Bridges to Japanese Business Etiquette: Understanding Japan Cross-cultural Management

Philippe Huysveld

Apr 2025 · Japan series Book 6 · LULU

About this ebook

Cross-cultural misunderstandings frequently appear in situations where Westerners interact with people from the Far East, in particular with the Japanese. As a Japan Business Consultant, I have witnessed many business cases, situations or events, where understanding the basics of Japanese business etiquette and Japan cross-cultural management would have helped a lot.

This book, filled with concrete advice and illustrations of what to do and what not to do, aims at giving foreign business executives the necessary background and “toolkit” for succeeding in their “Japan cross-cultural adventure”. After all, for curious and outward looking minds, this really could be fun!

It is specifically targeted at:

•Non-Japanese business executives working for Japanese companies, either in Japan or abroad (in branches or subsidiaries established outside Japan).

•Non-Japanese business executives approaching or dealing with the Japanese Market.

•Non-Japanese business executives or foreign expatriates working for foreign companies established in Japan.

•Anyone with a real interest in communicating and interacting better with the Japanese in general.

The reader equipped with all the tools and tips I have developed in this book should definitely “perform better” when confronted with a Japanese prospect, potential business partner or “boss”. Being well prepared for future Japan-related business opportunities is of the most importance now that an EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) has been signed and implemented between the EU and Japan!

About the author

With a double Engineering and Business background, holder of an MBA from Kyoto University, after 15 years+ as a Senior Executive, Philippe HUYSVELD is now a Business and Management Consultant. Founder of GBMC (Global Business & Management Consulting, www.gbmc.biz), speaking Japanese, his main domain of business is Europe-Japan Business Consulting.

In addition to Consulting, he has lectured on The History of the Japanese Economy and on Social Structures of Japan at the Cergy-Pontoise University (in the Paris area), within the Master Program in Languages and International Trade – Japanese Markets option.

Philippe HUYSVELD is also the author of the chapter The Japanese B2C Retail Industry in the Digital Age in the academic book Transforming Japanese Business : Rising to the Digital Challenge, Springer Asia, 2020 (Internet link : https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/the-japanese-b2c-retail-industry-in-the-digital-age/17481468)

As a cross-cultural trainer, he also gives seminars, conferences about Japan (https://www.speakersacademy.com/fr/conférencier/philippe-huysveld), as well as leading workshops on «Business Relations with Japan», for various European Economic Agencies or in Business Schools, such as the Vesalius College in Brussels.

Besides various papers and reports about Japan and the Europe-Japan relations, he is also the author of the following eight (e)Books:

1.    Lecture Economique de l'Histoire du Japon, Paris, Lulu/KOBO/Google Play & Amazon, 2013 (Internet link : http://www.lulu.com/shop/philippe-huysveld/lecture-economique-de-lhistoire-du-japon/ebook/product-21602718.html#productDetails)

2.    The Ultimate Survival Guide for Business in Japan, Paris, Lulu/KOBO/Google Play & Amazon, 2014 (Internet link : https://www.lulu.com/fr/fr/shop/philippe-huysveld/the-ultimate-survival-guide-for-business-in-japan/ebook/product-23091532.html)

3.    MOSAICA JAPONICA : Lecture Culturelle du Japon socio-économique, Paris, Les Editions L’Harmattan, 2018 (Internet link : https://www.editions-harmattan.fr/catalogue/livre/mosaica-japonica/17604)

4.    Chronique du Japon des Années 90, Paris, Lulu.com/KOBO/Google Play & Amazon, 2017 (Internet link : https://www.lulu.com/fr/shop/philippe-huysveld/chronique-du-japon-des-ann%C3%83%C2%A9es-90-tribulations-culturelles-dun-jeune-europ%C3%83%C2%A9en-%C3%83%C2%A0-kyoto/ebook/product-23736937.html?)

5.    Mastering Japan Business, Paris, Lulu.com/KOBO/Google Play & Amazon, 2017. (Internet link : https://www.lulu.com/fr/shop/philippe-huysveld/mastering-japan-business/ebook/product-23338718.html )

6.    Bridges to Japanese Business Etiquette, Paris, Lulu.com/KOBO/Google Play & Amazon, 2018. (Internet link : https://www.lulu.com/fr/shop/philippe-huysveld/bridges-to-japanese-business-etiquette-understanding-japan-cross-cultural-management/ebook/product-23736921.html)

 

7.    Voyage au centre du Japon des années 90, Paris, Editions du Net, 2021 (Internet link : https://www.leseditionsdunet.com/livre/voyage-au-centre-du-japon-des-annees-90)

 

8.    À la recherche du Patrimoine Culturel du Japon, Paris, Editions du Net, 2023 (Internet link : https://www.leseditionsdunet.com/livre/la-recherche-du-patrimoine-culturel-du-japon)

Contact : [e-mail], www.gbmc.biz, www.philippehuysveld.com