
Answering your mobile phone and rattling off on it while you’re on the train? It’s a big no-no. You’ll even find notices in Japanese train stations advising passengers to refrain from talking on the phone altogether when taking public transportation.
Why: For Japanese commuters, train and bus journeys are expected to be peaceful and quiet. Privacy is another motivation – being forced to listen to someone else’s phone conversation is an uncomfortable situation for Japanese people, even if it is one which Malaysians have long become used to.
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As with anywhere in the world, you’re expected to exchange business cards (a practice called 'meishi koukan') with a new acquaintance for a business meeting and sometimes even outside of a business setting, too.
Basics first: use both hands when giving or receiving business cards. Make sure that your card isn’t torn or unkempt when you’re offering it. Also, when you receive someone’s card, take a moment to read it and make a polite comment on the cardgiver’s occupation – do not simply shove it into your pocket.
Why: Pocketing a card you’ve just received is considered disrespectful to the person who is giving the card. A business card in Japan is generally treated as extension of a one’s personality.