1. If you have not traveled to Japan before, it is important to familiarize yourself with a few facts about the country:
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2. A better understanding of Japan’s past will increase your appreciation of how this economic superpower conducts business today. Throughout Japan’s 6,000-year history, the Japanese have proven their resilience, resourcefulness, and ability to adapt time and time again. They have achieved one of world’s highest standards of living and become the world’s second largest economy. Japan exhibits its stability as a nation by having the longest unbroken imperial line in the world.
3. Because Japan is weak in natural resources, it has relied heavily and successfully on global trade to support its economy. Thus, Westerners must be prepared to deal with Japanese executives who possess great sophistication and savvy in the international arena.
4. Westerners seeking to do business in Japan will find the stiffest competition in the areas where the economy is strongest, such as consumer electronics, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. Greater opportunities exist in areas where the economy is weaker, such as agricultural products, or where there are strong needs, such as alternative energy sources.
5. Products and services designed for the Japanese market should be geared for a largely middle-class, well-educated populace. Approximately 90 percent of Japanese regard themselves as middle class, and the country has a literacy rate of almost 100 percent.
6. It may be extremely advantageous to your business to build relationships with Japanese politicians and bureaucrats. Keep in mind that in Japan, government officials and bureaucrats often have far more prestige, influence, and power than their counterparts in Western countries.
7. Time your business dealings in Japan to the Japanese calendar by avoiding trips during major holiday periods. These include New Year’s celebrations (first week in January), Golden Week (April 29 to May 5), and the Obon Festival (between July 13 and 15 or August 13 and 15, depending on the region). Also be aware that the Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31, and that as the end of the year approaches, no long-term projects are started.
8. In preparing for your trip to Japan, you will want to acquaint yourself with the regions and cities you will be visiting. Your Japanese business associates will be honored that you have taken the time to learn about their locality. Before your departure, you will also want to review some tips about traveling in Japan and familiarize yourself with the Japanese way of doing business.