Q.
What time are you expected to arrive at for a 10am business meeting?
a) 10:10 am
b) 10:05 am
c) 9:55 am
d) 9:50 am
A.
The answer is d) 9:50 am! Japanese people are very punctual. Generally, people will start gathering from 10min before a meeting time, especially in business situations.
Being on time is very important in Japan, so remember to always arrive 10 minutes in advance. People who are late can be considered unprofessional and untrustworthy. Calculate the possible delay of trains and make sure you have plenty of time to spare.
As a side note, people tend to be less time-conscious when meeting friends, but they still arrive a few minutes ahead of schedule. If you are going to be late, let your Japanese friends know so they won’t be upset!
How are you with punctuality?
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