Home | Visiting Japan | How to introduce yourself to a Japanese customer for the first time
This is the very important part when you first meet your customer. You will have to introduce yourself, bow to each other and exchange business cards.
Introducing yourself
+ Company or Group (for eg: country or school etc…) is given first preference than individual identity
+ Hence you will have to say, I am coming from XYZ Company and my Name is ABC
+ This may sound odd in English but in Japanese that is THE PERFECT way of introducing yourself
+ NOT, This is ABC from XYZ Company
Try to introduce yourself in Japanese language
+ If you want to try some Japanese, you can say this
+ Hajimemashite (meaning - Nice to meet you for the first time)
+ Watashi wa XYZ no ABC desu (meaning - I am ABC from XYZ Company)
+ Yoroshiku onegai shimasu (meaning - Looking forward to work with you)
Note: Yoroshiku onegai shimasu will be found used in many places. Depending on the cost, it could mean - Please support me or Guide me etc...
Bow and No Shake hands
+ Only Bow when you introduce yourself
+ Never do both - Bowing and Shaking hands
+ For senior management person, If Bow is difficult, just shaking hands will do but feel what the Japanese is trying to do and repeat the same
+ When bowing, the person of lower rank bows more deeply in front of senior person
Exchange business cards (visiting cards)
+ When you go as a team (usually this is the case) and exchange cards
+ Remember to let your boss (highest in the rank of your team) exchange cards with his counterpart in customer side
+ Japan follows hierarchy in many places and this is the first place
+ Card exchange should happen with senior most exchanges first, then next in command and so on
+ Japanese always have a business card
+ This is a custom in all Japanese companies to exchange cards when they first meet someone
+ You must come with a business card
Addressing customer or Japanese
+ When you speak to your customer and address them...
+ Use their last name (from the business card or if they have introduced - listen during introduction) and add "San" for respect
+ If you do not know which is last name, ask Politely
+ Never call a Japanese with their first name
+ Unless you are good buddies and they said OK to call by first name