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The handshake rule in Japan caught me off guard for the second time
I live in Osaka for work and every time I meet a new client I put my hand out. Last month it happened again, the guy just bowed and I stood there with my hand hanging in the air. My coworker laughed later and said I need to stop, but no one ever told me the rule. Is it really that rude to offer a handshake at a business meeting, or is it just seen as weird?
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cole_robinson1mo ago
So how many times are you planning on doing this before you actually learn the rule? The coworker laughed and that was your cue to stop, not to come here and ask if it's rude. Nobody is going to pull you aside and write you a formal memo about bowing, it's just one of those things you pick up after the first awkward hand hang. I'm genuinely curious, did you also try to tip the barista on your first trip? You've been there long enough to have clients, so the "no one told me" excuse wears a bit thin by the second time. It's not about rude or weird, it's about you not paying attention to the room you're in.
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