Japanese Business Culture and Practices: A Guide to Twenty-first Century Japanese Business Protocols

Japanese Business Culture and Practices presents detailed insights and descriptions on the proper ways to conduct business with contemporary Japanese. It focuses on the traditional and nontraditional business-related practices, including the internal mechanisms of promotion and decision-making in Japanese corporations. From advice on how to avoid cultural misunderstandings and how to develop trust with Japanese colleagues, readers will gain insights on how to communicate, negotiate, entertain, and socialize with Japanese as well as the minutiae of correct behavior. Using linguistic examples to facilitate how Japanese themselves view their work environment, authors Isao Takei and Jon P. Alston describe the social etiquette and protocols Japanese expect all foreigners to adopt in order to successfully conduct business. With a glossary of terms and practical real-life experiences, this is an essential guide for anyone who wants to forge deeper business relationships with Japanese.

Isao Takei, an associate professor at Nihon University, Japan, earned a masters degree from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include racial and ethnic relations, social stratification, and Japanese studies. He has published numerous articles focusing on Asian Americans and Japanese and American cultures. Jon P. Alston is emeritus professor of sociology at Texas A&M University and a former Fulbright Scholar who has taught in China and France. His published works include A Business Guide to China, A Practical Guide to French Business, The American Samurai, and The Scientific Case against Scientific Creationism.