Introduction
Hello, this is Mog. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the method of exchanging business cards in Japan. How does it differ from your country?
こんにちは、Mogです。
今日は日本での名刺交換の仕方について、ご紹介します。あなたの国とどう違うでしょうか。
In Japan, when you meet someone for the first time in a business setting, you start by exchanging business cards. Business cards represent oneself and are given to the other person, so they are handled with care.
まず、日本では仕事上で初対面の方とお会いした時には初めに名刺交換をします。名刺は自分を表し、相手にお渡しする物なので、丁寧に扱います。
Before a first meeting with multiple people begins, it's almost like a small ceremony. (While doing this, I thought it might make for a good blog post 😂)
複数人同士の初めての会議が始まる前はちょっとした儀式のようです。（私はこれをしながら、ブログの記事になりそうだなぁと思いつきました😂）
Who Initiates the Business Card Exchange
The exchange is initiated by the person with the highest position. In Japan, there are various rules that follow this hierarchy, such as seating positions in meeting rooms. I'll introduce more about this another time if I have the chance.
まず交換をするのは、一番立場が上の人からです。日本では、この序列に従ったルールがいろいろあります。例えば会議室の席の位置など。また機会があればご紹介しますね。
When exchanging business cards face-to-face, the person in the higher position introduces themselves first. If you're visiting, the visitor goes first, and at external locations, the customer goes first. The business card is placed on top of the card holder and presented while introducing oneself. The receiver says "I humbly receive this" as they accept the card. If there's time, people might engage in light conversation during the exchange.
向かい合った状態で、名刺交換をする時には、立場が上の人から名乗ります。訪問した場合は訪問者から、外出先では顧客の方からです。名刺は名刺入れの上に乗せて、名乗りながら差し出します。受け取った方は「頂戴いたします」と言って受け取ります。
時間がある時は、名刺交換の時に軽く話をすることもあります。
It'll be the first topic of conversation
Unusual names or distinctive business cards can serve as conversation starters. For example, someone I exchanged cards with had added braille to their card themselves. Some people use beautiful paper for their cards. The card holder also serves as a platform during the exchange, offering a glimpse into the person's individuality.
珍しいお名前や特徴のある名刺などは話のきっかけになります。例えば私が名刺交換した方はご自分で名刺に点字を入れておられました。名刺に美しい紙を使っている方もいました。名刺入れも名刺交換の際の台になるので、その方の個性が垣間見えます。
After Sitting Down
Instead of immediately putting the cards away, they are placed on the meeting table. They are arranged in the order of the people seated, allowing you to memorize faces and names while listening to the conversation. Occasionally, you might find yourself discreetly rearranging the cards if you notice the order is incorrect after the meeting has started 🤭
名刺はすぐにしまわず、会議のテーブルに置きます。お相手の着席した順に並べておき、お話を伺いながら、顔と名前を覚えるのです。
会議が進んでから、並びが間違っていて、こっそり並べ替えることもまれにあります🤭
Managing Business Cards
Remembering names can be quite challenging, can't it? Some people seem to make notes about the date they met and characteristics of the person after the meeting.
名前を覚えるのはなかなか難しいですよね。会議の後にお会いした日付やお相手の特徴をメモする人もいるようです。
Recently, it seems that digital management of business cards is becoming more common. They are scanned and shared within the company. My company also manages business cards digitally. This allows us to see connections between the person we exchanged cards with and people from other departments, and information about personnel changes and resignations is also shared.
最近ではデジタルで管理するケースも増えてきているようです。スキャンして会社で共有するのです。私の会社でも名刺をデジタルで管理しています。名刺交換した方と他の部署の人との繋がりが分かったり、人事異動や退職などの情報も共有されます。
I don't particularly dislike the ritual of exchanging business cards, but I sometimes wonder if it could become paperless. I suppose the way of exchanging business cards won't change easily since it can't be done by just one company changing its practices.
名刺交換の儀式、私はあまり嫌いじゃないのですが、ペーパーレスにならないかなぁと思ったりします。名刺交換のやり方は自社が変えるだけではできないので、なかなか変わらないんでしょうね。
Well, that's all for now. Have a great day!
では、また。
良い一日をお過ごしくださいね。
