Should I shake hands or bow when in a Japanese business environment?

In Japanese culture, nonverbal communication is much more nuanced than in the west and holds great importance. We know that bowing is a common form of greeting and showing respect, but did you know that the depth and duration of the bow can convey different levels of respect or hierarchy?

In contrast, in many Western cultures, a firm handshake is the standard form of greeting. This is also something the Japanese have been taught about the West, so a Japanese business partner may interpret a weak or overly casual handshake as a sign of disrespect.

When it comes to the question of whether to shake hands or bow in a business setting, the answer is not always straightforward - especially after Covid! In many cases, it is best to be aware of and respectful towards the cultural norms of your Japanese counterparts. This may mean initiating a handshake while being open to reciprocating a bow if that is the preferred form of greeting.

Whether to shake hands or bow may depend on the specific context and preferences of the individuals involved, what I usually do is mirror their body language. Are they extending a hand? Let's shake! If not, then I give them my best respectful bow (and don't worry about how deep, they know we can't get that exactly right 😄 ).

Want to know more? At Japan Consulting Office, we specialize in equipping professionals to thrive in cross-cultural environments. Whether you’re looking for group training or one-on-one sessions, we’ve got you covered!

If you want to learn more about bridging language and cultural gaps in Japanese business, why not join one of our sessions! Here’s the link to upcoming sessions (make sure to select your timezone

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/02/japan/society/japan-youth-employment-workplace/