INT 220 2-2 Cultural Comparisons
Shelby Farris
01/19/2024
Part One: Common Information for Each Country
Information United States Japan
Government Constitution-based federal republic, Parliamentary government with a
Type democracy constitutional monarchy
Commonly English Japanese
Spoken
Languages
Commonly Christianity, Catholicism Buddhism, Shinto
Practiced
Religions
How to Greet A handshake is accepted for both Men usually bow (Seiritsu) with some
Men and genders, formally. space between their feet, and women
Women bow with feet together
General Forceful, explicit, urgent, result- Win-win negotiating style that benefits
Negotiating oriented both parties. They value harmony and
Styles avoiding conflict, quiet
Accept Suits, pantsuits for women or long Dark colored suit, women should always
Business Attire skirts, cleavage is acceptable, open-toe cover shoulders and knees, no cleavage,
heels are acceptable, dresses nothing white, closed-toe shoes
Three tips for doing business in Japan.
1. Choose your bow wisely, bows are done from the waist and with a straight body
(without curving your head or back). The degree of the bow should correlate
with the degree of respect being shown. Males typically bow with hands at their
sides while females place hands toward the front of their bodies
15 degree bow: “eshaku” – among business people one sees every day
30 degrees bow: “keirei” – greeting a customer or client
45 degrees bow: “saikeirei” thanking a customer or client after a
transaction or offering a sincere apology
2. Read the air: Non-verbal cues such as body language, tone of voice, social
manners, unwritten rules of etiquette. There is even an expression for those
who cannot “read the air,” it is “kuuki yomena,” abbreviated KY. It is bad to be
labeled as KY, or SKY (Super KY), when interacting with the Japanese.
3. Provide “Thankful Rejection”: Japanese communication is considered among the
most indirect in the world. Therefore, it is extremely rare to ever hear the word-
“no.” Instead, the Japanese will provide “thankful rejection” to decline an
invitation, proposal, or offer. Such “thankful rejections” enable the Japanese to
Shelby Farris
01/19/2024
Part One: Common Information for Each Country
Information United States Japan
Government Constitution-based federal republic, Parliamentary government with a
Type democracy constitutional monarchy
Commonly English Japanese
Spoken
Languages
Commonly Christianity, Catholicism Buddhism, Shinto
Practiced
Religions
How to Greet A handshake is accepted for both Men usually bow (Seiritsu) with some
Men and genders, formally. space between their feet, and women
Women bow with feet together
General Forceful, explicit, urgent, result- Win-win negotiating style that benefits
Negotiating oriented both parties. They value harmony and
Styles avoiding conflict, quiet
Accept Suits, pantsuits for women or long Dark colored suit, women should always
Business Attire skirts, cleavage is acceptable, open-toe cover shoulders and knees, no cleavage,
heels are acceptable, dresses nothing white, closed-toe shoes
Three tips for doing business in Japan.
1. Choose your bow wisely, bows are done from the waist and with a straight body
(without curving your head or back). The degree of the bow should correlate
with the degree of respect being shown. Males typically bow with hands at their
sides while females place hands toward the front of their bodies
15 degree bow: “eshaku” – among business people one sees every day
30 degrees bow: “keirei” – greeting a customer or client
45 degrees bow: “saikeirei” thanking a customer or client after a
transaction or offering a sincere apology
2. Read the air: Non-verbal cues such as body language, tone of voice, social
manners, unwritten rules of etiquette. There is even an expression for those
who cannot “read the air,” it is “kuuki yomena,” abbreviated KY. It is bad to be
labeled as KY, or SKY (Super KY), when interacting with the Japanese.
3. Provide “Thankful Rejection”: Japanese communication is considered among the
most indirect in the world. Therefore, it is extremely rare to ever hear the word-
“no.” Instead, the Japanese will provide “thankful rejection” to decline an
invitation, proposal, or offer. Such “thankful rejections” enable the Japanese to
