Business Meetings in Japan

In Japan, we attended a Tea Ceremony. One of the traditions in Japan is to take your the person you are meeting with to tea or make tea for them. I was able to witness the proper way to make tea and participate in the tea ceremony. There are certain things the person making tea should do to show respect and welcome the guest while demonstrating their status and there are certain things the person drinking the tea should do to demonstrate their gratefulness and respect.

During this tea ceremony, the tea makers explain how the setting of the meeting would change as well. There would be a different arrangement of flowers and decoration for each ceremonial meeting. There were simple decorations like a flower vase and a scroll with exposed writing. Also, different tea making tools could be used to show off wealth. Older looking pots are likely to be expensive artifacts. This is a way for the host to show their status.

During the tea ceremony, we were told that the bowing was very important. It is extremely rude to not bow to the tea maker and the person who gets tea after you. By bowing to the tea maker, you are showing your appreciation for their willingness to make you tea. Bowing to the person next to you is best interpreted as a way to say thank you for allowing me to enjoy my tea before you.

This business meeting focused on the traditional aspect of Japanese business. Although this tradition is not as popular, there are still those who are master tea makers. To become a master tea makers, it takes years of practice. Every move made by the tea maker is precise and likely to be the exact same as another tea maker. There are certain degrees the bowl should be turned and a various number of scoops in the boiling water. The water scoop must be placed gently and carefully.

After this tea ceremony, I have come to realize how important tea is to Japanese culture. It is a tradition that is still alive today. I am extremely humbled by the opportunity to experience such a sensitive and important part of Japanese culture.