-Business Manner in Japan④ -A farewell gifts in March

In Japan, there are a lot of Personnel revisions in March.

We usually attend many farewell parties in March.　However there are not so many parties in this year,　due to the big earthquakes.

A person, who moves to another company, or another section, usually gives a small gift to the members of the same department, or the members of working with him.

It is one of Japanese ‘salaryman’ customs.

The small gifts are sometimes handkerchiefs, a pair of socks, cookies and so on.

In some cases, the members of his section give him a present.

In that case, the gift is a bouquet, tie, business bag or ballpoint pen with his name, and so on.

If he is an age-limit retirement man, a bouquet is a good souvenir, even though he is an old man.

I think those gifts are one of means to reveal their thanks!

Megu

I do believe we can get over it！

Hello,

This is Megumi in Yotsuya Business Garden.

I got an e-mail from a Russian friend last week.

She was worried about Japanese devastated people in Tohoku-area, and she was also afraid of the crisis of Fukushima atomic power plants.

I met her at a language school in New York about 2 years ago.

She respected a movie director, Takeshi Kitano; actually she did not know he was a famous comedian, and　she always carried on with her Cannon single-lens reflex camera.

I was very glad from her kind messages,

She said all people in the school are worried about Japan!

Many People all over the world give thoughtful attention to this biggest disaster in Japan!

In Yotsuya Business Garden, our customers’ clients in abroad were also worried about their customers and their families. They called us to know if they were fine or not.

Some customers could not go to their office because of the traffic disturbance,

However they are all fine!

Now, it is the hardest time for Japanese　people after World War II , but I do believe we can get over it.

Megumi Ito

Interesting news from Japan⑤ "Disaster volunteer"

Hello, this is Takeuchi from Shimbashi business garden.

I would like to pick up the news on the earthquake this week as well.

I firmly believe that it's not only me who feel very sad whenever we watch and hear a terrible situation in the news on the earthquake and would like to do something for those people who has lost their families and houses.

"Disaster volunteer" is getting attention these days.
Disaster volunteers support the disaster victims, distribute foods for those in need, and sort rescue supplies.

Actually, at this moment, those areas in disaster is not ready yet to accept volunteers. Thus, it is not easy participate to disaster volunteer.

However, I understand that it will be ready after a while.

"Language volunteer for the disaster" is also one of these volunteers.

Collecting information needed and surviving in disaster is very difficult for the foreigners who does not understand Japanese in detail, are not familiar with the living area and the knowledge of disaster.
These language volunteers use their strong languages ability in affected area and support foreigners.

The following site contains the information on the emergency in multiple languages.

So please check it out!

http://www.tokyo-icc.jp/english/topics/20110314.html

Recently, whenever I hear the story that the foreigners going back to their mother countries, I wonder if anything I can do to help them.
I understand the feeling of those who feel uneasy when they watch shocking pictures from the affected areas.

I hope we can get over this difficulty together with helping each other in Japan!

Take

http://www.shimbashi-bg.co.jp/english/index.html

Tel: +81-3-3459-0233

E-mail; info@shimbashi-bg.jp

Terrible news from Japan④ "The biggest earthquake"

Hello, this is Takeuchi from the Shinjuku business garden.

I would like to pick up the biggest earthquake Japan has ever had as this week's topic.

When the earthquake hit Japan last Friday, I was at work. The glass of window was making creaky sounds and the ceiling was shaking suddenly.

I went out of the office building with panic because I have never experienced that huge earthquake before.

In the business garden, some items on the wall dropped, but there were no injured customers fortunately.

On the other hand, the fire and the tsunami occurred in Tohoku area, after the big shake of M9.

Entire town collapsed in some parts, and there are many people who have to be away from their home town due to the troubles of the nuclear power plants.

There are various influences such as the delay of train services due to scheduled blackout.

Also, in super market, we do not have many goods due to the delay of distribution in various places of eastern part of Japan.

Everyone is facing challenges after having such a natural disaster on top of economic downturn affecting our daily lives already.

However, I think our individual strength is challenged in such difficult times. I firmly believe that Japanese citizen can cooperate each other and accomplish the revival plan of Japan to the level that we can be proud of ourselves to the world.

Take

http://www.shinjuku-bg.jp/english/

Tel: +81-3-6890-1111

E-mail; info@shinjuku-bg.jp

-Business Manner in Japan③- Business attire

Hello, I am Meg in Yotsuya Business Garden.
Today’s subject is business attire.



Since ‘Casual Friday’ has started in Japan, business attire seemｓ to be changing to less formal. However, if you meet the person at the first time, I recommend you wear dark suits with tie. The color of suits is navy, or gray will be fine.



In general, Japanese male employees will be prohibited from dyeing their hair really bright color, having long hair or growing beards. I think it is acceptable that you have long hair and growing beards, if they look clean.

For women, you have more options. I think it is acceptable that you wear the colored suits, not only dark suits, but you should avoid the vivid color.


If you don’t want　to wear the suits, you can choice a jacket and skirt or pants set.
Most Japanese companies do not allow female employees to wear short skirts, sleeveless
shirts、 like tank tops, shoes with an open back, like mules and sandals. I think it is wise not to wear them.


Thank you very much for reading !
I hope this blog helps you

Megumi

Buffet Series in Japan ③ - Mou Mou Paradise

Today I’m going to tell you about a Shabu Shabu (Sukiyaki) Buffet – Mou Mou Paradise.

Mou Mou Paradise is a popular all-you-can-eat Shabu Shabu, Sukiyaki chain in Japan. The entrance fee gives you 90 minutes in which to indulge and over-indulge in the foods that is available.

Let me give you a few examples of the types of dishes you can enjoy there. (Shabu Shabu,Sukiyaki, Kimchi pan, also enjoy their Drink Bar if you will pay extra, which is a popular system in Japanese restaurants these days for you to have as much drinks as you want!)

Try Mou Mou Paradise when you are in Japan! Don't forget to also come and visit us at Business Garden! We are looking forward to meeting you!.

If you enjoy my buffet series, below are the links for my previous blogs. Give them a read too!

Buffets Series in Japan ① - Sweet Paradise

Buffets series in Japan ② - Sutamina Taro

A little extra: In Japan, a buffet or smorgasbord is known as a viking (バイキング - baikingu). It is said that this originated from the restaurant "Imperial Viking" in the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, which was the first restaurant in Japan to serve buffet-style meals. Dessert Vikings are very popular in Japan where one can eat from a buffet full of desserts.

Haru

Shinjuku Business Garden: http://www.shinjuku-bg.jp/english/

Email: info@shinjuku-bg.jp

Tel: +81-3-6890-1111

Japanese Pub - Izakaya ③

Last week I talked about the seafood pub - Hana no Mai はなの舞.　(See link below)

As I promised, this week I'm going to talk about the most popular low price and modern Izakaya in Japan at the moment - Kin no Kura 金の蔵.

Kin no Kura is one of the pubs of Sunko Marketing Foods Ltd. All dishes there including drinks are set at a fixed price of 270 Yen each, which is very cheap considering the amount and variety they provide. Most of them are located closely to major train stations open from 5pm to 5am.

Apart from the good value of food they provide, Kin no Kura has adopted the special way of food ordering - the touch screen system. All orders are made through a touch screen fixed on the wall at the end of a table, with prices, pictures of dishes and the list of what you've ordered and what you're still waiting for. This saves a lot of waiting time for customers to catch any waiters or waitresses during busy serving times. Besides, it is so much fun!

At Kin no Kura, you can enjoy beers, cocktails, spirits, soft drinks, salads, sashimi (raw fish pieces), sushi, fried meats, chicken skewers, tofu dishes, omelette, pizzas, rice dishes, noodle dishes, desserts, and so on. Once you try it, you are guaranteed to get addicted!

When you are in Tokyo, try to find the closest Kin no Kura Izakaya to try out, they are normally very easy to find. Also don't forget your business! Come and visit us at Business Garden Shinjuku, which has a Kin no Kura pub 2 minutes' walk away from it!

Beni

Japanese Pub - Izakaya ①

Japanese Pub - Izakaya ②

Business Garden (BG) Shinjuku English Homepage

Email us

Tel: +81-3-6890-1111

-Business Manner in Japan②- Business cards in Japan

In Japan, exchanging business cards is incredibly important.

You necessarily　have to exchange business cards before starting a business meeting.

We have some rules about handling business cards.

First of all, you should exchange the cards with both your hands, not only one hand.

secondly, you　have to give the card to the person in the highest positions first.

If you don’t know that, it is acceptable to give the cards to older person first.

After exchanging cards, please do not put them in your card case.

You should put them on the table until the end of your meeting.

Business card is an essential item for Japanese businessman.

If you attend the meeting in Japan, I recommend you bring your business cards a lot.

Megumi

Interesting news from Japan② "Tokyo marathon"

The biggest citizens’ marathon in Japan called　"Tokyo marathon"　was held on last Sunday. About 36000 runners ran through Tokyo　metropolitan area.

This is fifth time for Tokyo marathon to be held and the number of　applicants is increasing every year. It is getting difficult to win the ticket to run in this event and ticket is now even called as "platinum ticket".

Volunteer stuff are supporting this rally. They are working at the runner's reception, preparing for the water supply, and keeping luggage. Applying for volunteer for this event itself is also popular and the number of volunteer staff had already reached 10,000 on the next day of the application beginning.

Tokyo marathon is also very international. About 2,800 foreigners participated in this rally. The large-scale city marathon running through the tourist spots of Tokyo, is evaluated high among world wide marathon events and it is getting popular among a lot of foreigners.

Starting with the Tokyo marathon, and similar event in Nara on December of last year, other cities are also planning marathon events such as Osaka on this October and Kobe on this November. Kyoto and Chiba are also planning similar events in the next year.

I hope that these rallies will increase marathon population and at the same time those events will attract more tourists and business to each region in Japan.

Take

http://www.shinjuku-bg.jp/english/

Tel: +81-3-6890-1111

E-mail; info@shinjuku-bg.jp