Business cards (meishi)

A Japanese business card lists the company name, often with its logo, the department, the job title, the person's full name, and contact details. The company and position usually come before the name, reflecting the importance of affiliation. Japanese names are given surname first.

Foreign visitors are well advised to have bilingual cards, English on one side and Japanese on the other, with their name transcribed in katakana, the script used for foreign words. Printers in Japan and many translation services produce such cards quickly; titles should be translated to the equivalent Japanese rank rather than literally.

Cards are exchanged standing, at the start of the meeting, before sitting down. The visitor or junior person usually offers first. The card is held with both hands, text facing the recipient, while stating the company and name and bowing slightly. When both offer at once, each hands over with the right hand and receives with the left, then supports the received card with both hands.

When offering to someone of higher rank, one holds one's own card slightly lower than theirs as a sign of respect. Receiving, one says 'chōdai itashimasu' ('I humbly receive it') or simply thanks the giver, and looks at the card attentively for a moment.

Received cards are placed on the table in front of oneself, arranged in the order the people are sitting, which helps remember names; the card of the most senior person is often placed on the card holder. They remain there until the end of the meeting and are then put carefully into the card holder.

Writing on a card in the owner's presence, folding it, fiddling with it, leaving it behind or putting it into a back trouser pocket are seen as disrespectful. Many companies scan cards into shared contact databases afterwards, and digital card apps are widely used, but the physical exchange remains standard.

Japanese titles indicate rank within a fairly standard corporate hierarchy. Knowing them helps identify decision-makers and address people correctly. Equivalents vary between companies, and many firms use their own English translations.