A guide to general Japanese business manners

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  1. Greeting people
  2. Starting work
  3. After work hours in CC2
  4. Keeping clean & tidy
  5. When talking

cc2 fukuoka honsha Location of CyberConnect2 main office in Fukuoka, Japan

I. Greeting people

A happy greeting is good for creating a friendly workplace and for improving relationships. Whether at work or outside, we should always try to greet people first. Please try to greet staff members or other people in the building when you pass them in the corridors. In addition, it is polite to give the other person indications that you are listening them, such as with hearty responses of “hai” (yes) or “iie” (no).

These greetings are the most commonones used at workplaces. Make sure to say them in a voice loud enough for the other person to hear you!

“Ohayo gozaimasu” (Good morning)

”Otsukaresamadesu” (Hello / Good work today)

”Osakini shitsurei itashimasu” (I’ll be leaving now)

These greetings are the basis for good manners! Make sure to reply to people using your voice!

II. Starting work

At CyberConnect2, it is important that you are at your desk 5 minutes before work starts.

If you find out that you will be late or are feeling ill on the morning of a workday, you are responsible for contacting the company to let them know. At CyberConnect2, an attendance thread is set up through Teams at 8:30 every morning, and you should make a post in the appropriate thread between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.

III. After work hours in CC2

These are the rules for CyberConnect2.

  • At 18:00, you should clean the area assigned to you for cleaning duties (if you have been assigned an area for that week).
  • If you wish to play games or read manga in the office after hours, make sure you are quiet as there will still be other people working.
  • Trainees/fixed contract employees/part-time workers should not remain in the company after work hours. If you wish to stay later to study or practice, you must get permission from your supervisor and send in the appropriate form.

IV. Keeping clean & tidy

You can put your personal items on your desk as long as you keep them tidy and organized. However, work-related documents cannot be left on your desk all the time as this may compromise confidential information. Please keep work documents somewhere safe and secure.

V. When talking

Business etiquette for talking to people in Japanese offices may differ from what is considered polite or appropriate in your home country. You should, in general, err on the side of caution, as it is far better to be overly polite than not polite enough. Refrain from being too blunt or casual at the start, then slowly adapt.

You will be given a crash course in business etiquette upon joining CyberConnect2, which will include pointers for how to speak to people in a business setting. It may take a while to learn, but the ability to confidently and comfortably navigate a Japanese work environment will be a huge asset to you. Always remember: when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

If in doubt, please feel free to consult your fellow staff!

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