Q. When you shake hands, who puts out his hand first? In business environments today, both men and women are expected to shake hands and

Q. No beer in the parks and beaches? Answer: A Japanese friend relates that he was relaxing on the beach in Waikiki, when a uniformed

Q. What do I do to apologize? Answer: Japanese etiquette holds that one should apologize by saying the equivalent of “I’m very sorry.” But a

Q. Is it always necessary to make an appointment? Answer: In the business world it is always better to “phone ahead” to be sure that

What do I do in a church (synagogue) if I am not a member? Answer: First, the matter of dress. Most religious gatherings require conservative,

Q. Doesn’t dōzo mean “please”? Answer: “Please” is not always used in the same way as the Japanese word dōzo. First of all, we usually

Q. What sort of business cards are used in America? Answer: A business card usually gives the name of the person first, then his position,

Q. Is “ladies first” still the rule? Answer: American boys in earlier generations were taught to always hold open a door for a woman and

Q. What do Americans do at Christmas? Answer: Most Americans, even if they are not active Christians, feel that Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas

Q. “Tea or coffee?” Why can’t I say, “Yes”? Answer: In an office or a home, if your host asks, “Would you like tea or

Q. Is there much “after hours” entertaining? Answer: Before the bubble burst, it seemed that Japanese businesspeople were busy virtually every night entertaining clients. Now

Q. Does a man really have to open doors? Answer: With elevator doors, it is polite to allow others to enter first, but whoever goes

Q. What does one do at a Christmas office party? Answer: Each company is different, and some no longer have a party at all but

Q. How can one speak “politely” in English? Answer: Businesspeople may say to a client, “Good morning, Mr. Jones. How are you today?” The same

Q. What exactly is “sexual harassment”? Answer: First of all, sexual harassment is no laughing matter. Any attempt to treat such behavior as unimportant or