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Old May 11, 2007 | 2:08 am
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jib71
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Yes. Take business cards with both hands - sometimes this is impossible if you're also juggling your own business cards and the cards of the other three people in the room. (which is another reason you should try to exchange cards with the most important person first).
Then pay attention to the card. I find that it helps to say something inane like "Oh. So you work in the international division...?"
(Nobody has ever responded "Erm. Yes. That's why it's printed on my card").
Finally, if you're sitting down for a meeting, put the card carefully on the table (or on top of your card holder) in front of you and keep it there for the duration of the meeting. Don't play with it. Don't shuffle it around (at least no more than you need to for clearing space or something). Don't write notes on it. Don't pick your teeth with it.

Yes bow. Tilt your body from the waist. Hold your arms fairly straight - hands at waist height. Don't keep eye contact during the bow (there should be a moment when your eyes are looking towards the other guys shoes). After or during the bow, you may find that the other person also offers a hand to shake. That's fine too.

There are quite a few books about this kind of stuff. Japanese people are fairly forgiving to caucasian foreigners who don't know their etiquette. It's harder for a "Japanese looking" foreigner to get away with the same mistakes.
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