companies interested in learning about "Sogo Shosha" and the opportunities they present for expanding into the Japanese market.

Report: Understanding Japanese Firm Longevity

How do Japanese firms consistently survive and become some of the oldest firms in the world?

Report: Working in Japan as an Expatriate: Practical Guidance towards Achieving Assignment Success

This report offers practical guidance to EU-based organisations that are considering investing in expatriate assignments as a means towards exploring and exploiting business opportunities in Japan.

Report: Working in Japan as an Expatriate: Step-by-step guide and checklist for future expatriates

This report is prepared for expatriates and human resource staff to secure a smooth transition to Japan.

Selling to Japan Webinar Series

Do you seek to newly develop or re-focus your current positions in the Japanese market?

The Customer is God

It is often said that the customer is always right or even that the customer is king. The corresponding Japanese proverb says that the customer is God (in Japanese, “okyakusama wa kamisama desu”).

Business Culture

About the Report

EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation