Guidelines for Business Conversations

General Guidelines on Business Conversation in Japanese

General Guidelines ->

1.) It may happen that in Business conversations you may be asked extremely personal questions regarding your salary, education, and family life. If you don't want to answer, remain polite but try to gracefully side step the question.

2.) Sometimes, you'll find it necessary to pretend that your Japanese colleague understood you. In Japanese business protocol, these “face-saving” measures are essential for maintaining cordial relations.

3.) It’s a good approach to refrain from discussing business matters until the first few minutes of any conversation, unless your Japanese companion starts a topic saying something like “Jitsu wa ne...” [“the fact of the matter is...”]

4.) It is considered polite to frequently say “I’m sorry.” For example, the Japanese will apologize for not being punctual enough, having a cold, taking you to see a disappointing movie, providing substandard hospitality [even if it was perfectly good], displaying rudeness at a previous meeting [even if they were not rude], and practically any other personal flaw. Visitors are encouraged to incorporate these kinds of remarks into their conversation.

5.) Exercise caution when asking the Japanese certain questions. For example, English speakers would give a negative answer to the question “Isn't the document available?” by responding “NO”. The intended meaning is “No, the document is not available.” The Japanese interpretation is different. The answer would be “YES” meaning, “Yes, the document is not available.”

6.) If the response to your question is “maybe”, “probably”, or “I'm thinking about it”, the answer is likely to be “yes.” “I'll consider it”, however, is often indicative of a “NO” .

7.) Don't make accusations or direct refusals. In your dealings with Japanese business culture, remain indirect.

8.) In the course of a conversation, use as many Japanese sentences as you can.

9.) You may have to ask a question several times, in different ways, to receive a definite response or commitment.

10.) When beginning a dialogue with a group, it is polite to direct all of your first remarks to the most senior member [if you know who he or she is], and then to appropriate individuals.


Welcome Topics of Conversation ->

1.) Inquiring about a person’s family [a good conversation starter]

2.) Praising the hospitality you’re receiving

3.) Japanese history and culture

4.) Japanese artistic achievements

5.) Positive comments about the Japanese economy

6.) Sports, such as baseball, golf and ski jumping


Topics to Avoid ->

1.) World War II

2.) Making jokes [unless they are very easy to understand, self-deprecating, and made in a social rather than business setting]