Back by popular demand — here are five more mistakes to avoid when working in a Japanese company. These are all things I’ve personally learned through experience, confusion, and the occasional gentle correction from coworkers. If you’re new to Japan’s work culture (or even if you’re not!), these are good to keep in mind.

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1. Too Much Direct Eye Contact

In many Western countries, direct eye contact signals confidence and honesty.
In Japan? It can come across as aggressive or confrontational — especially in a workplace setting.

People of “lower rank” often avoid direct eye contact with superiors, and it’s not shyness. It’s politeness.

When receiving criticism or instructions:

• Don’t stare right into your boss’s eyes
• Don’t look down at the floor
• Instead: look slightly off to the side, take notes, and make brief eye contact here and there

Most Japanese coworkers understand foreigners have different habits, but it helps to be aware of this cultural nuance.

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2. Ignoring Seating Hierarchy

Japan has a very specific concept called 席次 (sekiji) — seating order based on rank. This applies to:

• Meeting rooms
• Elevators
• Taxis
• Dining tables
• Company nomikai (drinking parties)

The highest-ranking person usually sits farthest from the door, with the order descending as you move toward the entrance. Guests outrank internal staff, even senior staff.

If you’re unsure, just ask a coworker where to sit — seriously, everyone has asked this question at some point. Even after 5 years, I still mess it up sometimes!

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3. Offering a Handshake Automatically

This one seems simple, but it trips a lot of people up.

Handshakes are not standard in Japanese offices.

When meeting someone for the first time:

• Stand up
• Give a small bow
• Say 「宜しくお願いします」(yoroshiku onegaishimasu)

Within the office, entering a room usually calls for:

• 「お疲れ様です」(otsukaresama desu)
• or 「失礼します」(shitsureshimasu)

I have never once shaken hands with a boss or CEO here — it’s not taboo, but it’s not the norm. If you want to blend in more naturally, skip the handshake.

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4. Using “-san” for Coworkers When Speaking to Clients

This is a big Japanese-language nuance that confused me for ages.

When referring to your coworker while speaking to someone outside the company (customer, vendor, partner), you do not use “-san.”

Why?
Because adding “-san” elevates that person, and within Japanese business culture, you don’t use honorifics for your own company members when talking externally.

Here’s what it looks like in practice:

Customer:
「田中さんと確認して頂けますか？」
(Can you check with Tanaka-san?)

You:
「念のため田中と話しますが…」
(I’ll check with Tanaka, but…)

On the phone:

Customer:
「田中さんはいらっしゃいますか？」
(Is Tanaka-san available?)

You:
「申し訳ありませんが、田中は席を外しております。」
(I’m sorry, Tanaka is away from his desk.)

It feels strange at first, but you’ll get used to it.

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5. Serving Drinks to Coworkers Before Guests

If your office serves tea or coffee to visitors (common in many companies), remember this rule:

Guests get served first. Always.

After serving the guest, you follow the seating order to serve coworkers by rank.

Traditionally, this task falls to women in the office (especially in older-fashioned companies), but even if it’s not your assigned duty, knowing how it works is useful.

Part 7 | Part 9

*Revised November 2025 for Grammar and Context