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This is our place to give you direct access to useful information & tips for free. You find very valuable information here, advice you might pay for at other places. Please make best use of it before negotiating consultancy services or making strategic decisions. Additional you find here the most interesting 3rd party articles, related to business globalization and international trade.

 

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Free Advice: Help! Japanese Consumer Presentation

From having made hundreds of presentations to the Japanese over the last 10 years, John Davies has written an excellent quick primer. (3rd party article)

 

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Free Data: Global Internet Language Statistics

Here are the latest figures of people online in each language zone (native speakers). We classify by languages instead of by countries, since people speaking the same language form their own online community, no matter what country they happen to live in.


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Global Internet Statistics (by Language)

 

Here are the latest estimated figures of the number of people online in each language zone (native speakers). We classify by languages instead of by countries, since people speaking the same language form their own online community no matter what country they happen to live in.

 

Online Language Populations Chart

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Help! Japanese Consumer Presentation NEW!

 

From having made hundreds of presentations to the Japanese over the last 10 years, allow me to send just a quick primer to you.  Other experienced business people in Japan may disagree with some of these points, and I invite their discussion.  Without knowing if your presentation is in a larger hall (auditorium) or smaller conference room, I'll try to hit both venues:

 

DON'T:

Blow your nose or use your handkerchief for any nose-related activities.
Point at your audience - look any one individual directly in the eyes for more than a moment.

Ask for questions from the audience.

Expect to get a discussion going in a group setting, unless a very informal atmosphere, informal seating arrangement, and an absence of senior staff members. Even then, it might not work.

Use long, compound or convoluted sentences if you use an interpreter.

Worry if your audience appears to be sleeping. Closed eyes coupled with  folded arms are a sign of concentration on your message (It's a compliment!).

Use western idioms. It might confuse your interpreter and surely confuse the audience after it gets literally translated. Prior to your trip, get a non-native English speaker to sanitize your presentation of western idioms (it's hard for we native speakers to catch all of them, ourselves).

Give any gifts wrapped in white (funerary symbol)

Give pocket knives as gifts (symbol of severing relationships)

Sit opposite the door, if presentation is being made seated in a conference room around a table. That is reserved for a senior executive of your host company. That's the protected spot where the head samurai warrior sat in times of old.

Acknowledge O.L. (office lady) who may serve tea or coffee to you. It will embarrass her, and put your Japanese associates ill at ease.

Give your presentation in Japanese if you plan to do any serious negotiating afterwards. Use an interpreter. E-mail me for further clarification / explanation, if desired.

 

DO:

Sprinkle your presentation with a few Japanese terms (if you do not speak Japanese). Any attempt, however botched and mispronounced, is immensely appreciated by your Japanese audience. Get an associate or Japanese native speaker to coach you on a short phrase of introduction or greeting in Japanese. (Of course, if you're fluent, go get 'em, keeping in mind the caveat about negotiating, above.)

Learn to bow (at the beginning and end of your presentation), with hands straight at your side; somewhere around a 45-degree bow would be appreciated. If you were Japanese, a deeper bow (closer to 90 degrees) would be expected of you.

Use tissues for any nose-related malfunctions (wipe, don't blow).

Expect your audience members to come up one-by-one later, if they have
questions. Help the process by mingling after the presentation.

Use plenty of audio-visual aids (a picture is worth a thousand Japanese words, too).

Speak in short phrases if you use an interpreter.

Supply a list of technical terms with translations to an interpreter.

Smile a lot. It puts your listeners at ease in their culture, too.

Be prepared with a lot of technical information (much more than you may normally prepare for); this includes manufacturing and market studies.

Take a small gift for each participant. Something with your company name or logo on it is especially appreciated.

Acknowledge cultural differences with a sense of humor. Most Japanese are astute regarding other cultures, and are good-natured about such differences, especially with westerners. They will allow you plenty of leeway, called "gaijin license", especially if they sense you are trying to bridge the gap yourself.

Take at least 1 sip of coffee or tea presented to you.

Quickly follow up your promises to   provide more information/samples.

Accept any invitation to socialize afterwards. That is what will ultimately bring customer acceptance to you and your product. Those inviters will be your most promising prospects.

Read everything you can get your hands on regarding Japanese business culture between now and your trip. A few books I'd recommend are:

 

1) Japanese Business Etiquette, Diana Rowland, Warner Books, NY, NY

 

2) Customs and Etiquette in Japan, Helmut Morsbach, Global Books Ltd., PO Box 219, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3LZ, England

 

3) Japanese Cultural Encounters, Hiroko Kataoka, Passport Books, Lincolnwood, Illinois/USA

 

4) Secrets of the Japanese, Katsuyuki Hasegawa,  YAC Planning, Tokyo

 

The first three can be procured through most chain book stores. The last source is usually on stock at the book kiosks in Narita Airport, Tokyo. It can be read in just about the amount of time it takes you to get from the airport to your downtown hotel.

 

Hope this helps, and good luck!  Let us know how it went.

 

©John Davies, Mutual Materials Company
Email: 
jdavies@mutualmaterials.com
URL: 
www.mutualmaterials.com

 

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