You are here:
- Home
- Cultures
- Japanese Culture
- Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture/Questions Answered by Expert Tai Yamanaka
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Major Summer Holiday | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: We are trying to develop business with a number of Japanese companies. We work with many European ... A: The major summer holiday in Japan is called Bon (or o-Bon), which is the Japanese festival of the ... | |
| Gift at an interview | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: Is it appropriate to give a gift to a Japanese businessman whom you will be interviewing with for a ... A: The short answer is no. A gift in a japanese business situation is properly a tribute for patronage ... | |
| Pre-WWII Netsuke | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: My father was stationed in southern Japan during 1947-1950 and he collected about 75 Netsuke that he ... A: The best way to get your netsuke evaluated is to contact one of the major netsuke associations ... | |
| Netsuke evaluation | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: my mother has a lovely little ivory netsuke of some considerable age - its a little sitting dog. ... A: The best way to get your netsuke evaluated is to contact one of the major netsuke associations ... | |
| Netsuke evaluation | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have four nestsukes made of mammoth ivory depicting father and son. I want to know their value. ... A: The best way to get your netsuke evaluated is to contact one of the major netsuke associations ... | |
| Gift for a newborn | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Many years ago a friend had bought a gift for the birth of my son. It is a boat with (I believe) a ... A: The short answer is that I don't know. There are paired dolls (typically a prince and princess) for ... | |
| Water images | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I guess this isn't business so much but I'm wondering about water in Japanese Culture. I've heard ... A: I guess the good meanings of water are associated with its purity, permanence, and productivity. ... | |
| Spring Break | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I am half Dapanese but when are the approximate dates for spring,summer and winter break?? A: Spring break is from March 26 to April 5; Summer vacaton is from July 21 to August 27; Winter ... | |
| Gifts for family of visiting Japanese student | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: i read thru all of your questions before posting. I have a japanese student visiting & going to ... A: Renee, Thank you for your follow-up question. If you really want to proceed with your gift-giving, ... | |
| Gifts for family of visiting Japanese student | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: i read thru all of your questions before posting. I have a japanese student visiting & going to ... A: You've been more than generous so far in welcoming and taking care of the Japanese student. There's ... | |
| Number of subjects in a school day | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: how many subjects are there in 1 school day A: In the municipal middle school that my nephew attends, there are 5 classes (each lasting an hour) ... | |
| Baby Shower | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: A friend of mine is having a baby shower for his wife whom is a budhist and japanese. I would like ... A: There is no tradition for baby showers in Japan, although many Japanese living in the U.S. have ... | |
| Japanese School Hours | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: When does school start in Japan? I've heard that in Japan school starts in the middle of the day. Is ... A: Japanese schools generally start at 8:30 in the morning and continue until 3:30 in the afternoon. ... | |
| Holiday gift for Japanese client | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: We have a small consulting business and our largest client is a Japanese firm. We wish to thank this ... A: Generally, gifts are needed only for face-to-face meetings. And generally, gifts in Japanese ... | |
| Japanese-themed gift | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: As the Christmas season rears its festive head, I'm panicking over a gift for my boyfriend. I would ... A: Gosh there are any number of ways to organize a gift basket that would work, from a small theme to a ... | |
| Bell as gift | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I'm going on a school trip in which I will meet youths from a Japanese School. I've already bought ... A: A bell is a good gift. We Japanese like bells - smalls ones, big ones. The sound of bells is how we ... | |
| Wedding gift | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a corporate customer who is a Japanese National on assignment in the USA. He recently eloped ... A: There is nothing in our tradition that would suggest any type of gift in this situation. Any gift ... | |
| Phone interview with US subsidiary of Japanese firm | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a phone interview with a US subsidiary of a Japanese company and I was told that cultural fit ... A: Not knowing the subject of your phone interview, I can only provide general pointers, but here goes: ... | |
| Gift of money | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Over 20 years ago we hosted a Japanese exchange student. Today I received a check (large amt) from ... A: The problem seems to lie with her family, rather than with Japanese culture. The reason for this is ... | |
| Gogyo, Mitsubishi | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I have been having trouble getting definitive answers to the following questions and do not want to ... A: What you’re referring to is called the gogyo-setsu theory in Japanese, which comes from the ancient ... | |
| にvsで | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: ん I know it's the wrong category, but the expert on the Japanese language is currently ... A: The difference in the use of "ni" and "de" that are particles that show place happens with the ... | |
| Meaning of a gift received from a client | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I am an executive chauffer and one of my clients from Japan who was in the states for about 1 yr. ... A: Not everything has a deep meaning. It seems that the two pieces of cloth are what are called ... | |
| Teaching in Japan | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: a read many of your answers regaurding the school year in Japan but I read elsewhere that during the ... A: Students are not required to attend school regularly during their summer vacation, but they have ... | |
| Japanese School Vacations | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: How many vacations do Japanese schools get, and how long are they? A: There are some Japanese schools with two semesters and others with three semesters, but the length ... | |
| Family | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: How many children can a couple have? Also can they adopt a child from other countries? Can they ... A: Unlike in China, there is no limit to the number of children Japanese couples may have. There are ... | |
| First and last names | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I would want to know about the first names and last names in Japan, is last name then first name?? ... A: Yes, the Japanese convention is to state the family name (i.e., surname or "last name") first, ... | |
| Introductions | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: How would someone be introduced and/or introduce themselves in Japanese schools and businesses? What ... A: A person being introduced or introducing oneself in Japanese schools and businesses would do so just ... | |
| Japanese school uniforms | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: What do high school students wear to school? What do private school students wear to school? A: In Japan, there are more schools that have some sort of uniform, than those without, unlike the ... | |
| Gift for Japanese Friends Moving Away | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: Japanese friends who have lived here in the US for several years will be moving soon. What would be ... A: In Japan, there are cases when money is presented as parting gift, but in the case of friends, a ... | |
| Education and age taboos | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: Hi I was just wondering if you could tell me if there were any taboos in Japan relating to education ... A: Taboos are items that certain communities are not supposed to do or to discuss, so that by their ... | |
| Colors and types of flowers appropriate for Japanese funerals | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: On 4/26/09, our Aikido dojo will be celebrating the anniversary of our founder's death (Morehei ... A: In Japanese funerals, right after the person has passed away, decorative flowers are chosen in white ... | |
| Honorifics in business situations | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently have been communicating frequently with a Japanese customer, and have been addressing him ... A: In the business context, the highest honorific is "sama." You would use this form for anyone higher ... | |
| Namban-jin | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: The word Namban-jin is currently translated by "barbarians from the south", but it is likely that ... A: "Nam" is the phonetic reading of "minami," which is the South. "Ban" means "savage" or "barbarous." ... | |
| Japanese Business Expressions | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: Can you give me the Japanese words for the expression "big company disease"? Also, do you have a ... A: "Dai kigyo byo" is the direct translation of "big company disease" and is normally used to refer to ... | |
| Gift for male business client | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: Are flowers an appropriate gift for a Japanese male business client? If so, are there any ... A: There is nothing in Japanese culture that says flowers shouldn't be sent to male clients. Assuming ... | |
| Student ages in Japanese schools | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: how old are the students when they enter high school? how old are are the students when they enter ... A: Japanese students typically spend 1 year in kindergarten, 6 years in grammar school, 3 years in ... | |
| Japanese Education | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: What is the Taditional Customs of How Japanese people educated. A: Japanese typically go through one or two years of pre-school (kindergarten), followed by six years ... | |
| Appropriate New Baby Gift | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: We are close friends with the Sushi Master at our favorite place. We would like to give a gift for ... A: There is no special gift for sushi chefs that would be more appropriate than another. Also, there ... | |
| Gifts for parents and relatives | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I will be traveling to Tokyo for my son's wedding soon. I have met his fiance but not family. I ... A: There are no rules for determining what is appropriate as gifts for parents and relatives of your ... | |
| Ronin | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a Japanese friend who has been disowned by her family and considers herself Ronin. I am ... A: What happened can happen in any society, and not just in the Japanese culture. Disownment is an ... | |
| Addressing female business executive | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: I am unsure of how to address a female business executive I work with primarily by email. She ... A: Yes, as an American, it is okay for you to use -"san" and that would not sound contrived. It would ... | |
| Addressing female business executive | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: I am unsure of how to address a female business executive I work with primarily by email. She ... A: Here's a two-part answer to that question. The really uptight, proper consideration is that (1) ... | |
| Gift for Japanese wedding | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: A Japanese coworker will be marrying in Japan soon. I am not invited to the wedding but know the ... A: While there is no tradition of bridal showers and such in Japan, we often give presents for the ... | |
| Fun in Japanese Schools | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: Some of these thoughts have been running through my mind for a while now, and I would love to ask ... A: The short answer is no, students in middle/secondary schools in Japan do not have time to attend ... | |
| Baby Gift | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: Our friends in Japan have recently had their first child. Are there particular gifts that would have ... A: The short answer is no, there are no particular gifts that mean more than others. The traditions ... | |
| Japanese School Hours | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: How many hours are in a school day. How many days are in a school week? A: For grammar schools in Japan, there are three 6-hour days and two 5-hour days a week. A school hour ... | |
| Ukiyoe techniques | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: i want to know, what material (ink, wood and paper) they used when making ukiyoe since edo. is there ... A: The wonderful and awesome thing about Ukiyoe is that it is only done with a block of wood, some ... | |
| Appropriate flowers | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I work for an architectural firm and one of our projects will be breaking ground in a couple of ... A: The short answer is that there are no quick and fast rules. While there are preferences for colors ... | |
| Japanese business culture: lawsuits/depositions. | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I have read many articles on Japanese business culture. I am wondering if you have any insight into ... A: This is a pretty broad question, so let me provide some general responses. 1. Japanese culture is ... | |
| Wedding gift | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I soon will be attending a Shinto wedding in Japan. What is the protocol for the wedding and ... A: Many Japanese have Christian and Buddhist weddings, but most have Shinto ceremonies, so that the ... | |
| Hierarchy in japan | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: what are the japanese terms for senior person, junior person and those who are equal to each other? A: The most common terms in use are "meue" for a senior person, "buka" for a junior person, and "doryo" ... | |
| Proper etiquette | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: if a japanese woman who is serving me bows to me should I bow back? if so when you bow do you look ... A: When someone (anyone, including those who serve you) bows to you, you should acknowledge that ... | |
| Japan's schooling | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: Is Japan's schoolling helpful to their technilogical advances? A: The short answer is Yes, absolutely. Through its 6-3-3 (6 years of grammar school, 3 years of ... | |
| Japanese school year | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: When does the Japanese school year begin and end? Also, is there a school vacation during the school ... A: The Japanese school year starts in April and ends in March of the following year. We have a series ... | |
| Opening greeting to a high level Japanese businessman | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I am looking for the proper greeting or opening to a very high level japanes businessman for an ... A: Yes, you should use the last name of the recipient in the opening address. In fact, in a Japanese ... | |
| Opening greetingr to a high level Japanese businessman | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I am looking for the proper greeting or opening to a very high level japanes businessman for an ... A: The short answer is that there is no special way for addressing high level Japanese businessmen if ... | |
| Greeting Japanese government employees | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I have been asked to provide a briefing for three Japanese government employees (equivalent to State ... A: Initial meetings with Japanese always begin with an exchange of business cards. The visitor hands ... | |
| Greeting Japanese government employees | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I have been asked to provide a briefing for three Japanese government employees (equivalent to State ... A: The short answer is that you should treat them like you would any other visitors from a foreign ... | |
| Timing of gift Giving | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: When is the appropriate time during a business meeting to give your Japanese visitor a gift? At the ... A: There doesn't seem to be a set time for presenting a gift, since I remember exchanges of gifts both ... | |
| Clock as gift for a Japanese business man | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: Is there a problem to present a gift to a key leader in a Japanese company that has a clock in the ... A: As with many ancient cultures, and living in a close-knit society, the Japanese obssess about ... | |
| Thank you gift? | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I've taken a year of college Japanese from a Japanese instructor at my institute, and she is ... A: The important thing is the thought, and that you care enough to want to send her something to ... | |
| Netsuke evaluation | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: I have 6 netsukes I dont know what they are made of or how old they are...how do I find this out ... A: The best way to get your netsuke evaluated is to contact one of the major netsuke associations ... | |
| Japan school year | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: If Summer vacation starts on July 21 and on March 24 is the end of the school year for all other ... A: The Japanese school year starts on April 5 and ends on March 24 in the following year. This simply ... | |
| number 4 | 7/9/2007 |
| Q: i need some assistance with a Japanese cultural belief. Could you please provide me with an ... A: In the Japanese language, the sound for the number 4 and the word "death" are homonyms, meaning that ... | |
| Japanese School System | 7/5/2007 |
| Q: I've been wondering this for quite some time now: How long is the Japanese school year? What ... A: The easiest way to answer is to provide you a list of the actual dates. The Japanese school year ... | |
| Appropriate Gift to Dignitaries and Business Associates | 6/29/2007 |
| Q: My client is a Colonel in military public affairs and has been assigned to Japan for the next 3 ... A: Don, Thank you for your follow-up question. There’s not any one good answer to your question, since ... | |
| Appropriate Gift to Dignitaries and Business Associates | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: My client is a Colonel in military public affairs and has been assigned to Japan for the next 3 ... A: In business and official meetings, it’s always a good idea to bring gifts. While they are called ... | |
| Being a guest in someone's home in Japan | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I am leaving for Japan soon with my girlfriend to visit her cousin and his wife. They recently had ... A: Jason, I can certainly see the irony of your situation. Just to recap, though - 1. The refusal to ... | |
| Being a guest in someone's home in Japan | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I am leaving for Japan soon with my girlfriend to visit her cousin and his wife. They recently had ... A: I am afraid that the position that your girlfriend's cousin has taken is perfectly normal and ... | |
| Gift for ill friend | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: A Japanese friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she returned home to Japan, where ... A: The important thing, and this is probably true in all cultures, not just in the Japanese, is that ... | |
| Job interview in Japan | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I am an Indian national - an engineer by profession carrying 5 years of international experience in ... A: It seems that the Nippon Steel subsidiary was impressed with your 4-year career in China, that you ... | |
| Netsuke evaluation | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: not sure what its worth or what its made of.I want to now what its worth and to find out about it,i ... A: There are netsuke made of various materials, icluding ivory and different types of wood. The ... | |
| Kimono | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: How much do kimonos usually cost? Can you tell me in yen? A: There is no one answer to your question, because the price of kimonos vary widely, depending on the ... | |
| Hierarchy | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: To an outsider, Japanese corporations seem to be strictly hierarchical. Are they? If yes, which are ... A: I would say that while there are individual corporate differences and differences between ... | |
| Japanese retailers | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: What are some names of big japanes retailers or chains? preferably ones that don't have stores in ... A: Mitsubishi, Mitsui & Co., Nissho-Iwai, Marubeni and Sumitomo are the largest trading companies in ... | |
| Learning Japanese | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: is the Japanese language easy to learn and if i wanted to learn it where do i find information ... A: Japanese is considered one of the most difficult languages for a westerner to learn, primarily ... | |
| Japanese interview questions | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: What are some typical Japanese job interview questions? Are there any questions that I might be ... A: The answer depends a lot on whether you are interviewed in Japan or elsewhere. If you are being ... | |
| Dressing in kimono for Halloween | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: I work for a Japanese company here in America. I have been with Seymour Tubing for several years. I ... A: Dressing in kimono should be fine. Dressing as a geisha would take more skill, but neither should be ... | |
| Japanese education | 9/15/2006 |
| Q: Here are the questions i have to answer for this project. 1. How does this culture influence social ... A: 1. Japanese educational system. 1.1. The Japanese educational system is traditionally built on the ... | |
| Netsuke | 8/24/2006 |
| Q: Tai. I was wondering if I can ask you about netsuke? So, I've heard there are different netsuke ... A: You're right that there are all sorts of netsuke, made of all sorts of materials (ivory, box wood, ... | |
| Geisha | 8/24/2006 |
| Q: what is the meaning of the word geshia? A: Did you mean to ask about "geisha"? If so, they are traditional Japanese courtesans. The word refers ... | |
| what are geisha's? | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: Some people say that a Geisha is a japnese hore and then others say different like,they are just ... A: Geisha are courtesans. Think of them as skilled professional entertainers who are hired for private ... | |
Tai Yamanaka
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions regarding Japanese business culture, business etiquette, corporate society, as well as provide know-how on how to research industries, corporations and communicate with business contacts.
Experience
I have over 20 years of experience working in Japanese corporations as well as for American corporations doing business with Japan. I have served as a representative as well as a go-between for American and other corporations with Japanese businesses, industry and scholarly associations as well as government agencies
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.