Exchanging Business Cards in Japan

Video Transcript

(Note: This transcript has been edited for readability.)

"Starting off with the culture and how it works: So when you first receive a business card, you will receive it with two hands, normally slightly bowed down, and say 'thank you.' You do not put it anywhere, but if you're at a table, or if there's any kind of stand, you place it right there in front of you. There's a couple reasons for that. One, you can reference their name, in case you don't remember it, because most often there will be a side in English. So you can glance at that from time to time, pretend to look down just to catch it, and remember their profession, things like that. Two, it's out of respect for them, because they're your guest or vice versa, so you're keeping them right in front of you. And the same on the other side; they will keep yours there. And of course towards the end of the meeting, is when it's quietly pushed and put into the business card holder."

A service member discusses business card protocol.