Unlike her European counterparts, the Netherlands invested very little in education within its colonies. While the Dutch introduced a system of formal education for the local population of Indonesia, it was restricted to certain...

The unit of currency in Mexico is the peso, which is equivalent to 100 centavos. Notes are available in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 pesos, and coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 pesos. Coins worth...

The Japanese cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe rank just after Tokyo in popularity, and each is unique in its landscape, local culture, and lifestyle. In traditional Kyoto, the pace of life is less frenetic than in Tokyo, and people tend...

The Japanese use chopsticks for all varieties of Japanese food, although some restaurants that are used to tourists can provide knives and forks. Learn why you should never leave your chopsticks standing upright in your rice and other...

Explore cultural tips and etiquette for visiting people’s homes, especially when it comes to shedding your shoes and wearing guest slippers. Learn more about local practices for house slippers, toilet slippers, and even garden slippers....

Many of the values and basic assumptions the Japanese make about life have their origins in Buddhism and Shintoism. The primacy of the group or the collective good and the value placed on maintaining harmony are particularly strong and...

Explore the influence of religion on Japan over the centuries. Learn about Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, which is still practiced but serves mainly as a source of traditional customs and festivals. It has slightly more followers...

The Japanese aren’t usually avid joke tellers, but put them in a group, and they’ll sometimes do humorous imitations of friends and colleagues. Such imitations aren’t considered rude; indeed, they’re often performed in front of the...

Depending on what country you call home, Japanese cooking and food preparation may be very different from what you are used to. Food in Japan ranges from traditional Japanese dishes to a wide range of foreign cuisines from around the...

Japan has a population of approximately 126 million, more than twice that of the United Kingdom and less than half that of the United States. But with 333 people per square kilometer, Japan is one of the most densely populated countries...

The Japanese love to give gifts. The two main Japan-wide gift-giving seasons are July (Ochugen), when people wish each other summer greetings and good health, and December (Oseibo), to show appreciation for assistance offered during the...

The Japanese enjoy socializing as much as other people, but their behavior may seem formal and unfamiliar to someone from another culture. Learn key do's and don'ts to ensure that you behave appropriately in social and business...

One major difference between Japanese and Western companies is that in Japan, no one person is usually identified as the personality or power behind a company’s policy or business strategy. Instead, ideas and strategies usually are...

While Japan has long been considered extremely safe, no country, of course, is 100 percent safe. Economic problems have led to greater unemployment, and, according to the Japanese, relatively lower moral standards. A few years ago, any...

In Japan, there are two emergency numbers everyone should know: 110, to contact the police, and 119, to report a fire or request an ambulance. But be mindful that you’ll have to talk in Japanese, which is especially difficult when you’re...

The Japanese currency is the yen. Coins are available in 1, 5, 10, and 100 yen, whereas notes are valued at 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen. Japan is still mainly a cash society, and many small businesses even pay salaries in cash. Unless...

For all the attention Japan gets as a world leader in business and technology, it’s easy to forget how physically isolated and small the country is. This feature has impacted the Japanese perception of foreigners throughout history into...

Japan’s legal system is based mainly on the model of prewar German and Soviet legal theory. Thus, the system is grounded not in judicial precedent but in the laws of the constitution. Culturally, the Japanese aren’t very litigious; they...

Located off the east coast of Asia, Japan consists of four main islands and a chain of several thousand islands that goes from north to south. A little larger than Italy and a little smaller than the state of California, the country is...

The Japanese often refer to themselves as workaholics, but to foreigners, much of the work may seem unnecessary. Compared with companies in the West, offices may even seem overstaffed. But question a job function, and you’re likely to be...

The Japanese tend to be very cautious and thorough in their decision-making and have a relatively low willingness and ability to tolerate risk. Kiken kaihi, or risk avoidance, is a key principle in Japanese diplomacy and bargaining....

As in many countries, gift-giving is an extremely important aspect of Japanese business culture. Gifts are exchanged on occasion at a first meeting and are more common for subsequent meetings. While gifts are not expected, they are...

Business cards, called meishi, are very important in Japan, and the presentation is traditionally very ceremonial. At one time, people used both hands to give and receive cards. Nowadays, it’s more common to use one hand only. When...

Maintaining harmony is an essential aspect of Japanese business culture, including negotiations. To the Japanese, negotiations are a fluid process based on diligent preparation and mutual respect. Learn more about how indirect...