When I meet a businessperson, one of the first rituals after shaking hands is to take my other hand and reach out for his or her card. In the business world, it is a reflex reaction. In Japan, the practice is even more ritualistic.

The Japanese Ritual

When I visited Japan years ago, I had to understand that the proper handling of the business card was so important to the Japanese that it actually has a name: meishi (pronounced "may-shee"). I learned to take a card carefully with both my hands and bow.

I also needed to hold the card for a moment and examine it carefully. I would then make a favorable comment about the card and his or her title. Finally, unlike in the U.S., I would never write on the front or back of the card.

Since the card is a tangible representation of the person offering it, writing on a card would be like taking a magic marker and writing on the person. If I failed in this initial ritual with a new Japanese business partner, it would affect my relationship with that person forever.

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