Business Attire in Japan

Picture this:

Today, Steven has a meeting at a restaurant with a Japanese company that is interested in his services as an online marketing director.

They want to launch an online marketing campaign for the holiday season, which is right around the corner.

It's mid-December, and he's wearing a white suit with a colorful tie because it's almost Christmas. The white sport socks he has on have a couple of holes. He has his computer, along with his gym clothes, in a bulky backpack.

If you are like Steven, you will likely never receive a call back from a Japanese company in such a scenario. 

In Japan, business attire can speak much louder than its western counterparts in regards to conveying the appropriate level of professionalism and respect. Even in situations like Steven's, where the holiday season is right around the corner, wearing bright suits to stand out is not the most appreciated way of celebrating the festive atmosphere. So, what are the proper steps to make sure you don't over dress going into your meeting with a Japanese company, you may ask? Well, here are some tips to remember when getting ready for your meeting in Japan.

Wearing a brightly-colored suit or business attire is never appropriate in a business setting in Japan. However, the common color of Japanese business attire often changes with the season, so it is important to assimilate to this unspoken rule. Businessmen and women wear grey suits during the summer, as it can be much too hot to wear a black suit. Thus, black suits are most often reserved for the cooler months. Cool Biz, wearing a short-sleeve button-down shirt, without jacket or tie, is quite common in the warmer months, particularly during the humid Japanese summers.

For women, the "rules" seem to be less defined, but it would be wise to avoid wearing a top that reveals the shoulders or cleavage. Mini-skirt are also best avoided in a business environment.

Bringing more items than necessary does not reflect well on one's business acumen. It is usually advisable to only take what you need to the meeting. Having a bulky backpack with all of your personal belongings can be taken as a sign of being unorganized or that one is poor at setting priorities, especially if it distracts or causes any sort of delay in the meeting. A small backpack or a thin briefcase is recommended to show you are organized and tidy.