Business Passport to Japan: Maximizing Your Success in the 21st Century

Rating:
Summary: You would be an alien without this book!
Review: Because of my work as an interculturalist, I enjoy reading various books on cultural preparation for Americans, et al, going overseas. This book is by far the best quality to prepare a business traveller or even a tourist for life in Japan. It is concise, yet informative, and supplies plenty of pertinent anecdotes which assist the reader in understanding values which we, as Americans, typically find too foreign to comprehend.

Rating:
Summary: You would be an alien without this book!
Review: Because of my work as an interculturalist, I enjoy reading various books on cultural preparation for Americans, et al, going overseas. This book is by far the best quality to prepare a business traveller or even a tourist for life in Japan. It is concise, yet informative, and supplies plenty of pertinent anecdotes which assist the reader in understanding values which we, as Americans, typically find too foreign to comprehend.

Rating:
Summary: A fun and useful travel guide when doing business in Japan
Review: This is a unique and interesting business travel guide and gives a lot of value for its pocket size. As a former military attache to Japan, I was impressed by tips it offered in areas that even seasoned Japanophiles struggle with such as the fine art of giving presents and expert dining etiquette that goes way beyond the standard business cards and bows. The reader gets a rare peek into the minds and hearts of the Japanese people. It's also a sociological and cultural study in value-shifts that are occurring in today's Japan and business changes in foreign investment policies and deregulation. A lot of emphasis has been placed on behavior and language in interpersonal relations, even to the extent of how many seconds to wait before responding to a question! Clear and easy-to-use charts are an excellent feature. The book also begins with a humorous quiz on Japanese famous figures, history and food, and shows how we really do need this new book and the information it provides. Examples of advice are: "When you get in trouble, apologize profusely" and what to do if you're staying near an active volcano. This guide is easy to read and helps us understand the Japanese character and way of thinking. It's also very enjoyable. We loved it! Thank you Brian and Sue!