Connect with Your Japanese Partners through Bows and Business Cards
“Yoroshiku onegai shimasu” and “kochira koso yoroshiku onegai shimasu”
Have you ever witnessed the bow exchange between two Japanese business professionals?
They bend down from the waist up, just like a rod, with an angle of about 30 degrees. Their back remains stiff and flat, as the entire motion takes place at their waist, as if their entire upper body is simply being pushed downward. There is no slumping of the shoulders and their posture remains impeccable. For anyone who is new to the Japanese practice of business, bowing is essential, and you must bow too while your partner is still bowing. This is the ultimate sign of respect, so even though it is foreign to many Western business associates, it is essential to learn, if a strong relationship is to be forged between the Japanese professionals and your company.
The Japanese term “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu” has no appropriate translation in English. However, you must know that Japanese people start a new relationship using this expression, along with a bow.
The meaning of this starting bow is to show you have mutual respect towards the individual. They will respond with a similar bow in turn. In order to form a solid, compatible business relationship (or relationship of any kind), respect must be held by both parties. If one party does not respect the other, a business agreement is and relationship is not likely to take place or develop.
When it comes to the practice of bowing, there are three main types of Japanese bows:
- 15 degrees bending from the waist up: greeting used when you pass each other in the hallway
- 30 degrees bending from the waist up: general bow
- 45 degrees bending from the waist up: when you must act more politely (such as when giving an apology).
Also, the deeper the bow the more respect is shown. This is why subordinates often bow much lower to the ground than their superiors. This is to show their employers, older relatives and other individuals their deepest respects. Likewise, the longer the bow is held the more respect is shown. When apologizing, individuals may stay bowed for extended period of time while asking for forgiveness.
When starting the practice of bowing, there are several different aspects you need to keep in consideration. The act of bowing isn’t just lowering your upper body. You need to focus on other interactions and physical movements while performing the act. Some of these include:
- Adopt a good attitude
- Make eye contact with the person you are communicating with
- Say the greeting expression
- Bend you waist (stop for 2 seconds when your down); your upper body must be straight as a rod
- Return to your erect standing position slowly. Do not rush out of the bow or it might come off as insulting (like shaking someone’s hand and pulling it away quickly, as if you did not want to offer it).
You need to teach your work associates how to bow, as anyone who might come in contact with Japanese professionals need to know how to properly interact with them, in order to show respect and to help bring in new connections between you and your potential Japanese business partners. I have been taught several times how to do this too.
In Japanese business, the bow and the business card exchange is very important. Even though the exchanging of business cards does not have long history in Japan, it is very important custom. In Japan, the business card is always handled with care. A business saying is “the business card is an extension of the person”. By showing disrespect to the business card you show disrespect to the individual presenting the card and the business all together.
First, you make the business card exchange. You hold the received business card in both hands and put the card on top of your card case, handling it very politely. While in Western culture, the business card is just a piece of paper with general information you may use to write notes on; this is the ultimate sign of disrespect in Japan. Make sure to hold it as if someone gave you a great gift, and carefully insert it into a card case. Do not fold it, slide it into a pocket or your wallet either. Keep it in pristine condition and protected at all times.
This little introduction about business custom is designed to extend your way of thinking. It is an opportunity to review how people become unaware of some of their unusual behaviors. Interacting with new cultures is an opportunity to explore the way these cultures do business. With the growth of Japanese business practices, you are likely to use all of these different Japanese practices.
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