What a cup of tea can tell you about doing business in Japan
Drinking tea in Japan is not a quick affair, but a moment of calm, mindfulness and respect. This stands in stark contrast to the Western ‘matcha-to-go’ trend. In Japan, people do not eat or drink whilst on the move. Not out of reluctance, but out of conviction: if you give attention to things then you also give them value.
That cultural logic extends beyond tea. During a train journey to Kamakura, this became clear to me personally when I absent-mindedly ate a biscuit. The looks from other passengers spoke volumes. My Japanese friend corrected me immediately: you don’t eat in public. By taking the time for a meal, you show respect not only for the food, but also for the person who prepared it and for everything around.
You see that same attention to detail in Japanese restaurants. Meals are carefully prepared and presented, down to the smallest detail. The plates, the arrangement of side dishes and the composition are no coincidence. They reflect deeply rooted values such as harmony and order. What appears to an outsider to be aesthetics is, in reality, a form of communication.
Eating together in Japan is also more than a practical affair; it is a ritual that affirms relationships. From the choice of restaurant to the seating arrangement at the table: everything sends subtle signals about status, respect and interpersonal relationships. Even pouring a glass of sake follows fixed, unwritten rules. You never pour for yourself, but for the other person. In return, the other person does the same for you.
For everybody involved in business internationally, these are not mere details. This keen eye for detail is related to one of the late Professor Hofstede’s cultural dimensions concerning stability and security. These are cultural codes that reflect how you are perceived and understood. Those who recognise and respect these expectations build trust more quickly and avoid costly misunderstandings.
Cultural differences are no obstacles — if you learn to understand them.
Cultural training helps you not only to know the rules, but above all to understand the underlying values. And that is precisely where the difference lies between acting correctly and truly connecting.
Arigato – ありがとう
